Fresh User Reviews for Italian in Sydney

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I had recently organised a party for 12 people at Sapore, and I couldn't have been happier. The food and service was amazing. We all had different meals and every single person on the table loved the food. It was so fresh and tasty. We'll all be back soon.

May 31, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  1     

Two people working the kitchen, 20 people waiting for meals, needless to say the food arrived some time later and when it did I wish the chef had waited an extra 5 minutes for the pasta to have cooked properly.

The wait staff were good but waiting 45 minutes for a meal at lunchtime in the CBD is not good business.

Besides the food was terrible. Despite being hungry I couldn't finish the meal and I rarely leave a meal not cleared. Didn't have any dessert which did look very good but as I was so late back to work no coffee/dessert for me. Won't go back.

May 31, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  5     

The arrival of this restaurant in North Turramurra was a welcomed addition to the offerings in the area, replacing the defunct Quattro and hopefully offering more accessible pricing than the upmarket Cooks Garden.

We've eaten there twice and attempted to book for a third time only to find it booked out on a Friday evening.

The menu and the quality of the food are to be commended, this place could be a real gem. The experience, however, is really let down by ambience and most of all service.

The ambience would be greatly enhanced by the installation of a door closer as the door blows open frequently rendering the closest tables useless. The table layout is confusing and cramped but that could easily be turned into an advantage if staff were able to work effectively with it.

The real problem is front of house. Leaving people waiting at the door or outside it causing confusion, the lack of effective table planning (get policy right on reservations), the lack leadership on the floor and the under trained staff who clearly have no game plan to work to. All this can be resolved readily, employ an empowered front of house manager, define a service plan, train the staff, monitor them and provide feedback.

I want to see this place succeed and I hope that they are able to work on this because the food is really good but they are turning off many locals at the moment.

May 31, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Il Piave is almost perfect. Italian generosity of spirit and flavour paired with a most exquisite restraint. Nothing is too much. The menu is very small, but so considered and balanced. No dish is overloaded, every ingredient has its moment to shine. The entrees and pastas are 'modern Italian' but prepared with such traditional integrity, every mouthful is like a prayer. The meat dishes defy choice. You will want to eat everything on the menu, and will return until you do.

May 31, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  9     

This is our local pizza takeaway, we always get a free something or other thrown in, and it's the perfect pizza for sitting on the sofa watching movies.

They could do with an injection of ambience to the restaurant, but as a takeaway it's our favourite!

May 30, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  4     

Wanted cake after dinner elsewhere. Went inside to check out the cake selection. Asked for cheesecake. Guy on counter mustered enough words to say he might have one out the back! Came back with baked ricotta, slapped it down in fridge with a thud. Chose cheese cake and pecan pie. Sat outside. Got cake, asked for water. Water never came. Annoying. Pecan pie was like a slab of dry soil. Or as my friend said "cockroaches in dry soil". Nice. Baked ricotta = ok.

Nothing to write home about. No one else came to see if we wanted anything so we went inside to pay. Waitress didn't seem too pleased to have to help. After paying (with card, no tip) I asked again for water. She said 'oh sorry, I was making coffees". I don't care. I'm thirsty. Won't be going again. Even if it is open late, serves cake and coffee. They should get some staff that give a toss, and sell cake that is fresh.

May 30, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  7     

I've had some truly excellent meals here, and I've had some truly terrible meals here. Consistency wouldn't seem to be their forte.

May 30, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  5     

This placed is always packed and popular in the evenings, particularly on weekends and last Friday did we got lucky by dropping in without a reservation. We were told from the outset that yes, they could fit us in though we needed to be done and dusted in an hour, which was fine, we intended grabbing an entree and pizza to share. If you like the hustle and bustle of a busy cafe (this is not a restaurant in my book) then great, lots of staff running around like headless chickens.

But if you prefer a relaxed, more sedate dining experience, avoid at all costs! The service was fine, though wihin 20 minutes, we felt pressured to eat up and be gone, the waitress 'hovered' constantly like a bird of prey to the point of annoyance. We were outside which was fairly manic, though going inside to settle the bill all hell was breaking loose with cutlery being dropped left right and centre!

The food? Ok, nothing amazingly flash to be frank. I'd give it another go, perhaps, for lunch on a nice day though wouldn't rush back in a hurry.

May 30, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7     

Great location. Perfect backdrop. I like the food but it is a little on the expensive side for what you get. Service is always solid. Good winelist.

May 30, 2012

9.6 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

The first impression when I walked in MJH’s restaurant was totally different than I came in last time: new decoration, new name as ” MJ’s “ which suits this restaurant and the hotel. New menu with all varieties of dishes which more than only normal pub food (PS, the waitress mentioned few more new dishes are coming up soon).

I ordered a rib eye (served with mushroom sauce) side dish with veggies, the rib eye cooked exactly what I ordered as med - rare, I can say it’s better than I expected, sauce taste nice and fresh with new set of veggies which made it looks gorgeous. Really friendly staff with perfect service provided. Great value, Great food! I definitely will come back again with my friends and family.

May 30, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Had a Maranello pizza, a spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread between 2 adults and 1 little kid for weekend lunch. It was plenty. Pizza was tasty, pasta was good but sauce a little bit on the tart side. My kid must have enjoyed it, he ate 2 cereal bowlfuls of the pasta.

Food was good, was glad when the staff changed the music to some latin stuff. I'm not keen on pop music during my meals.

