Il Perugino

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Used to go here often but both the food and service started to go downhill. We now have a new favourite.

Apr 03, 2012 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Arrived early in the night so the restaurant filled up as we ate. Food was great, we even reordered one of the entrees. Tables were a bit close together, had to rearrange slightly when neighbours got up. Service was snappy with a mix between spoken and written menus. No prices on the menu but end tally was reasonable for the level of food and service at $65 per head for 3 courses.

Dec 03, 2011 

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  4     

My wife and I have been dining at Il Perugino for about 12 years and previously enjoyed most meals very much. Hence, our regular visits. The last couple of times we have noticed the food and value slipping somewhat.

We thought we would give it another shot and dined there last weekend with some friends. Unfortunately, this will probably be our last visit for a while.
Firstly, the food is by no means bad, but not that special either. After discussing this during and after the meal, we all came to the conclusion that it could be fixed quite simply.

We all felt that the menu (now printed, rather than read out) is missing some important dishes that have always been an Il Perugino staple. Any menu without a Beef or Chicken dish does not really cater to most people. Also where was the Venison, the stuffed zucchini flowers, the sardines and most importantly any kind of chocolate dessert?

The previous owner also used to greet and farewell everyone at the door, which was always a nice touch. This is now also missing. We really wish Il Perugino would have kept the old menu format that was read out and ever changing, but keeping the familiar selection we had always enjoyed. Very, very sad.

Nov 01, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I bought Il Perugino having heard some great reviews from friends about the place, I then looked on here before and began to worry. We were a table of 6 and ended sitting fairly near the door, it was a cold and wet night but we were all still warm. The restaurant was packed but we had efficient, friendly and helpful service from our waiter. Our food was fantastic, the Tiramisu was heaven. We had a great night at a reasonable cost for the quality of the food. It helps that it's BYO. We will definitely be back.

Jun 24, 2011 

5.5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  3     

I had lunch with a friend last week. Although there is now a written menu of sorts on a poctcard size menu there were no prices. The past entrees were tasty although when the bill arrived - our very small portions of pasta were $22-25. The main course be comparison was cheap at $28 although you need to add vegetables or salad. Most of the patrons at lunch were grey haired and talked loudly and we were so close to the other patrons it was even more difficult to hear each other. On the upside it is BYO.

Jun 18, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  4     

Disappointing evening and I had been wanting to go there for so long! Too crowded, perhaps a greedy restauranteur? Over complicated menu with no prices, I'm sure we are not the only price conscious dinners.

May 28, 2011 

3.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  1     

The food was average, service was okay. However, there is a minimum charge of $45 that you are not advised of until you sit down and order. The menu has no prices, the waiter could have made up prices for all we knew, he wasn't making it clear. When we asked how much a dish was he would give a figure between this much and that much. There are too many "rules" to what you can eat on what you have to spend which is ridiculous.

Overall, an over-priced place for average food restaurant. Not sure why there is such an older aged crowd there. You would think people would know how to taste what quality food is if they are paying for it. Never going back there.

May 05, 2011 

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  2      Service  4      Value  9     

Too light and too tight best describes the ambience of this restaurant. The tables are crowded together and it felt like we were sitting on our neighbours laps. I rated the food a 5 because my particular choices were not enjoyable at all. There were 4 in our group and 2 really enjoyed all of their choices, 1 enjoyed his main and dessert and I really only enjoyed the dessert. My main of spaghetti with calamari arrived minus the chilli which resulted in a dry and bland dish. I had to "steal" peas from my husbands dish to add some colour and flavour.

The highlight of the menu was definitely the desserts which were by far the "winners" of the night. It was possibly the best tiramisu I have eaten. The restaurant is BYO and does not charge corkage and at the end of the night we paid $65 per person for 3 courses, which was a nice surprise considering the prices were absent from the menu. This was a disappointing first and last visit.

Dec 05, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  9     

The locals keep this place full to the brim every night, and it's not surprising. The menu changes weekly. Earlier in the week you get a printed menu, with no prices, and later in the week the waiters recite it. Don't be put off. We had more than we could eat, two courses each came in under $100, it's BYO and no corkage.

There was terrific variety, kingfish carpaccio, rabbit ravioli, veal shanks, lamb on the bone, whole fish. I had a chicken liver pate which had the texture of foie gras (which I will no longer eat in France!) and the slow roasted shoulder of lamb with lemon and garlic was simply falling off the bone. Our complaint was that it was simply too much, it seemed like a whole shoulder each.

The only downside and the reason for the low service score, was not due to the three attentive waiters, but simply because it took an hour for our entrees to arrive. But the restaurant, which was recommended by Italian friends and has been going for years, couldn't be faulted for taste and generosity in servings, a top Italian restaurant north of the Harbour Bridge. We will definitely return.

Nov 20, 2010 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Ok I really enjoyed what I ate here and the jammed in tables definitely creates a cosy atmosphere but for me the main thing that detracts from this place is a positive for many others. No menu! Everything is described by the very friendly waiters, I like to dwell over a menu, but this way I had forgotten the first menu item by the time he finished describing the last menu item. So if you have a short attention span, like me, get someone else to order for you!

Oct 21, 2010