The Bocca Bocca Story

The Bova Story

In 1961, Phil and Maria Bova Calabrian migrants with a fruit shop on Port Hacking Road welcomed a son named Francesco into the world. Frank grew up in the Shire, became a world-class panel beater, and lived a very good Australian life.

Then in 2016, he bought a restaurant.

Bellissimo Trattoria in Lilli Pilli became something more than a place to eat — it became a place where community happened. It also happened to be where his son Sam fell completely in love with hospitality and the power it has on community.

Eight years later, that love became Bocca Bocca.

The Bovas are proud Italians. They're also proudly, deeply Australian — and lucky enough to call the Shire home. Bocca Bocca is the expression of both: a suburban restaurant that carries a little of the old country in everything it does, and exists to be the kind of place its community can call their own.