May 30, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  3     

Firstly – the view is spectacular. However, this isn’t enough to make up for the incredibly slow service, the tatty furniture and the average food at ridiculous prices.

We were seated along a couch on one side of the table and although it was stuffed with cushions you could see all the wear and tear on it, making it look like furniture from a youth hostel rather than a nice restaurant. Similarly the metal surfaces needed polishing and there were crumbs on the chairs.

We arrived at 12pm for our lunch booking and didn’t get our entrees until 1.30pm. It then took another hour for mains. We had asked repeatedly about the delay and in the end we wanted to leave before the mains even came. When they did arrive they were really average and somehow things which should have been flavour-packed were bland. The only mains that some of our group enjoyed were the simple grilled fish, although again the sauces served with them were nothing special. And for $35+ dishes you feel ripped off.

I wouldn’t come back here, there are far better places around.

May 30, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

My husband took me to Otto's for a surprise birthday dinner, and it was such an impressive dining experience. The food is exceptional and well deserving of their One Chef's Hat (although personally I think it matches the criteria of Two Chef's hats). The service was professional and charming from our arrival right through to the end of the meal.

I highly recommend the souffle with truffle for entree. It was exquisite, with the right feathery and silky texture you would expect from a perfectly baked souffle. My main of smoked duck breast, raisin puree and roasted hazelnuts was absolutely gorgeous, the meat was beautifully tender, moist and melted in the mouth. Absolutely one of the best duck dishes I've eaten. A side order of truffle infused potato mash was so delicious and creamy my husband and I were fighting over the last spoonful.

The dessert menu is innovative and creative. I ordered the Amaretto liqueur brûlée with cocoa meringue, amaretti biscuits, cherries and sour cherry sorbet. Such a complex and quirky dessert item sounds impossible to execute but it was simply delightful. It's cheeky presentation looked like a little campfire on the plate.

I highly recommend Otto's if you are after a memorable dinner. Ask for seating upstairs if you are seeking a quiet, romantic dinner. My only complaint is to do with the furniture, the tables are too small which warrants the need for extra caution not to knock something onto the floor, and the chairs were uncomfortable. Othwerwise, Otto's gets a huge tick of approval.

May 30, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

Went to Vicini on Saturday night after hearing lots about the place and it didn't disappoint. We are from Surry Hills and have been heading to the Inner West lately and will certainly be back. Arrived about 8pm to a packed restaurant upstairs with the fire place roaring, the restaurant had a great buzz to it. We shared a few starter plates and my favourite was definitely the octopus. I had the lamb special for a main washed down with a bottle of Chianti, it was all first class, the wine list was great. Would highly recommend!

May 29, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

This restaurant is the worst restaurant I have ever dined in! I do not understand why people were queuing up to dine there. Pizzas are pathetic, serving size is a joke and if they employed waiters who spoke English, they might actually be able to understand your order the first time round instead of having to send it back to the kitchen multiple times!

Not only was the food horrible, but my family and I were unable to eat comfortably due to waiters squishing in as many customers as possible, pushing us right up against the walls! Do not be fooled by the cute little Italian slogan and traditional Italian atmosphere!

May 29, 2012

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

No entrees eaten but had the swordfish and lamb backstrap. Both were cooked perfectly with decent sizes servings. It was busy but the meals were timed quite well for us. Tables were too small for 4 people (2 were young teens) Owners are friendly with what appears to be a good local following. Better than expected. I shall go again.

May 29, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  7     

I went to Panarotti's for the first time last Wednesday night for the 15 dollar Pizza's. I was not expecting too much as it was State of Origin Night and I had read some reviews before going.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, the Pizza's were the best Pizza's we had had in long time, you can tell they are made fresh. (We had the Mobster) The staff we very friendly and attentive. From the moment we stepped in the door we were welcomed by a friendly smile and seated straight away.

The food was Hot and served Fast. We did not have to wait for a drink. It was definitely the best service and food we have had in a Restaurant in a very long time. My wife and I will definitely be coming back. The lady at the door was by far the most welcoming and friendly, she seated us took our drink order and even came back to check on us during the meal, Ort waiter was also friendly and had no problem in explaining the Pizzas to me. Good Job!

May 29, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  9     

We were hesitant coming to a local restaurant in lane cove, which is our local but not know for good food. And the reviews didn't make us want to come either. Despite this, we tried it for dinner on a Sunday.

My partner and I both really enjoyed our meal. The pizzas were fantastic, more napoli style rather than the crispy roman style which I think some people can call 'soggy'.

The ambience is very much like the italian pizzerias, loud and busy. Which is reflective in the service (these guys were not nearly as rude as the ones in italy). Upon reflection, our waitress was quite lovely.

We didn't have an issue with water, we asked for tap water and tap water was delivered. We had no issue with value or the cost of the pizzas. It didn't cost more than what you normally pay in other North Shore italian restaurants.

May 29, 2012

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  2     

The most arrogant Italian eatery I have ever come across. Appalled at the service, food and coffee. Everything they did for us was they bent over backwards for, actually quite shocked as to the standard of this greasy place. Don't expect a smile or acknowledgement unless your friends with Don Juan at the door.

May 29, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Been a Lipari regular for years, whenever they decide to move a few doors down, we have moved to. A great, simple pizzeria nothing to fancy, but good consistent food and service. I dare say that the last pizza I ordered was a margarita and it was a bit undercooked as the cheese wasn't melted properly but other than that have been very happy with this local.

May 29, 2012