Alio

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

I went to have dinner a Alio on a Saturday night with my partner. Admittedly because we had an entertainment voucher, we had not heard anything about Alio otherwise.

The night was faultless. As soon as you walk in, the atomsphere was great, the noise level was low, we could have a proper conversation without having to shout to one another. The waitress was fantastic. She was engaging and well-educated about the menu. I felt very comfortable asking questions, and taking on her advice. I'm not sure if they will have in on the regular menu, but we were recommended to have breaded stuffed olives as a starter. They were amazing! My partner does not regularly eat olives, he loved them.

As per her advice, I ordered the special of swordfish for main. I was not disappointed. It was fresh and cooked to perfection! The serving was generous, without being too overwhelming. My partner had Pork Belly, which was divine.
I also had dessert, Lemon Tart, absolutely beautiful! Overall, our experience with Alio was lovely. We would definitely return, and I would not hesitate to recommend anyone to having a lovely main there.

Nov 09, 2009 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

We went in a group of 7 and everyone enjoyed their meals. The risotto special was excellent. Of all the dishes we ordered the pumpkin ravioli was the most disappointing, too bland. The service was excellent, bread came almost immediately. Our waitress was very personable without being intrusive. Once the wine was ordered it was brought to the table quickly. Ambience wise, this is not a cosy or intimate restaurant, but neither is it unwelcoming. I would have no hesitation in recommending the restaurant.

Sep 26, 2009 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I went here for a research group, so wasn't expecting much, I was absolutely ecstatic when they bought me the Salmon, which was melt in your mouth good. The zucchini flower garnish was a delicious finishing touch, and the foccaccia bread was so good I went back for seconds. I'm going back on the weekend for the 6 course chefs tasting menu, and drooling at the thought.

Sep 23, 2009 

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  5     

Alio had convenient parking across the road, with a pleasant ambience. Not a high end restaurant by any means which may be comforting for those who do not wish to dress up.

The meals were average but tasteful. I recommend the mushroom pasta. After reading the outstanding review and about the oven-baked brier with rosemary. I honestly thought it was rather ordinary.

What let Alio down, was definitely the slow service. We sat waiting for quite long, I don't know if it is the culture of the restaurant for a slow lazy meal, but normally I like to eat at my own pace (quite quickly!) and the service to keep up with my pace. At Alio, we felt like we were forgotten and the restaurant was half empty.

Sep 08, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

A wonderful modern Italian restaurant! My husband and I wanted a romantic dinner out, which was slow paced, easy going, but nice. Alio was the perfect place. The wait staff were lovely and helpful, the service was great, they weren't overly annoying nice, it was genuine and they told you their favourite courses and not so favourite.

We ended up ordering the Foccacia, Chips with chilli and rosemary, The spaghetti con le vangole, Tortellini and the Barramundi. They served us first with a starter soup (complimentary) which was incredible. Cauliflower soup like you've never had it before!

The foccacia is incredible as well, it just melts in your mouth, it was incredible. It was followed by the best combo chips I've ever had, fried chilli and rosemary with the chips! What an amazing feat! My husband had the Spaghetti which for him (he's Italian) he found so-so, nothing special, but still good. I had the Tortellini with pumpkin and sage, it was wonderful! He had the Barramundi to finish, and he said it was incredible!

We also ordered a dessert, the caramalised lemon tart. I was in heaven. It was the best lemon tart I've ever had. I highly recommend it! Go go go! It definitely a good meal!

Aug 25, 2009 

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  2     

My husband and I booked for an early meal at Alio (6:30 pm) because we were going on to a play nearby. When we were seated we advised the waiter that we needed to be at the theatre at 7:45. At 6:40 we ordered a main course only and moments later were presented with a taster soup which was delicious. This was the last time anyone came near our table until 7:15, we called someone over and told them we could not wait any longer or we would miss our play.

They said it was coming and we explained we couldn't wait, it then appeared (at 7:20) and we had to eat it quickly and leave. Even worse, my salmon was awful. The flavour of the sauce was insipid and the salmon itself tasted suspiciously 'mouldy'. It cost $90 for them to make us late for the play and give us indigestion.

Aug 14, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

08 Aug 2009. Tried Alio again for a last minute dinner and had the degustation menu. Food was delicious as usual, highlights were the seafood ravioli, the 12 hour cooked lamb, the blood orange sorbet and the panacotta, although every dish was top notch. I was pretty full by the lamb dish, but soldiered on with the desserts because I knew I would regret not eating them in the morning, totally worth the pain of a full stomach.

The service has really improved since our last visit, our waiter was very knowledgeable with the dishes and was also very friendly and funny. Will definitely come again, so glad that I went back.

02 Sep 2007. Revisited this place on Sat night and had the degustation menu. Be prepared to get full, I was so stuffed by the 4th plate. Food was yummy as usual, but the service has gone downhill. Our complimentary soup, which was delicious was taken away from us before we finished. Disappointed because we wanted to slurp away every single bit of it. When we finished our meal, waited for ages to try and organise the bill, in the end we went up to the bar where the waiters were all congregated to ask for it.

Then had to get up again to pay for the bill as we didn't want to wait for them while they finished their conversation. I'd definitely go back again, but hopefully by then they would have improved

03 July 2006. Prolly go here once a year with the use of the entertainment book card and I've always enjoyed the food. I ordered the special, a venison dish which was very tender. Desserts are always fantastic, especially the chocolate pudding dish that takes 20 minutes to prepare. Always enjoy eating here.

Aug 10, 2009 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

We tried Alio recently for the first time and were impressed with the whole experience. Service was very welcoming, and the food was great, you can't go past the oven-baked brie with white wine and rosemary (like a cheese fondue!). For mains, we had the spaghetti vongole (which was excellent) and the ravioli (which was tasty but portion was a bit small as is common with ravioli at fine dining restaurants). Highly recommended!

Jul 28, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

We went to Alio last night for the Entertainment Book 6 course degustation menu ($55 a head). The absolute highlights were the fire roasted round of brie with wine and rosemary, which was served fondue style with foccacia and the confit of lamb neck with pea and potato puree. The lamb just fell apart, it was so tender and the crunchy sprig of fried rosemary was the perfect complement. The other courses were also gorgeous, fresh and flavourful. The service was welcoming, friendly and attentive without being overbearing and the wine list was very reasonably priced. We will definitely be going back again.

Jul 25, 2009 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

My gf and I tried the $55 degustation menu available through the Entertainment Book. First impressions were that it was a had a very warm atmosphere and the service was good. We thoroughly enjoyed each of the seven dishes served, the highlights being the camembert, the gnocchi with ox tail, and the vanilla panna cotta with poached pear for dessert. Will be back soon.

Jul 23, 2009