Cipri Italian

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Went here last night for a mothers day dinner with 8 of us (second visit for a few of us) and again we were really impressed.

Very friendly and knowledgeable waiters who gave good advice and were always topping our our water and wine.

The food was brilliant, free baked in house bread which is rare in Sydney and then we had the tuna carpaccio, arancini balls and zucchini flowers to start which all were fantastic.

I had the eye fillet and it was cooked perfectly and the potato accompaniment was delicious. Others on the table had the fish, duck and pasta and all were amazing.

Dessert I had the gelato which was great (they do mention it isn't homemade but from a good shop in newtown) and my wife had the tiramisu which she loved.

Will definitely be coming here again, they have consistently good food, good wine list, great service and best of all value for money.

May 14, 2012 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  8     

This was my second time at Cipri after raving about my first time. Although then my bill was wrong and the service was less than attentive the food made up for it. Tonight I again had the calamari which seemed a lot saltier than last time but was still good and the pumpkin pasta with asparagus nice dish. My mother ordered their midweek special which allows 2 items from menu of certain courses and free apps for $45.

The fillet was awesome and it seemed a great deal except our apps never came and when we got the bill they had charged us full price for everything. When I mentioned that in addition to the error we never received the apps the waiter did not even attempt to apologize. I will not be back because there is just no excuse for bad service at this level of dining.

Nov 29, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

We had a wonderful dinner here. Every dish we ordered was beautifully executed, full of flavour and generous, the true spirit of Italian!

The transformation from what this place once was to what it is now is beautiful. There is not much to it from the outside and surrounds, however, they have created intimacy and ambience on the inside. It feels like a hidden suburban gem.

It was unpretentious, not a place to be seen, just a place to enjoy the food and wine. I couldn't fault the warm and unobtrusive service, but more than anything just loved the food. We couldn't help but get carried away with entrees, mains, desserts, everything was so good. My favourites were the zucchini flowers, suckling pig and tiramisu.

Sep 07, 2011 

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

Totally overrated place. Looks like a big cafeteria and the food is definitely not up to the expectations. Had the pappardelle with duck ragu and porcini, and there wasn't any mushroom in sight, or in taste. Got to say that servings are huge. Desserts were nice but couldn't make up the disappointment of the main. Service is hit and miss, brought the bill and the took it from us because they realized it wasn't the right table. I was expecting a lot from this place and I just walked out utterly disappointed. There are Italian restaurants far better than this.

Aug 22, 2011 

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Enjoyed our meal here. Read more on our blog.

Read more on my blog

Jul 02, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  7     

Absolutely fantastic, on every account. Great menu, service and food. Love to come back every week and try the whole menu. Great job, good to finally see an Italian restaurant in Sydney equal to the standard to saw many many years ago.

Jun 12, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

This was a delightful dining experience. What a sensational makeover for this previously dreary location. Great to have so much parking in the middle of Paddington. Food was sensational. A delicious menu with plenty of options. The eggplant with buffalo mozzarella was mouth wateringly great. The carpaccio was well presented but a little underwhelming.

However, the roast pork is a great reason to return. Melt in your mouth with wafer thin crisp crackling. This is a comfortable and attractive new restaurant in a busy restaurant precinct. I like what has been done here. I'm going back.

Jan 31, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Food was tasty and portions were fair, the service of wait staff was excellent and the hazelnut crostata for dessert was so delicious. Would go back again any day, great job cipri bros, keep the standards up.

Jan 16, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We visited Cipri last Saturday night for my sister in laws birthday and had a fantastic night eating and drinking prosecco. The boys made us feel so welcome, and I think it was Joe who organised our entrees for the table and they were simply divine. The stuffed zucchini flowers was my favourite. We will back!

Nov 30, 2010 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  9     

Came here back in September 2010 for the first time, and it was absolutely beautiful. This is a seriously sexy looking restaurant, with great food and that night, really good service. We went with our 2 children who are 8 and 11 and they were made to feel special and welcome, as were we. Kids ordered off the menu but I did ask about a kids menu earlier. They don't have a kids menu, but they were willing to make them schnitzel or calamari to keep them happy. We didn't need it, but it was lovely that they offered.

There were 7 of us and all agreed that food was beautiful. I ordered a tuna carpaccio which was absolutely divine and snapper for main, which again was beautiful. Those who had dessert loved it, and the coffee was great. I wrote at the time that we would definitely go back and as for value, this puts so many restaurants and even cafes to shame. For the quality, the food and the service, the value was fantastic.

That was then. We went back last night, and I stand by every word I said about the food. I actually ate exactly the same thing I ate last time, which I didn't realise until I reread this review. Food is lovely. However, the service last night was woeful. Actually it was almost non existent. We arrived, were seated, given water, and then didn't get any service until we begged a waiter to take our order almost an hour later. And that was the tone of the service all night. When we wanted to order coffee, we had to flag down a waiter to order it, ditto dessert, ditto the bill. Also, if you're going to allow friends of the chef or staff to hang around at the bar, then make them do it so they don't have their bum literally on the back of my chair. This went on for about an hour. Real shame as this is a beautiful restaurant which is seriously good value for the quality of the food.

Sep 12, 2010