Bunbury’s Nicolas Ristorante wins Gold Plate Award for best family dining in WA

One of Bunbury’s favourite restaurants in the heart of the CBD has been recognised as the best in WA. Nicolas Ristorante won the Gold Plate Award in the best family dining category for its community-focused Italian restaurant on Victoria Street. The award brings recognition to the restaurant after its 16th year in the competition. The family-run business, owned by married couple Ian and Jennifer Spear, has been a hallmark of the Bunbury dining scene since opening in the early 2000s. Mrs Spear said the award was a huge honour and recognised the hard work of her team. “It’s from the minute we take the booking on the phone, to the accessibility on the website ... everything from the minute they walk in the door to when they leave,” she said. “It is all about giving really good service.” Mrs Spear said she and her husband were grateful to the community, who were the business’ true supporters. “As much as the award is massive to us, if we didn't win we would be just happy knowing we are busy and having people support us,” she said. “In the past 16 years we have watched families grow up and kids starting families of their own even in that time.” “We get people on their first date through to people getting married, so we really feel like we are part of the community and that’s what we are about.” She said that during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, community support was the reason Nicolas Ristorante had managed to stay afloat. “Last year was tough with COVID but we got so much support with takeaways and we managed to get through that as well,” she said. “A lot of places didn't make it but we are really blessed people supported us.”