Wagga eatery revamp promises new flavours, more seating and authentic Italian food

Pota Pasta’s Gabriele Rota is preparing for a freshly kneaded start to serve authentic Italian flavours at a new location.

The much-loved Italian eatery located at the Home Base will open in the next few months at the new business hub on Lake Albert Road.

“The new venture is exciting because it’s going to be a good move,” Gabriele told Region. “We haven’t got a timeline for when we will open, but I’m hoping it will be soon.

“The foot traffic here is zero, and even cars don’t stop by much … no one thinks, ‘I’m going to have lunch at the Home Base’.

“But at this new location, people driving to and from work will pass by, and that’s going to increase the foot traffic,” he said.

The new location will offer new flavours and more seating, a significant upgrade from the current location.

“I’m doing the same thing as here, probably to a higher standard, with something a little bit more adventurous than basic dishes,” Gabriele said.

“I will be doing Australian breakfast with an Italian twist to stay true to the Italianity of the place because Australian breakfast isn’t really Italian, but I love my smashed avo.

“I love the Aussie breakfast, and it’s something I have to do. And office workers in the area will want something to eat before starting work.”

Gabriele is keeping most of the menu details under wraps for now, but he promises that his dinner guests can expect a great line-up of dishes.

However, he reveals that the menu format will change as he moves towards a more traditional restaurant style rather than the current setup, in which diners choose their pasta and sauce separately.

“I’ll bring new sauces, pasta, and focaccias with different fillings, ranging from simple to more complicated and advanced,” he said. “There will also be cakes, croissants, tiramisu, and a few desserts.

“There’ll be more choice than there is here, but always following the authentic Italian line — that will never change.

“I will release the menu shortly before we open.”

The Italian chef is also looking to change his menu every season and use seasonal ingredients without compromising on the quality and authenticity of his dishes.

Gabriele said that while he would miss his current location, he needed to expand to offer what the market needed.

“The market requires authentic Italian food, and we’ve grown a lot since 2023. Also, a lot of people still don’t know we are here,” he said.

Gabriele won’t be pushing to sell his homemade dry pasta, but it will be available for those who love it.

Pota Pasta is currently located at 2A Mason Street, East Wagga Wagga. It is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 am to 6 pm, Thursday through Friday from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturday from 5 to 8 pm.