Latest news with #BarItalia
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out
The 73 best cheap eats in Sydney right now
What is it? A great-value restaurant in the Inner West suburb of Leichhardt that's been serving up classic Italian hits since all the way back in 1952. Why we love it: We're not surprised Bar Italia has been going strong for more than seven decades – it consistently serves up delicious amatriciana, bolognese, carbonara, marinara, napoletana, parmigiana, pizzaiola, puttanesca (and every other Italian dish you can name) at good prices. Think pizza from $19, generous serves of pasta for $22, and BYO (both beer and wine). It's popular, but you should always be able to find a table – either in the retro, Rome-like indoor dining areas (complete with old-school crazy pave and gelato counter); out on the footpath at the front; or in the garden out back. Time Out tip: Bring cash – they don't accept cards. That said, they do have an ATM in the restaurant, so if you don't have actual money, make sure you've got your keycard (because you can't tap your phone at an ATM).
ABC News
11-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Are cash vs card-only businesses the future? Here's the impact on consumers
Notes and coins aren't just favoured at this inner west Sydney restaurant — they're king. Nestled near the gelato booth lies an ATM machine inside the Leichhardt venue, with "cash only" signs on display. Cash has been the primary source of payment here since 1952. "We're just continuing a legacy," Bar Italia owner Con Damouras said. There's no chance of skim, light or soy milk in your coffee either. Mr Damouras prefers the "old school trattoria" approach. The business doesn't take credit cards. Instead, an in-house ATM is available, which has a $2.50 withdrawal fee, or there are other outlets along Leichhardt's main strip. Post-pandemic, Mr Damouras installed an online payment form customers can use instore, though cash remains the predominant payment method. "Some days people come in and say to you, 'Oh you're a tax thief, you're not paying the right tax'. It doesn't work that way when you've got a high-profile business like this … we always have done the right thing," he said. "We keep our prices low, and we don't want to pay bank fees." Since 2017, Pablo & Rusty's Sydney CBD venue has been cashless. "Initially there was some curiosity around it … questions around our motivation," operations manager and co-owner Chris Tate said. "I think the majority of customers understood there was a degree of speed and convenience that resulted in us going cashless." "Efficient service", no awkward cash handling and counting at the till and hygiene influenced the decision as well as operational challenges associated with holding cash, Mr Tate said. "It's safer for our staff … we're not having to hold cash on site and send staff to the banks at the end of the shift." While visitors can use cash on their first visit if unaware of the rule, it's ultimately a card-only business model. Surcharges aren't passed onto takeaway orders, but for those who dine in, there are "small fees attached" for using the table ordering app service, Mr Tate said. "We understand this can be a sensitive issue for some customers. It's not about making a political statement. It's a practical and pragmatic one." Lyla Zhang, associate professor in Macquarie University's Department of Economics, said while cash use had decreased, it still served a critical purpose. "Cash use has declined to about 10 per cent of transactions in Australia — especially for older Australians or people living in remote areas," she said. "It all comes to people's preferences and their circumstances. When it comes to cash benefits, Dr Zhang said it helped people stick to a budget and avoid withdrawal transaction fees. Convenience wise though, card payments are the more streamlined option — but come with a catch. "The card offers convenience, transparent transactions, rewards programs but it exposes people to overspending and surcharge fees," Dr Zhang said. "Let's say the average household spending in Australia is around $3,000 per month. If the surcharge is only 1 per cent, this still means $30 per month for the family. "This sounds very small, but over time they can accumulate." The Reserve Bank of Australia estimated Australians lose nearly $1 billion in surcharges a year. Although the use of digital-only payments is likely to lead to paying more fees, Dr Zhang said consumers should simply "be aware" of surcharges. "As an experimental and behavioural economist, I think we should all make informed decisions about which type of payment we want to to choose. For Mr Damouras, he carries both card and cash when shopping or dining, aware that "if that's their policy" either way, he will follow it. Mr Tate added that it should continue to be up to individual businesses to choose what currency they primarily accept. As Ms Zhang said: "There's no one-size-fits-all solution." In November , the federal government announced it would mandate that businesses must accept cash when selling essential items from 2026 onwards. While details are to be ironed out post-election, Mr Tate remained unsure if his cafe would be deemed "essential" and therefore subject to the rule. "If we're having to cover the additional cost of handling cash … that poses significant challenges for small businesses," he said. In a statement an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) spokesperson said that currently "businesses can choose which payment types they accept" though transparency is key. "Businesses should be clear and up-front about the types of payments they accept, any applicable payment surcharges, and the total minimum price payable for their goods and services."
