The Catalano family has been feeding Perth since 1967.

Where it began

Chris grew up in the kitchen. From as far back as he can remember, he was watching and helping his Nonno and Nonna cook the Catalano family recipes. His late Nonno Pasquale and Nonna Rosa Maria bought a property in Victoria Park in the 1960s and opened Don’s Pizza Bar, which the family ran right through to the late 1980s.

Around then, Chris’s mother Liz and father Domenic opened their own place, The Lake Street Cafe in Northbridge. Chris practically lived there, every day after school and on weekends, watching and learning. The more he learned, the more he knew this was what he wanted to do.

In 2004 the family went back to their roots in the original building where it all started in 1967. Chris and one of his siblings stayed up until the early hours one morning writing down the original recipes you still eat today. Domenic opened Catalanos Cafe in Victoria Park, with Chris running the kitchen every night, until Domenic retired in 2016.

• 1960s Pasquale and Rosa Maria buy in Victoria Park and open Don’s Pizza Bar, run by the family into the late 1980s.
• Late 1980s Liz and Domenic open The Lake Street Cafe in Northbridge, where Chris learns the trade.
• 2004–2016 Back to the original 1967 building; Domenic opens Catalanos Cafe with Chris on the kitchen, until Domenic retires.
• October 2023 Chris and Kirsty open Catalano Family Kitchen on Beaufort Street, Highgate.

Chris and Kirsty

Chris and Kirsty met in 2016 and found they shared the same love of hospitality. Kirsty has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years and thrives on a busy room, on sending people home with great service, a few laughs and full bellies.

In 2017 they started working together at Chris’s sibling’s restaurant, Chris as head chef and Kirsty running front of house, for five years. They married, and soon after decided to chase their own dream: their own Italian restaurant, with their children alongside them.

Nothing makes us happier than hosting our family and friends in our own Catalano Family Kitchen, making everyone feel at home with great food and great company. We want you to feel like you are eating in our home.

That is where the name came from, and that is the welcome you get on Beaufort Street.

The owners

Chris and Kirsty Catalano own and run Catalano Family Kitchen. You will see them both in the restaurant every day, because they are hands-on owners. They work alongside their team, building relationships with their suppliers, training their staff, and taking on every piece of feedback, good or bad. They love welcoming new faces and seeing the regulars each week.

Front of house: Denikah

Denikah is our restaurant manager, and our eldest daughter. She is 21, and she has worked here since the day we opened in October 2023, and earlier, helping get the room ready. She finished her Diploma in Building Design at TAFE at the end of 2024, and she loves reading in her spare time.

Our days would not run as smoothly as they do without her. It is a hard job, staying on top of everything at once and keeping the team at its best, and Denikah does it with the biggest smile in the room. Next time you are in, say hi, if she does not beat you to it.