Locanda Italian Steakhouse

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  2     

Service staff lacking in communication with each other and us, entree took over an hour to arrive, bread/dips arrived after the entree (no staff apologised for the wait and/or gave us any update as to how long it would take)...pork belly crackling tasted like burnt fat and from our table the highlight was the mussels, steaks were good and sauces interesting.

Overall would not go back as not value for money at all. Training of the staff is required to get up to a standard where the price charged matches the experience, well under expectations at present.

Mar 13, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

I could not fault my experience at Locanda. The service was fantastic and the food absolutely amazing! The wagyu is incredible and presentation looked great. Definitely a hidden gem in Canberra and a must dine for the capital.

Nov 16, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  7     

I have never bothered to write a review before but I was so pleased with the way my dining experience on Friday that I was compelled to write one.
First off, we arrived five minutes late and were asked to wait a few minutes while a table was set for us. I found this strange as the restaurant did not seem overly busy, but the host seemed nice and the bar seemed like a good place to wait.

The bar actually turned out to be the highlight of the night as the two barmen were happy to talk to us extensively about wines and cocktails despite being busy. Their knowledge was very impressive. I didn't catch their names but one was Australian and one from Italy which was a nice touch in an Italian restaurant. They were so engaging in fact that we ended up going there after dinner for more cocktails. A must is the Burnt Orange Cosmopolitan, which is one of the nicer cocktails I have ever had.

When we were seated the floorstaff and our waiter were all very nice, and knew the menu well. The restaurant was spectacular and every bit the match for the bar area. The food all arrived promptly and plates were cleared as soon as we had finished which was a nice touch.

I have to admit the entrée, which was shared and the mains were a little bit plain for the price (in taste anyway, as the presentation of the steaks was very impressive). They were however still definitely enough to leave us all satisfied. The lobster mash was definitely the best of the sides.
The deserts were amazing and the coffees were well above expected restaurant coffees (with the two arriving in tandem which was welcomed).

Overall a good restaurant and bar which is made great by the decor and staff.

Aug 06, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  7     

I’ve eaten here a couple of times now and both occasions have been excellent. The service is brilliant. The waiters, in their ill fitted cream striped sports coats are a novelty and they provide great information and recommendations. The menu is quite large and varied, but the quality is there. I had the Braised Lamb Pappardelle, it was excellent – the lamb, I was told, had been braised for 15 hours (or something) and you could taste the richness of it.

My guest had the veal liver, which looked good, he didn’t complain. The last time I had the steak and risotto as a side dish (the risotto was not up to standard, might be an idea to avoid that and choose the mushrooms). Hope they keep it up.

Jun 27, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  2     

The restaurant is quite impressive when you first walk in. The menu was the first thing to turn me off. There was only 1 poultry dish, but it was the way the menu was written that put me off. There was an almost uneducated attempt at being "creative" in the descriptions of each meal. There was more interest in making the food sound "extravagant" than providing a useful description. The steaks seemed ok, however three of us ordered the Torteloni. Its not Tortellini, however the Torteloni part of it was just extra pasta. There were only six pieces on the mighty place. Everyone at the table looked and them and expressed surprise that they were supposed to be mains. Then all you could taste was the pool of salty butter that they were sitting in. Nothing but salt and grease... yummy. After that encounter, I was encouraged to try the desserts for some kind of redemption. Nope, I found myself looking at four little cream filed waffers, smaller than my thumb. The coulis was nice though. All in all, just terrible! The chef should be ashamed of himself. We pretty much all left there quite determined never to return. And I should add I have never bothered to write a negative review, however this was just shocking. Honestly, if the food is always like that people have no idea what the are missing and I don't know how on earth they have missed it as I would certainly rate the evening as well below average, and I have eaten out at a lot of restaurants.

Jun 21, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  9     

I dined in Locanda in a busy night. Me and my guests order entrees and mains. Fritto misto very good, seafood was clearly not frozen and fried on order. Goat cheese very good very fresh. The ossobuco very good and surprisingly served in a terracotta plate with a lead, the steam came out after removing it, very nice. The angus fillet was absolutely fantastic, tryffle sauce not very strong. Our waiter forgot one of the sides, the manager sort it out. I would reccommend this restaurant for a great food experience. Ambience very nice and up market level, money spending point of view, with this quality of food and the atmosphere inside the restaurant, I was very pleased to pay the bill, I left $25 tips.

Jun 01, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Finally after travelled to Canberra for so many years, for work, I found a very good restaurant with a proper chef and cuisine style. I don't like pub food style or cafes, when I booked the old rydges hotel I wouldn't ever expect to find such a high quality restaurant. Fresh pasta house made in the lounge every day, great selection of meats from, as per chef, 100 miles range, organic, dry aged, etc. What a nice surprise.

I had a rib eye on the bone 35 days dry aged, was fantastic, with caramelized balsamic vinegar reduction on top, best steak ever, service really attent and professional. I felt very comfortable and well treat.

May 14, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

I think that is the only restaurant in a hotel, which is really professional, absolutely beautiful food, great service and the ambience is at the level of sydney best restaurants. who criticize this restaurant, must be a local pub style guest, which expect to find in the menu sticky date pudding and rump steak. Locanda is just great.

May 09, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  2     

This place is terrible! For mains we had steak and a risotto. The risotto had been reheated, some parts of it were hot, some were cold. The risotto was very bland and when we told a waiter this, she replied and told us that it was not bland, that it was in fact were strong tasting! I received cold sloppy fries with my steak. We complained to the waiter who said he would give us dessert and coffee for free. The coffee was burnt and the plates that the desserts came out on had dishwasher suds and finger prints on them. Do not go here. Absolutely terrible.

Apr 17, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

The steak was good, cooked correctly for a change but a little pricey. Desert let the meal down with odd parings of flavours and a tasteless ricotta cheesecake. Service was average, nothing worth leaving a tip but polite and appropriate. I'd try somewhere else before coming back.

Nov 27, 2010