Sky News AU
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shares sweet tribute to late mum, as Australians mark Mother's Day
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared a sweet photograph in honour of Mother's Day, as Australians across the country celebrate the wonderful women in their lives. Mr Albanese took to social media on Sunday morning to share a treasured memory with his late mother Maryanne from 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In the photo, which is now 25 years old, Mr Albanese donned a backwards blue cap as he smiled alongside his mother, who was holding an Australian flag. A large crowd of spectators can be seen background, watching what appears to be an Olympic track event. The Prime Minister accompanied his photograph with a short but simple caption: "Happy Mother's Day, Australia". Mr Albanese previously opened up about his memory of celebrating the Sydney Olympics with his mum when he congratulated Brisbane for winning its bid to host the major event in 2032. "The Olympics are a time where we can forget politics, come together as a nation, and celebrate our athletes," Mr Albanese wrote on Instagram in June 2021. "It's something I got to do with my mum in Sydney in 2000 – a memory I will always treasure." Throughout this political career, Mr Albanese has paid tribute to Maryanne's resilience and her influence on his life, raising him as a single mother in public housing in Sydney's inner west. Mr Albanese recently reflected on his mother's optimism during his victory speech on election night to the Labor faithful. "My mum had a hard life, and we struggled financially. But she taught me to always be positive and see the best in people," Mr Albanese said on May 3. "When it comes to Australia's future, all of us have so much reason to be optimistic." Mr Albanese also made a special visit to inner-west institution Bar Italia on his election victory lap, as the restaurant is a place he often visited with his mum. 'I used to visit this coffee shop with my mum, I grew up just down the road here and I did certainly think of her last night as well,' Mr Albanese told media in his electorate of Grayndler. 'She would be very proud, but I'm very proud of the Labor team that I lead.' Maryanne Therese Albanese died in 2002. Mr Albanese and the Labor Party secured an emphatic victory over the Coalition on May 3, with the government posed to lock in as many as 96 seats out of the 150-seat parliament. The Prime Minister has moved to refresh his cabinet with several new faces set for promotions, but it is understood parliament will likely not resume before Mr Albanese's upcoming travels. Mr Albanese is soon expected to soon jet off to Canada and will visit the United States in mid-June. Final seat results will be confirmed before any resumption of parliament.
Sky News AU
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shares sweet tribute to late mum as Australians mark Mother's Day
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared a sweet photograph in honour of Mother's Day, as Australians across the country celebrate the wonderful women in their lives. Mr Albanese took to social media on Sunday morning to share a treasured memory with his late mother Maryanne at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In the photo, which is now 25 years old, Mr Albanese donned a backwards blue cap as he smiled alongside his mother, who was holding an Australian flag. A large crowd of spectators can be seen background, watching what appears to be an Olympic track event. The Prime Minister accompanied his photograph with a short but simple caption: "Happy Mother's Day, Australia". Mr Albanese previously opened up about his memory of celebrating the Sydney Olympics with his mum when he congratulated Brisbane for winning its bid to host the major event in 2032. "The Olympics are a time where we can forget politics, come together as a nation, and celebrate our athletes," Mr Albanese wrote on Instagram in June 2021. "It's something I got to do with my mum in Sydney in 2000 – a memory I will always treasure." Throughout this political career, Mr Albanese has paid tribute to Maryanne's resilience and her influence on his life, raising him as a single mother in public housing in Sydney's inner west. Mr Albanese recently reflected on his mother's optimism and positive outlook during his victory speech on election night to the Labor faithful. "My mum had a hard life, and we struggled financially. But she taught me to always be positive and see the best in people," Mr Albanese said on May 3. "When it comes to Australia's future, all of us have so much reason to be optimistic." Mr Albanese also made a special visit to inner west institution Bar Italia during his election victory lap, as the restaurant is a place he often visited with his mum. 'I used to visit this coffee shop with my mum, I grew up just down the road here and I did certainly think of her last night as well,' Mr Albanese told media in his electorate of Grayndler. 'She would be very proud, but I'm very proud of the Labor team that I lead.' Maryanne Therese Albanese died in 2002. Mr Albanese and the Labor Party secured an emphatic victory over the Coalition on May 3, with the government poised to lock in as many as 96 seats out of the 150-seat parliament. The Prime Minister has since moved to refresh his cabinet with several new faces set for promotions, but it is understood parliament will likely not resume before his upcoming travels. Mr Albanese is soon expected to soon jet off to Canada and will visit the United States in mid-June. Final seat results will be confirmed before any resumption of parliament.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese kicks off election victory lap with coffee at cash-only old-school café
