Papa Giovanni

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  7     

Had lunch here on a very busy holiday weekend. Food was good (standard pizza for adults, spag bol for kids), service unfrazzled, and great location. Nothing of an epicurian nature, but good old-fashioned restaurant Italian food.

Jan 01, 2012 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Stopped in here more for the dessert than anything else, although the pizza we got was great. Freshly made with fresh tasty ingredients!

The gelato is some of the best ever! (and I have eaten lots in my life). Favourite flavour would have to be Ferrero, but all the other were great too. The Nutella Calzone was also good.

Our service was ok but could have been a bit quicker. Its a little pricey, but what do you expect facing Bondi beach? All up we were really happy and would love to go back to have a full dinner.

Oct 23, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I wouldn't have been to PG as it one of those places in Bondi that look touristy, but we went on a voucher, and we were pleasantly surprised, unlike a lot of the other reviews we had great service, and the Food was great too, the pizza was really good and the pasta was really tasty too, The gelato was a good way to finish off an afternoon in Bindo. I would definitely go back. It isn't my favourite Pizza/Pasta restaurant but worth a visit.

Oct 04, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

Food was good but service very poor...omg! had to wait and wait and wait for food to arrive, reminded staff 3 times and finally told they forgot our order. Our kids out while we waited for ours. Very disappointing. Senior Staff comments were appalling when he advised, well sometimes that happens! Never to return I'm afraid.

Aug 17, 2011 

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  6     

Came here as part of the Spreets $29 voucher, sat outdoors on a cold winter day but thankfully the heat lamps warmed us up as soon as we arrived.

The service at times can be gruff, yet I didn't feel that they were at all rude, but rather had character. Its a shame though that a place that has so much potential has decided to use shortcuts such as using minced garlic in a jar for their garlic bread, a basic menu item that every italian restaurant should get right. The sausage and spinach pizza was nice, albeit the pastry a little thicker than I would've liked, and the spaghetti with clams sauce needed a lot more flavor yet the pasta cooked perfectly. Ended the meal with two takeaway gelato perfect for walking along the beach.

A few improvements could make this a nice place to come to and hopefully the restaurant will take note of the comments on here to make it what it should be.

Jun 19, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

I liked this place. Their seafood pastas were perfect. I had Spaghetti Volgole and my girlfriend had the Prawn Fettuccine. The garlic bread was a bit salty but wonderful nonetheless. The service was friendly and welcoming and suits the style of restaurant. I'm a pasta fan and theirs was a good balance of seafood and pasta.

Around $24 for a seafood pasta that tastes great, worth it.
Gelato. Yeh, its gelato. It is supposed to taste really wonderful. Anyway, it is an excellent finish to the night to have gelato in Bondi. If you're trying to save, you could always go to McDonalds next door for a soft serve.

May 22, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  2     

First off, what TEerrible service. From the minute we walked through the door, to the end. At first they couldn't find our booking even though we had made one, then after a big sigh that he'd finally found it, we got ushered to our table and only received 1 menu to share between 4 people.

It was very difficult to get the attention of a waiter to take our order. The food was average (you can't really go wrong with a pizza and pasta, and if you do you don't deserve to be called Italian). Then came dessert, we order 4 regular single scoop gelatos. When it came out we didn't even question the size as we thought they were just generous portions.

It wasn't until the end of the meal when we got the bill, they had charged us 4 double scoops, even though we had asked for regulars, we argued it wasn't our fault (but were made to pay for it anyway), and the senior staff yelled out "Don't worry about it, we will take it out of his tips", I found that Highly unprofessional and rude to point out the waiter who made the mistake and ridicule him in front of the whole restaurant.

It was so off-putting and I can honestly say, I will Never dine there again. The staff, in particular the senior staffs, really need to go to etiquette school and learn some manners!

May 09, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  4     

I had a very disappointing dining experience at Papa Giovanni! I went there last night with a coupon and the minute the staff realised we had the voucher, the service was extremely slow and unfriendly. There was a lengthy wait for the menus, ordering and finally for the food to arrive. But what topped off the night was when we were presented with a bill at the end of the night for our double serving of gelatos which we had not ordered. The manager was extremely rude and unprofessional. The whole exprience left a bad taste in our mouth and we will certain not recommend this place to anyone!

May 08, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  4     

I think no matter how nice the food is in a restaurant, service plays an huge part of all things. This restaurant definitely bad in service, extremely un-polite when we booked the table. So, not recommended.

May 05, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Went there with the $29 coupon with my friend a week ago and I thought the experience was fantastic. I don't know why people are complaining about the service, but for me and my friend that night the service was fantastic. The waiter serving us was very attentive. But the best part about the restaurant was the food. OMG the pasta was fantastic! I had the pasta with mussels and it is to die for! Totally delicious.

The garlic bread entree was also very good. I would've gave the value of this restaurant 10 stars because of the coupon but considering the original prices of these dishes, a 7 is more than generous.

May 02, 2011