Soprano Italian Caffe

About this place

Soprano Italian Caffe is a locally owned and operated Italian restaurant at 360 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt. It is fully licensed and holds a Google rating of 4.4. The menu runs to pasta dishes, main courses, sides, desserts and cheese, with a separate kids menu and a takeaway menu alongside the dine-in offer.

### Who runs it

Jonathan "JD" Dowling is executive chef and an owner/operator, working alongside his wife Latisha "Tish" Dowling. The site describes JD as a hands-on owner seen in both the kitchen and front of house.

### Group dining and functions

Soprano is set up for group business in a way many restaurants of its size are not. It employs a dedicated functions manager, Anthony "Ants" Evans, who has been with the restaurant since 2012 and is responsible for organising functions.

For groups of more than 10, guests are asked to select one of the restaurant's published set menus. Those menus can be taken as written, or built to order — the restaurant states guests are welcome to pick and choose their own options. All set menus can be tailored to accommodate dietary requirements with notice. The current set menu sheets are published on the website's functions menu page.

### Hours and practicalities

• Monday and Tuesday: dinner only, from 5pm until late
• Wednesday to Sunday: lunch and dinner, from 10am until late
• Booking is strongly recommended, by phone during business hours or through the online booking page
• Early bookings from 5pm are accepted, which suits pre-theatre or pre-film group dining
• Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, Restaurant Association vouchers and the Goody loyalty card are accepted

### Suitability for events

A dedicated functions manager, published set menus for groups over 10, and flexible menu construction make Soprano a practical option for a team dinner, a supplier or client dinner, or the social component of a Hutt Valley programme. Jackson Street is Petone's main dining and retail strip, which helps for groups arriving separately. Confirm maximum seated capacity directly with the restaurant, as it is not published.