29 April 2025
By James Mullan
St Leonards has welcomed a new culinary addition, with two Italian expats bringing authentic flavours from their homeland to the North Shore. Emiliano Taro and Marco Reti, originally from Rome and Torino respectively, have teamed up to open Red Lenny, offering a diverse menu inspired by regional Italian traditions.
“I’ve always had a passion for food, for drinks, for wine, for cocktails,” said Emiliano, the driving force behind the venture. “I love every single Italian traditional cuisine from north to south. That’s why we’re trying to mix products from all around Italy.”
Emiliano and Marco
Emiliano’s journey to Australia began in 2002 after meeting his Australian wife in London. He opened his first restaurant in Gladesville in 2005, later spending a decade running coffee bars on the Northern Beaches. Seeking a new challenge, he and Marco set out to bring something different to the St Leonards crowd. “We decided to have a bit of a challenge and come here to offer different food to our new customers,” he explained.
Marco joined Emiliano after moving to Australia in 2012 on a student working holiday visa. “I was working at his first coffee shop for four years, and then we opened the kiosk he was talking about before,” Marco recalled.
At Red Lenny, the focus is on authentic focaccia sandwiches and paninis, quickly becoming favourites among the local lunch crowd. The standout so far has been the Prosciutto Focaccia, layered with buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, basil leaves and pesto – simple yet sensational. Other options include focaccias filled with salame, mortadella or double smoked ham.
Paninis have proven equally popular. Emiliano’s childhood favourite, the Eggplant Parmigiana, topped with mozzarella and parmesan, has been a hit. The Wagyu panini, served simply with parmigiano, rocket and lemon, has also been a strong seller, while the homemade meatball panini is a crowd-pleaser.
Desserts are another highlight, with a tempting cheesecake and a classic tiramisu on offer. Red Lenny also stocks a range of Mediterranean goods, including oils, pastas and canned products for customers to take home.
Pasta dishes are served on Fridays and Saturdays, with plans to expand to a daily offering. “We offer three or four kinds of pasta and try to change the menu every few weeks,” Marco said.
Emiliano emphasised the beauty of traditional Italian cuisine. “Using Italian food is simple and delicious. You don’t have to mix so many ingredients. With a slice of garlic and a tomato you can make a beautiful pasta,” he said.
Red Lenny captures the essence of Italian cooking: simple recipes, quality ingredients and generations of culinary knowledge, all coming together to create outstanding food.
Dining and Cooking