Adelaide restaurateur Eugenio Antonio ‘Tony’ Sanso, former owner/operator of venues such as Chianti Classico and The Old Mill, has died at age 87

One of the pioneers of Italian cuisine in SA, who owned or operated some of the state’s most popular restaurants, has died.

Restaurateur Tony Sanso with young chef Phillip Tropeano at Osteria Sanso in 2000.

Iconic Adelaide restaurateur Tony ‘Eugenio’ Sanso has been remembered for his “burning passion for food and people” following his death at the age of 87.

One of the pioneers of Italian cuisine in South Australia, Sanso owned or operated a string of successful restaurants around the state since moving to Adelaide from Florence, Italy in 1964. These included The Old Mill in Hahndorf, The Stable in Bridgewater, The Gawler Mill, Villa Sanso and Chianti Classico in Adelaide, Tony’s Bistro and Tony’s Tuscan Inn in Hahndorf, and most recently, Osteria Sanso at Kanmantoo.

Sanso’s son, Terence, said that his father, who died on June 18, would be forever remembered for his “diligence and hard work”.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of my dear father Eugenio Antonio Sanso, (or) Tony to his friends,” he wrote on social media.

“My father worked in the restaurant business for many years here in Adelaide opening many restaurants in his time. His diligence and hard work will be remembered forever and he will be sadly missed by his wife Zeny, his youngest son Eugene and his grandchildren.”

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Late Adelaide chef Tony Sanso at his venue Osteria Sanso. Pic: Facebook.

Restauranteur Tony Sanso with bottle of Italian wine in dining room of Tony's Tuscan Inn in Hahndorf in 1994. Picture: Brian Webber

Prior to settling in Australia, Sanso was a top chef who cooked for legendary names such as Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren and Bob Hope at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and The Savoy in London.

Sanso retired at age 84 in 2021 after selling Osteria Sanso Restaurant and Accommodation in the Adelaide Hills.

A post on the business’s social media account said Sanso was “always been held in high esteem” by those he cooked for during his long and illustrious career.

“Tony had a burning passion for food and people, spending his life bringing his unique flavours of Italian food to the local community. A man who will be dearly missed by many,” the post said.

Many of his former customers also paid tribute to the beloved restaurateur, describing him as a “genuinely beautiful man cooking delicious food”.

“Loved his restaurant at Kanmantoo, just a wonderful, wonderful man. We are better people for knowing him. Our condolences to his family,” wrote one former guest at Osteria Sanso.

A funeral service for Sanso will be held next week.

Originally published as Adelaide restaurateur Eugenio Antonio ‘Tony’ Sanso, former owner/operator of venues such as Chianti Classico and The Old Mill, has died at age 87