summer

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  2     

This place has seriously gone downhill in recent months which is so disappointing as we live so close and always used it for takeaway pizza. I do believe it has changed management in the last 6 months so perhaps that's got something to do with it.

I have ordered my last ever pizza from Balmain Trattoria after seeing what they served up on my last order. The seafood pizza had two small prawns on it and no other seafood and all three pizzas we ordered were swimming in a cheap, oily cheese. I can only guess they use this amount of cheese to cover up the lack of other ingredients on the pizza. Anyway, do yourself a favour and get your pizza elsewhere.

Apr 13, 2008

4.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  3     

Having been fully briefed on the slow service before going we ordered the Turkish bread and dips to see us through until our mains arrived. This was a life saver as by the time our mains showed up we were all hungry again. It really is painfully slow service. I had the lamb loin, my husband the duck breast and our friend the salmon and the pick of the mains was the duck breast although they were all forgettable dishes...nice but nothing I'd go back again for. It disappointed me that when we paid the bill instead of bringing the change back (allowing us to decide on the tip we would leave) they 'assumed' the change was the tip. This is my pet hate at any restaurant. Normally I'd have something to say about it to the waitstaff but after being in the place for several hours already due to the wait time on the food I just wanted to get out of there. I won't be rushing back to Kazbah.

Feb 05, 2007

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  3     

I have to agree with previous comments on this place...overhyped, overpriced and tables too close together (it's just not pleasant. I elbowed the lady behind me twice in the ribs by accident, she was sitting that close to me!). We lined up at 5.30pm on a Saturday night and with only about 10 in the queue in front of us we got a table when it opened at 6pm.

The orange duck, I agree, is sensational and that dish alone is almost worth experiencing the place again just to have it a second time. However that's where the good news ends. As for the snapper in ginger and shallots...for anyone that fancies that dish, do yourself a favour, buy the Blue Ginger cookbook, turn to page 74 and cook it yourself (with whatever your fish of choice is)! It's ten times more flavoursome than the recipe at Billy Kwongs. Overall, very disappointing. We won't be stupid enough to line up again.

Aug 24, 2006

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I need to get my Il Baretto fix at least once a fortnight! The food is simple but tasty and I always find the wait staff very friendly. I've recommended this place to a number of friends and they are also now hooked. Great value and great food! Get yourself there!

Feb 09, 2006

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.8 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  1     

This restaurant is definitely overrated. Such a shame as I had been looking forward to eating here and had heard such good things about it. This isn't traditional Italian food and as for the egg/truffle pasta...I never want to smell it or taste it again. Lift your game Buon Ricordo. I'm happy to pay your expensive prices but I expect a great dining experience in return. I recommend you send your head chef to Italy for awhile to learn how it's done.

Dec 14, 2005

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  2     

This place has seriously gone downhill in recent months which is so disappointing as we live so close and always used it for takeaway pizza. I do believe it has changed management in the last 6 months so perhaps that's got something to do with it.

I have ordered my last ever pizza from Balmain Trattoria after seeing what they served up on my last order. The seafood pizza had two small prawns on it and no other seafood and all three pizzas we ordered were swimming in a cheap, oily cheese. I can only guess they use this amount of cheese to cover up the lack of other ingredients on the pizza. Anyway, do yourself a favour and get your pizza elsewhere.

Apr 13, 2008

4.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  3     

Having been fully briefed on the slow service before going we ordered the Turkish bread and dips to see us through until our mains arrived. This was a life saver as by the time our mains showed up we were all hungry again. It really is painfully slow service. I had the lamb loin, my husband the duck breast and our friend the salmon and the pick of the mains was the duck breast although they were all forgettable dishes...nice but nothing I'd go back again for. It disappointed me that when we paid the bill instead of bringing the change back (allowing us to decide on the tip we would leave) they 'assumed' the change was the tip. This is my pet hate at any restaurant. Normally I'd have something to say about it to the waitstaff but after being in the place for several hours already due to the wait time on the food I just wanted to get out of there. I won't be rushing back to Kazbah.

Feb 05, 2007

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  3     

I have to agree with previous comments on this place...overhyped, overpriced and tables too close together (it's just not pleasant. I elbowed the lady behind me twice in the ribs by accident, she was sitting that close to me!). We lined up at 5.30pm on a Saturday night and with only about 10 in the queue in front of us we got a table when it opened at 6pm.

The orange duck, I agree, is sensational and that dish alone is almost worth experiencing the place again just to have it a second time. However that's where the good news ends. As for the snapper in ginger and shallots...for anyone that fancies that dish, do yourself a favour, buy the Blue Ginger cookbook, turn to page 74 and cook it yourself (with whatever your fish of choice is)! It's ten times more flavoursome than the recipe at Billy Kwongs. Overall, very disappointing. We won't be stupid enough to line up again.

Aug 24, 2006

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I need to get my Il Baretto fix at least once a fortnight! The food is simple but tasty and I always find the wait staff very friendly. I've recommended this place to a number of friends and they are also now hooked. Great value and great food! Get yourself there!

Feb 09, 2006

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.8 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  1     

This restaurant is definitely overrated. Such a shame as I had been looking forward to eating here and had heard such good things about it. This isn't traditional Italian food and as for the egg/truffle pasta...I never want to smell it or taste it again. Lift your game Buon Ricordo. I'm happy to pay your expensive prices but I expect a great dining experience in return. I recommend you send your head chef to Italy for awhile to learn how it's done.

Dec 14, 2005