Osteria Fiume, which means ‘river’ in Italian, is the vision of restaurateurs Fiona Richardson and Megs Black. Together they’ve created a space that invites you to come as you are, enjoy a humble meal and, ultimately, leave revived.

It all comes back to the water.

As most good things do – gumboots in puddles, a grommet’s first wave, bad vibes off a duck’s back.

The oceans, the seas and the Waterfall Way.

And the Bellinger River, on the banks of which our story begins. It’s here Fiona Richardson and Megs Black have brought their very own kind of thirst-quenching, soul-lifting river, or ‘fiume’ as the Italians would say, to life.

Osteria Fiume swung its doors open to Bellingen locals and guests countrywide in April this year. Like Italy’s traditional osteria owners, Fi and Megs invite you to come as you are, sit at their table and be revived, restored, refreshed by their humble fare.

“That’s what it’s all about for us, creating a venue people are comfortable to walk into, share flavours and stories, and connect with one another over food,” says Megs.

“That’s why our name, ‘Fiume’, not only represents the river we’re so lucky to call home, but also our names ‘Fi’ and ‘Me(g)’, with ‘u’ the customer at the centre of it all,” adds Fi. “It took us 30 seconds to come up with that name and now that we’re here, it feels so right.”

So whether you’re in shorts and a t-shirt, your best Sunday dress or boots fresh off the farm, you’re invited to the heart of the home, where head chef Megs leads with a tail to nose, paddock to plate philosophy.

“I don’t do fancy cooking or fine dining, I let the produce speak for itself,” she says. “I think your palette remembers more than your eyes, that’s why I always try my best to support and highlight what’s on our doorstep. Right now we’re using mushrooms from Coffs Harbour, fresh seafood off the coast of South West Rocks and even citrus from our nextdoor neighbour. Finding your local flavours, keeping it simple and sharing it with your community is what I love most about Italian cooking – that’s what we’re doing here.”

Back to basics

Megs and Fi honed their ‘keep it simple’ philosophy in their first venture together, as custodians of the heritage Ambermere Inn, nestled in the Blue Mountains’ foothills. Originally a Cobb and Co Inn dating back to 1845, the venue was first restored by Fi’s family in 1990, and again in 2016 when Megs traded a long-standing career in some of Sydney’s finest establishments for a regional adventure.

“I’d been innkeeper since 2010 and was very emotionally connected to the place,” says Fi. “By the time we decided to sell it had been in my family for 30 years, so it was time to turn over a new chapter. But they were happy times that saw us breathe new life into the building. When Megs arrived, we did a complete restoration, stripping it back to its roots.”

While working together, the duo realised they shared the same inspiration, dreams and goals – they complemented each other both personally and in the workplace, and ultimately took on the property as a couple in business, and in life.

“But it was the dogs who fell in love first,” says Fi. “They got on so well we thought we better give it a go – before we knew it we’d refurbished the restaurant, added an antique store and gallery, a barn used for events and 23 vegetable beds bursting with fresh produce for the kitchen.”

“It was a big undertaking, but one we’re proud of to this day,” adds Megs. “We worked hard to bring it back to what it originally was, a caretaker’s inn – a place to stop, refresh your horses, stay for the night and enjoy a meal. There was a small wine list, local beer, a menu that drew on a lot of game, preserves and braising – ultimately it reflected what would have originally been on offer, and that was a joy to create.”

A new story to tell

While leaving Ambermere in November 2021 was a life changing moment for the couple, Fi ensured a few special pieces travelled with them to the banks of the Bellinger River – fragments of Ambermere’s soul now sit within Osteria Fiume’s walls.

“We brought the restaurant’s main table, the pendant light fittings from my Dad’s barn and a painting of Ambermere by Australian artist Jane Canfield hangs above our fireplace,” says Fi, who led the design of Osteria Fiume in just six short weeks.

“It has good bones and a story to tell as the original bank of NSW built in 1926, those are the things that are really important to both of us and ultimately drove us to bring it back to life, just as we’d done for Ambermere all those years before.”

As Megs’ food nourishes the body, Fi’s design revives the soul. Classic Colonial elements combine with rich green walls, divine marble tables and dark timber floors. Linen curtains create confetti of sunlight, before night falls and dimmed spotlights guide you to your table. This is the place where humble fare is shared, stories are savoured, and belly laughs linger, all on the banks of the Bellinger River.

58-60 Hyde Street | Bellingen NSW 2454 | 0425 267 694 | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Friday to Saturday 12.00pm–10.00pm | Sunday 5.00pm–10.00pm | Photography Fiona Richardson