Tosolini's Ristorante Caffe Bar

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  2     

The food isn't great but it's really the bad service that put me off the most. My husband is gluten-intolerant and we picked this restaurant because it has gluten-free pasta available. We requested gluten-free pasta when ordering the dish but when it came it was clear that it was not. When I asked the waitress if it was gluten free she replied 'I dunno' so I asked her if she could check. When she came back she said it wasn't (making no apology) and when I told her we had ordered it gluten-free she shrugged and said 'Does it have to be?'.

I explained that my husband is gluten-intolerant and she then rolled her eyes and said 'You have to ask for gluten-free pasta'. Despite explaining that we had requested gluten-free she offered no apology. Such appalling service we would never ever go back.

May 09, 2012 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Bad food bad service. Do yourself a favour go somewhere else that cares about service, quality, value for money.

Feb 15, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  3     

Group of six adults went to Tosolini's for a Sunday lunch. Didn't think it would go too well when the waiter started calling us all 'mate', a practice that continued throughout the meal.

Drink orders were taken after 10 minutes, when the drinks arrived the waiter asked "Who had the espresso?". Unsurprisingly, no one had ordered it in the first place. We advised that no one had ordered the espresso but the waiter was adamant someone had. He finally left (with his espresso in tow), none too pleased.

Food was pretty awful, unappealing in presentation and generally bland in taste. My Caesar salad was overly salty, with massive amounts of shaved parmesan. In the end I was craving more cos lettuce to soak up all the saltiness.

Service throughout was slow, even though the restaurant was not overly busy. We had three different waiters during the course of the meal, yet the level of service never really altered from poor. A place to avoid if you're looking for some decent food and service.

Feb 03, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  1     

Went there on NYE with friends and 2 children. Understand prices go up a bit, but $32 for a bowl of pasta and $45 for a steak that’s ridiculous! There was no children’s menu (considering NYE in Canberra city is a family event, they could have done something).

The service was incredibly slow (the restaurant was busy but nothing they should not have been able to handle) and the food was very average, gnocchi with gorgonzola had a Napolitano sauce with it(???). Drink order had to be asked twice on each occasion. Of 3 main courses, 2 were bought out then had to wait about 5 minutes for the 3rd. This is the 2nd time I have had a poor experience here and will not be going back. Elsewhere is much better in food and service, go there!

Jan 06, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  4     

Really, Italian? Have the kitchen staffs been to Italy lately? It's 2010 let's bring the menu up to speed, Canberra diners actually have a palate now. Pasta is sloppy and oh dear there is still sun dried tomato bread on the menu.

Sep 03, 2010 

4.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  3     

Dined out with a large group of friends here last week. The service was not impressive, I felt like they were avoiding the large group, it took a long time to get extra menus and order, but once we were served the waiters were friendly.

The food is not good. I had the gnocchi which was soggy and not very flavoursome and a friend had a pasta dish that was notably salty. I found the food to be below average Italian (I think it is the worst Italian I've had so far, I've been to a number of Italian restaurants in Sydney, not all specialising in pastas either) and for the price (my entree dish was about 23) it was very disappointing.

Perhaps, I choose the wrong dishes, but I will not be coming back here for dinner. Maybe lunch or coffee here would be better.

Jul 20, 2010 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

This place has the most appalling service and the food was dreadful. We were left for long periods of time trying to place orders that did not arrive. We ordered 2 plates of dip and bread but only one arrived. It was very hard to catch a waiter ask for more water or to place an order or to follow up on an order. When we eventually were able to place the main order for the four of us, I asked for the chicken dish and my order was taken first.

Sometime later the plates arrived and I was given rack of lamb, I told them I had ordered chicken and eventually they took it away. The waiter came 10 minutes later, said he was sorry and told me he had made the mistake. When everyone else had finished I was given inedible chicken. The entire plate of food was deluged in salt. I was very upset and could not eat it. I have never had such oversalted food. It was disgusting and unbelievable that anyone could cook in such an unhealthy and unappetising manner.

They did take the cost of the meal which I could not eat off the bill. Small comfort for such a disappointing evening.

Feb 13, 2010 

6.8 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

This is a trattoria rather than a ristorante with basic wooden furniture and busy busy. For a quick italian value meal with good coffee and attentive service from young staff, it rates it. For challenging food with a wow factor or a night out, please go elsewhere.

Jun 18, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

This is a great cafe with all the bustle of Canberra life passing the corner. The coffee has been great for 20 years that ive been going, and if carlo is there he has a chat to all regulars that pop in, as well as introduces himself to new comers. It is a cafe though and its not trying to be fine dining.

Apr 23, 2009 

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  4     

The service here is atrocious. It almost felt like the wait staff were taunting us. Our menu's were on the table in preparation for our orders to be taken, yet every table was waited on out of order. We had been seated for 15 minutes, yet another couple sat down next to us and were served within several minutes. The waitress noticed out discontent and told us she would be with us in a minute. That minute was another 10 minutes. Look and feel of the restaurant was lovely and the food mediocre (extremely rich). If there are other restaurants open, eat with them instead!

Jan 12, 2009