Have been to Galante's for dinner three times so far, a most pleasurable dining experience. The food was excellent, fabulous friendly staff, great ambience, and good value for money. I can highly recommend it. I can't wait to try breakfast and lunch at Galante's. Keep up the great work. We'll be back soon. Your happy diners.
Update - we recently had Sunday lunch at Galante's. As good as expected - we look forward to a long lazy breakfast next time.
Original review, Dec 2007 (dinner): I was pleasantly surprised by Galantes'. I chose this restaurant mainly from reading Eatability reviews, and I couldn't be sure if it was as good as the reviews suggested. Sadly the courtyard was booked out for a function (so we were seated at the front of the restaurant. Our waitresses were extremely nice and accommodated all our requests with a smile (sharing entrees/mains/desserts between numerous people).
I was also impressed by their attention to detail (eg. bowls for discarded seafood shells, parmesan cheese for those with pastas, etc). The fluffy bowl of chips ($6.50) was a hit with our table, and everyone was impressed at how big their mains were, consequently, some of us couldn't finish our dessert!
The atmosphere is buzzy and noisy at times (particularly when a plane zooms overhead, spaced apart by 10-15 minutes). Buses also trundle up and down Norton St frequently, if you are seated at the front of restaurant. Probably best to come here with a group of friends rather than a dinner for 2.
Value was quite reasonable. I think our table was pleasantly surprised by the bill, considering the amount of food and desserts our table had had. Parking on Norton St is rather expensive on weeknights ($3/hr) so try to make use of the free parking at the back.
Updated review, July 2008 (lunch): Sadly our experience at Bar Galante's was nowhere near as solid at lunchtime as at dinner. The chips were nowhere near as good (a bit embarrassing for me as I had raved on to my friends about how more-ish they were). The rest of the meal was fairly standard. From this experience, I think I'll stick to Galante's at lunchtime..
My husband and I dined here for lunch on 24 April and were very impressed. Lovely pasta and wine. Very friendly service with lots of smiles. This restaurant seems to cater for everyone. The ages in the restaurant seemed to range from a 3 month old baby on an 80 year old. All customers were happy and enjoyed themselves. A very merry experience.
I have only just started going to restaurants through eatability reviews. I started with Galante's and was totally satisfied with everything. The courtyard is a highlight but make sure you ask for it when booking a table.
We went there on a thursday night and had a great time, the food is very authentic and good size portions. The service was very good and with a smile! Will be back for sure, keep up the great work we need more places like this one.
The meals were well prepared and presented, but portions were too large. I won't have entree here next time. Service was attentive. The restaurant can be very noisy.
I love this place. The only real thing I'd say is that they should make their portions smaller. Today for lunch we had a super fillet mignon, a boscaiola (excuse my spelling), a putanesca and a soft crab linguini. Excellent as usual. In addition it was under difficult circumstances as the restaurant is due to close tomorrow (29/1/8) for renos. Excellent food, lovely service and a relaxed atmosphere. If you want the flash hand behind the back whilst they pour the wine aspect, go somewhere else.
Very very disappointing. We came here for lunch on NY Eve solely on the recommendations on this website and we were excited to be trying something new and so highly recommended. Firstly, our table needed a good clean and then my husband was served Corona beer (not his favourite) after requesting Crown Lager. Our risotto and pasta were tasty, but not memorable, but our big mistake was to order the antipasto plate for two.
This arrived with two small slices of supermarket deli style ham, two small slices of very tired salami (we are an Italian family, where was the prosciutto??) plus a couple of slices of stale bread and two large slices of some very tasteless gray concoction my husband thought may be frittata and coloured gray because of the possible use of eggplant. We left most of our 'antipasto plate' uneaten and this was not commented upon by the waitress when she removed it, which was interesting.
We actually left here wondering whether we had stumbled by accident into the wrong place. We wished very much we had ended the year with a visit to a place we had enjoyed much more. We would not return here, nor would we recommend it.
After reading the recommendations of other diners we thought this was a good bet for lunch - Wrong. We aren't sure if it was because it was the day between a Sunday and New years day or if the bruschetta is always rock hard and the crab-filled mushroom (100% seafood extender-filled) are always features of the menu. We won't be back - sorry, very disappointing.
This is one place that thoroughly deserves its eatability reputation! Came here with a group of friends for a birthday dinner & had a thoroughly good time. Although we were quite noisy, and there isn't much in Galante's to absorb the racket, we were served with unfailing politeness by the friendly & obliging staff.
Our table loved the very more-ish chips (of which you get a veritable bucket) and the generously proportioned octopus salad as starters. I had the spaghetti vongole which was light, lithe and luscious, although a little bit more olive oil would have been nice.
My favourite meals are those where I can actually manage to eat three courses - and Galante's passed this test with flying colours. After the entree & main I was satisfied, but not sufficiently stuffed to have to avoid dessert... which was a good thing, because I had the berry meringue delight, which tastes just as good as it looks.
As a footnote, I do have to say that two of my companions found their mains a bit salty - can't remember what they had, but it involved fried seafood - but I've only reviewed my own meal... which was delicious! Bravo Galante's!
Had a work Christmas party here - based on the Eatability rating. Everyone very pleased with their meals. Prompt friendly service and a nice casual atmosphere. Definitely will return.