Soprano Italian Caffe is a locally owned and operated Italian restaurant on Jackson Street in Petone, run by owner/operators Jonathan 'JD' Dowling and his wife Latisha 'Tish' Dowling for the last 10 years. JD is the Executive Chef, bringing 23 years of industry experience and a hands-on approach across both the kitchen and front of house, while Tish has worked both front of house and behind the scenes over the years. Functions Manager Anthony 'Ants' Evans, with the restaurant since 2012, organises events and is also active in the local community, giving his time to charities such as Te Omanga Hospice and Bellyful Hutt Valley.
Soprano describes its offering as more than just Italian cuisine — a premium selection of drinks, Italian food made with fresh ingredients, attentive service, and a comfortable, soothing dining environment. The menu covers pasta dishes, main courses, side dishes, desserts and cheese, with a dedicated kids' menu for younger diners, plus separate takeaway, functions and drinks menus. The restaurant is fully licensed, and meals can be tailored to most dietary requirements — customer feedback specifically highlights the team's willingness to accommodate gluten-free and dairy-free needs, including gluten-free pasta.
Bookings are strongly recommended and can be made by phone or via the restaurant's online booking page, with early bookings from 5pm available for anyone planning a movie afterward. Soprano accepts Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, Restaurant Association Vouchers, and the Goody Loyalty Card, and also offers gift vouchers and contactless pick-up and delivery for takeaway orders.
Soprano Italian Caffe has been a fixture on Jackson Street in Petone, run for the last 10 years by owner/operators Jonathan 'JD' Dowling and his wife Latisha 'Tish' Dowling. JD serves as Executive Chef, bringing 23 years of experience to the kitchen, and is known as a hands-on owner who's often found working both the kitchen and the front of house. Tish, who was the face of front of house for a number of years before shifting more behind the scenes, still appears on the floor from time to time. Rounding out the team is Functions Manager Anthony 'Ants' Evans, with Soprano since 2012, who organises events, pitches in with front of house and kitchen work when needed, and gives his time to local charities including Te Omanga Hospice and Bellyful Hutt Valley.
Soprano frames its offering around the full dining experience — a premium selection of drinks, Italian food made with fresh ingredients, attentive service delivered with a smile, and a comfortable, soothing atmosphere. The main menu covers pasta dishes, main courses, side dishes, desserts and cheese, and there's a dedicated kids' menu for younger diners, reflecting a genuinely family-friendly approach. Separate takeaway, functions and drinks menus round out the offering for different occasions.
One detail that comes through clearly in customer feedback is Soprano's willingness to work with dietary requirements rather than treating them as an inconvenience. One customer specifically praised the response to an enquiry about gluten-free and dairy-free needs for her son, noting the team offered gluten-free pasta and made thoughtful suggestions, adding that 'so many establishments put our dietary requirements in the too hard basket yet they embraced my enquiry with enthusiasm.'
Bookings are strongly recommended at Soprano, and can be made by phone during business hours or through the restaurant's online booking page. Early bookings from 5pm are available, useful for anyone planning to catch a movie afterward. For those who'd rather eat at home, Soprano also does takeaways, with a dedicated takeaway menu and the option of contactless pick-up and delivery. Gift vouchers are also available for anyone looking to share the experience.
Soprano accepts Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, and Restaurant Association Vouchers, and also participates in the Goody Loyalty Card programme, giving regular diners another way to be rewarded for coming back.
Soprano's standard hours run Wednesday to Sunday for both lunch and dinner from 10am until late, with Monday and Tuesday historically limited to dinner service from 5pm. At the time of writing, the restaurant has posted a notice that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays until further notice, so it's worth checking current hours before planning an early-week visit. The restaurant is fully licensed and located at 360 Jackson Street, Petone.
Beyond the dietary accommodation story, customer feedback describes Soprano as 'a lovely place' with 'excellent' food, with one visitor enjoying dinner in-house on a Thursday night and then coming back for a takeaway on their last night in Petone, calling both experiences delicious and saying they'd recommend Soprano to friends.