Ragazzone Ballarat closes for good after three year tenure

A popular Ballarat Italian restaurant is closing for good at the end of the month — six months after the city lost another major eatery.

Ragazzone in Ballarat will serve its last pasta on September 28. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

Another popular Ballarat restaurant is closing for good.

Pasta palace Ragazzone will serve its last cacio e pepe later this month, after failing to renew its Mair St lease.

The owners broke the devastating news on social media on Monday night, three years after opening in the regional city.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we announce Ragazzone will be closing its doors at the end of this month,” the post read.

“It has been an honour to serve the Ballarat community for the last four years, but unfortunately complications with our original permits have made it so we are unable to renew our lease.”

“Thank you so much for the support over the years, who would have thought opening a restaurant in the middle of Covid could have brought so much joy to our patrons and ourselves.”

The restaurant opened in 2021 to rave reviews from both locals and Melburnians. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

This is the second major Ballarat restaurant to close this year, after the city lost Moon and Mountain.

Six months ago Moon and Mountain shuttered after a seven-year tenure.

At the time, PWLT Group co-founder Teddy Powlett, who opened Moon and Mountain with Ballarat chef Liam Downes in 2017, told Kitchen Confidential he had sold the business due to “external pressures”.

“It was difficult to find staff and manage my time,” he said.

“There are so many new venues opening in Ballarat. The Atlantic Group has come into town and they have three venues alone under the one roof. It’s becoming harder to source the up-and-coming talent and even trickier to find staff on the whole.”

Kitchen Confidential understands staff shortages, economic pressures and changes in local dining habits contributed to the closure of Moon and Mountain.

Some Ballarat foodies suggested there was now an “oversaturation” of restaurants in town and not enough chefs and staff to fill them.

Ragazzone’s final service will be on Saturday September 28.