Highly overrated, but a favourite of the Bournemou...

Highly overrated, but a favourite of the Bournemouth Echo.
We came here, 14 strong, on the back of a rave review in the Biuenemouth Echo... presumably they got to eat free and had preferential service, because their account and mine couldn't be further apart!

Difficult online booking service, with no confirmation of receipt, we ended up ringing to book instead.

On arrival, the staff were attentive, perhaps overly so, but this is an Italian restaurant.



A range of startes were tasty, from garlic mushrooms, whitebait, calamari, garlic bread, olives and more ... all delicious ... but, I'm afraid, the glowing review ends there!

Have you EVER been to an authentic Italian restaurant that serves a range of rice dishes, but NOT risotto?
Stodgy bowls of white rice in some non-descript tomato sauce with vegetables, (the only main on the menu suitable for a vegan IF you specifically ask, so they don't add butter or parmesan), or seafood.

Pasta dishes, mostly edible but, frankly, could have been a portion of microwaved 'Tesco Finest' ... actually ... it wasn't even that nice.
The lasagna... well, let's just say, when we brought that to their attention, they immediately took it off the bill and offered a free dessert... The lasagna was disgusting and I have absolutely no doubt it was not prepared the same day!

One of our party had a chicken dish ... my kids are all grown up now, but let's just say, I was reminded of soiled nappies!

Sweets ... nice enough, but definitely not 'just like Mamma used to make' ... we asked if there were any vegan pudding options and were told, the box for the Tiramisu says it has sulphates in it and the carton for the sorbet doesn't say whether or not it's vegan!

So ... for the menu ... say what you like about your Zizzi / Pizza Express / etc ... at least you can see your food being freshly prepared!

At best, our food was fresh out of the microwave!

Now ... the service ... I do appreciate that a larger party, in a busy restaurant can be a challenge, but that's why we are paying hard earned money to eat out rather than try and so it ourselves at home ... what I don't expect is pressurised staff, leaning across guests to deliver meals / pepper / parmesan without a simple 'excuse me'.



Sorry - I know you're the darling of Bournemouth Echo reviewers (who doesn't love a free meal!) ... but you missed the mark for us - by a long way!

Back to Bellagio for us for an authentic Italian meal for the family from now on.