Geelong hospitality staple continues to impress with its homemade gnocchi 25 years after opening

A central Geelong Italian restaurant famous for its homemade gnocchi, and popular with local sporting talent, has taken out the title of the best in the business this year.

Lipari Geelong owners Peppe and Luke Scorpo have won Geelong’s best Italian restaurant as voted by Addy readers. Picture: Brad Fleet.

A longstanding hospitality feature of Union St in Geelong famous for its homemade gnocchi has been recognised as Geelong’s best Italian restaurant.

Lipari, co-owned by brothers Peppe and Luke Scorpo, has been in business for quarter of a century.

It was voted by Addy readers as the best in Geelong, with 101 of more than 460 votes.

Peppe said the restaurant was a popular place on a Friday night for local footballers to eat well ahead of a Saturday game.

He also said it was a go-to spot for Cats draftees when they were first introduced to the town.

“My favourite thing about being in this business is the people,” he said.

“Our staff are like family and many of them have been here a long time.

“We have second, and even third generations of families, of loyal customers coming here.

“One of our waitresses, she’s 18 now but she used to come in with her dad to eat and I remember her being in a high chair.”

Lipari Geelong co-owner Luke Scorpo prepares the restaurant’s homemade gnocchi. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Peppe said the homemade gnocchi was the restaurant’s speciality, which was made every day.

He said he was grateful for the community’s support since the restaurant opened in 1999.

“We don’t advertise, we are just known by word of mouth,” he said.

“There have been tough times coming out of Covid, and even the 2010 global financial crisis.

“We are happy we have remained here and been consistent when a lot of businesses have gone broke which has been sad to see.

“We hope the Geelong CBD picks up again, when we first opened it was thriving and there were so many people around.”

Peppe said it was overwhelming to have the Geelong community vote Lipari as the best Italian restaurant.

“It’s a pretty good accolade in a place like Geelong which has a large population,” he said.

Check out the other Italian restaurants that rounded out the top five best in Geelong for 2024.

1. Lipari, Geelong

2. Osteria Fiorenza, Geelong

3. Cucina One12, Belmont

4. Cello’s Pizzeria, Newcomb

5. i Ragazzi, Newtown

The next Geelong Advertiser’s Best Of competition will be electricians.

Nominations will open on July 9.

Originally published as Geelong hospitality staple continues to impress with its homemade gnocchi 25 years after opening