South Australians have the late Lucia Rosella to thank for introducing authentic southern Italian cuisine to their capital city. Opening Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar in 1957 in the Adelaide Central Market, her legacy inspires the team to champion dishes with local produce and fresh flavours. In the process, they have established the venue as an Adelaide institution.

Lucia learnt to cook from her mother in the farming village of Pago Veiano in Benevento in southern Italy. During World War II, Lucia’s husband Pasquale was sent to Victoria as a prisoner of war, and it was there that he fell in love with Australia and vowed to return. They emigrated to Adelaide in 1956 with their two daughters Nicci and Maria. A neighbour of Lucia and Pasquale's who was enthralled by Lucia’s cooking encouraged her to cook her delicious recipes on a commercial basis. This eventually prompted her to open Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar, creating the legacy that continues today.

These days, daughters Nicci and Maria are the brains and brawn behind the business, dishing up delicious bowls of spaghetti bolognese and pizza margherita to anyone who walks by. Along with the kitchen team, they only use the best local produce from the market in all their dishes, meaning they have access to the freshest fare at all times.

Pasta sauces are made in-house during the summer, harvesting local tomatoes and combining them with fresh basil, garlic and olive oil.

Stop by to say hello to the group of no-nonsense Italian women who will dish out authentic espresso and enormous plates of pasta. If you can, aim to visit on a Friday – the only day Nicci and Maria serve their lasagne. With up to 14 sheets of pasta sheets layered with an indulgent meat sauce, it’s a meal worth writing home about.

Start your Italian experience with an antipasto selection of Australia's best freshly cut meat and local cheeses from the charcuterie next door before indulging in a massive bowl of a'vongole pasta with local South Australian pipis. Whatever you do, don’t forget to save room for dessert: Lucia’s traditional rice cake is too good to miss.

Occupying a prime position in the Adelaide Central Market, Lucia’s has been providing locals and out-of-towners with authentic southern Italian cuisine for decades. A true family business, after more than 60 years of success there’s no slowing down for this much loved Italian institution.