Liverpool council slaps restrictions on Denham Court food truck Buon Appetit

A family-run Sydney food truck has accused the council of destroying “the magic” of their work by forcing them to shut down a part of the business.

A popular food truck in Denham Court has accused Liverpool Council of destroying “the magic” of their business but the mayor says he’s determined to keep them open.

Buon Appetit is an Italian food truck run by the Vitagliano family, with matriarch Rosa’s dishes going viral and drawing in as many as 400 people a night.

However Liverpool Council has issued a stop-use order for the family to remove their tables, chairs and gazebo because the site is zoned for rural, not retail, purposes.

It’s also understood council received complaints from nearby residents over the increased traffic to the area.

The family have been given 15 days to remove seating and trade as takeaway only.

Rosa, Ben, Joe and Mara Vitagliano outside their Denham Court food truck. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Co-owner Ben Vitagliano said the limitation would take away the “charm” of the food truck.

“If we switched to take away it would suck. Limitation is like a death sentence,” he said.

“It would hurt but at the end of the day I have to focus on our end goal.

“We want to save up enough money to open a restaurant, so I can’t afford to pay any fines,” he said.

Vitagliano added that they’ve quadrupled business in the past year and were looking forward to what the summer months could bring.

The food truck draws a crowd of up to 400 people a night. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Ned Mannoun said he would investigate the issue.

“They are a victim of their own success,” he said.

“This area is screaming out for good things and good places like this. There is too much red tape in this world.”

“If things are unsafe, let’s make them safe.

“I’m trying to find a solution. Where there is a will, there is a way. I want to see them stay but my hands are tied in red tape. If worse comes to worse can we find them a new location, close by, where they can operate.”

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Monique Harmer

Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A Change.org petition to “Save the Magic of Buon Appetit” has received over 3100 signatures.

One customer Lynda Muggleton wrote, “The food truck has amazing food and an environment that takes you to Italy … It would be such a shame if Buon Appetit had to change or close down.”

Vitagliano said while he hopes he doesn’t have to limit trading, the support from the public has been heartwarming.

“At the end of the day, we have to do what we have to do but it’s been insane the amount of people who don’t want chairs to go away.”

Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty said he would help the business too.

“This is an example of a successful business coming out of Covid. Instead of shutting them down we should be celebrating them,” he said

“It’s a great local business. They employ 24 people. Last thing I want to see is the business shut down.

“I’m confident that working with the mayor we can come to an agreement where the compliance team are happy and the business is happy.”