Forget the bottles of bubbly - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has kicked off his federal election victory lap by taking in a cappuccino in the heart of his inner Sydney electorate with fiancée Jodie Haydon. And where better to celebrate a win he described as being a triumph for traditional Aussie values, than one of his seat of Grayndler's most traditional venues: Bar Italia. Indeed, the famed Leichhardt institution, which has stood in pride of place on Norton St for nigh on seven decades, is so traditional, staff refuse to serve anything other than full cream milk in their coffees - and only accept cash. Though the Prime Minister revealed it wasn't just the quality cuppas that lured there on Sunday morning: he also wanted to pay tribute to the memory of his late mother - and the values she instill in him - following his landslide coup. The old-school trattoria, a short stroll from his childhood housing commission home in nearby Camperdown, had been his mother Maryanne Ellery's favourite café . And they had enjoyed time there together right through until her death from a brain aneurysm in 2002. 'I used to visit this coffee shop with my mum,' he told reporters during his visit on Sunday morning. 'I grew up just down the road here and I did certainly think of her last night as well. She would be very proud.' Mr Albanese and his fiancée were joined at the trattoria on Sunday by a host of his staunchest supporters, including Labor senator Katy Gallagher and MP Jerome Laxale, who managed to retain the party's grasp on the once blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Bennelong in Saturday's election. 'There wasn't one second that Jerome doubted his capacity to win,' Mr Albanese said. And after being served their cappuccinos, he added it was now time for Labor's newly returned - and newly minted - MPs to serve the Australian public. And he started by serving up ice creams while reiterating his government's commitment to the people. 'We will be a disciplined, orderly government in our second term, just like we had been in our first,' Mr Albanese pledged. 'We have been given a great honour of serving the Australian people, and we don't take them for granted, and we will work hard every day.' Albanese has previously spoken about the special bond he shared with his single mother, who was on a disability pension, in Sydney's inner west. 'Mum had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her joints and meant she couldn't work. She lived on a disability pension,' Mr Albanese said while opening up about his mother on social media in 2021. 'Life wasn't easy, and her health made things even harder – but we got through because of her. 'We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home. 'She taught me how to save - and how to spend wisely - because every dollar had to count. 'She also taught me the most important lesson of all: the importance of leaving no one behind. 'Truth is, mum was left behind - by people who counted her out, and by governments who cut back support. 'The cutbacks that happened in mum's lifetime meant she had to justify the support she was receiving. 'When health funding was cut, the quality of mum's care was cut too. 'And when they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us. 'I know the difference that governments can make on people's lives because I lived it. Mum lived it. 'It's what motivated me to get into politics. To help people. To make life better for people. To make sure no one is left behind. 'Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that.' Mr Albanese revealed how she was rushed to hospital on Mother's Day in 2002 after suffering from a brain aneurism before dying two weeks later. 'Mother's Day is such a special day, but for me and many others it's always a bit difficult,' he said. 'Mother's Day was the day my mum went to hospital and never came back. He said he had flown to Sydney from Canberra to take Ms Ellery and her sister Margaret to a Mother's Day lunch. 'When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn't right. The front door had been left open.' 'After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurysm, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing. 'Over those two weeks, we said goodbye - twice. Both times she came through - she was a real fighter. On the third time, she didn't make it.' Ms Ellery died on May 25 and, in the quarter of a century since, Mr Albanese said he has visited her cemetery every Mother's Day to 'remember how much she sacrificed' for him. 'Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that,' he wrote. Mr Albanese believed his Italian father Carlo Albanese was dead until he was 15-years-old, and only met him at age 46 in 2009, seven years after his mum died, before he too passed in 2014.
