Romany restaurant closes

The Romany Restaurant in Northbridge, which has given Perth a small taste of Italy, will be closing down this Saturday after more than 60 years in the business.

Owner Enzo de Velta says it’s time.

"It's an age thing. I am 70 years old, I have been married for 50 years and I think it's time to be with my wife, my family and my little dog, who is not so well," Mr de Velta told the ABC.

The family friendly Romany has been providing tasty, simple food since 1958.

During that time, there have been numerous changes of owners and addresses but the name, the reputation and menu have remained the same.

Mr de Velta took ownership 26 years ago, becoming the third owner of the Aberdeen Street business.

He says the key to the restaurant’s success has been its consistency.

"Our food is very homey," he told the ABC.

"We don't specialise in the way it looks or the presentation. It's just like what your mother might put in front of you, and that's what attracts people.

"Our clientele come from all over. We have politicians, judges and lawyers who are mostly men at lunchtime and in the evening, the restaurant is full of families."

He says that while business has been good, there have been a few worrying changes in Northbridge over the decades, including an increase in ant-social behaviour.

"If I am honest, that is one of the final straws, the nail in the coffin," he told the ABC.

'When it happens it's pretty embarrassing … especially when you have families with children.

"I even have to lock the windows so people don't put their arms in through the bars and ask customers for money."

He says the government should do something to address the anti-social behaviour problem in Northbridge.

"When the Romany, an old-fashioned Italian family restaurant, has to lock its doors to stop people coming in — I'm sorry, the Government has got a big problem here," he told the ABC.

Leon Getler 9th May 2018.