The storms damaged Panarottis pizza and pasta restaurant so badly that manager Gerald Visser had to close down for a while.

The renovations finished at last and the restaurant reopened in style on March 31.

The celebrations were also in honour of Blacktown families who had been affected by the storms and who were honoured guests at the reopening.

Mr Visser and his staff treated them to free food and drinks.

There were giveaways, too, and three of the visitors received $100 dinner vouchers.

``We here at Panarottis Blacktown recognise at first hand the hardships being suffered by many Blacktown families because of the storms,'' Mr Visser said.

Panarottis is on level four of the Westpoint complex.