Sasso Pizza + Bar is located at 173 Bourke Street in a renovated 1940’s general store, it opened in June 2005, as a family affair by Ruth Roxburgh, her older brother, Rupert and father James.
The Roxburgh family’s decision to open a restaurant in their home town spurred Rupert to study at the Associazone Pizzerie Italiane Pizzaiolo School in Rome. Rupert is the only known Australian to have this qualification. Upon graduating from the School, Rupert worked in pizzerias across Italy.
In only its first year Sasso won an award for best pizza in the ACT/Southern region in the Restaurant and catering awards in August 2006.
The concept behind Sasso is to provide simple, quality food that is not intimidating or pretentious. Sasso’s pizzas are prepared and stone fired in the traditional Roman style, using a long rising 48-hour dough made with a mix of specialty flour, rainwater and extra virgin olive oil. By utilising a long-rising dough only minimal yeast is required and the result is a light and easily digestible pizza. The pizzas at Sasso are made using only fresh mozzarella ensuring they have less than half the fat of other ‘Gourmet’ or fast food pizzas. As well as pizzas the menu features simple and rustic menu of antipasto, salads, pasta’s and desserts that change weekly.
Sasso has two pizza ovens. The one located indoors is a stone-based oven specifically for pizzas, but the earthen oven in the delightful Sasso courtyard, built by James, Rupert and Ruth.
James and Ruth make a range of excellent breads including sourdough using organic wheat and spelt flours.
Sasso has a funky and eclectic aesthetic that reflects the personalities of its owners who spent a year renovating the premises. Much of the renovation utilises recycled materials, there are tables made by James, second hand furniture as well as books and home made produce for sale. An integral part of Sasso’s atmosphere is its art by Sydney artist Kate Fennell, in particular an installation “Wallpaper” which featured as part of Sculpture by the Sea exhibition.
Sasso encapsulates the changes occurring across regional Australia as the populations in these areas gain access to food, coffee and a level of atmosphere formerly only available in the major metropolitan areas.
