Aaaahhhh Taaaavooollaaa The space, that buzzing communal table, the courtyard outback - in either position, you'll just want to stay all night. Our waiter was so wonderfully Italian. We could hardly understand what he was saying. But we didn't want to tell him to stop, as he rolled of the specials with such passion and animation- we just let his rolling rrrrrrrs and sweet accents be music to our ears. Engaging service to say the least. Wines list - bellissima. Food - billissima some more. Chef could not have cooked my salmon more perfectly if he tried. That parpadelle number won't be forgotten any time soon either. Soft ribbons of pasta swathed in a rich sauce of slow cooked pork and figs. No room for dolce! My favourite dinner experience in Sydney to date. Get me back there soon! read more

It ain't cheap. My last meal there came out to a touch over 90 a head. although that included wine. If you don't mind shelling out $30+ for a pasta main, please continue. If you a visceral reaction against paying that much for wheat and water (and that I can understand), then I don't suggest you come here. Now, if you're still reading, I can recommend A Tavola very highly. I am a great fan of intimate dining and the restaurant upstairs is sufficiently divided into small spaces that you can enjoy your meal without being overwhelmed by noise or by crowds. The light level is low, good for romantic dinners (although I have yet to enjoy that personally. It's been friends and colleagues thus far). The service is generally excellent. Food arrives at regular intervals; the meal is not rushed, but there are no gaping spaces between courses. Most of the proficient wait staff is Italian, from up and down the peninsula, and they seem fairly familiar with details of Italian cuisine: I've had a couple conversations with them about regional dishes and variations thereof. Their wine list, while not extensive, shows a fairly broad selection of Italian varietals--and again, the waitstaff seem quite familiar with what's on offer. The prices for the vino are perhaps a trifle high, but I understand that alcohol often subsidizes the cost of the food. As for the food itself, I must base my review on the three meals I've had here. In addition to some pretty standard but tasty antipasti, they have some regular mains (the Bucatini all' Amatriciana, Rigatoni al Ragu and a few others) that are first rate. In addition, there are always a number of specials of the day that all look devastatingly edible. I've yet to try their ratatouille (which was on offer on two occasions) nor their fish soup (what my nonna would have called a cioppino). But on my last visit, I had a black linguine with lobster. Pasta, sauce and meat were all superb. And that brings me to the pasta in general. It is actually quite difficult to get proper al dente pastas outside of Italy. Why this is the case, I am not sure. Whatever the reason, their homemade noodles are perfectly cooked. This alone to my mind makes coming to A Tavola worthwhile. I wouldn't call this restaurant an every day affair, given its price. But I've no objection to paying a fair amount for really good food. Too often in Sydney and elsewhere, you can pay a lot for mediocre fare. Fortunately, A Tavola delivers. read more

Have tried A Tavola in Bondi. Was informed the Darlinghurst was the better one. I liked the cosiness of the place and was glad we weren't placed at the communal table. There is more seating down the stairs and out the back. The staff seem to have been imported from Italy. They take the time to go thru the menu which I found unnecessary as the menu had descriptions of each dish. As much as I love staff interaction, I had trouble understanding the waiter. I do believe the food here is better than the Bondi establishment. All full of flavour. The size of the dishes are huge in comparison to the amount of food in it as well as the size of the table. I don't like it when they ask you if you want still or sparkling water without the option of tap when they do serve it. A plus is that we could take our leftovers home. It was well packaged in recyclable containers in a paper bag. The let down of this is that they staple it. More staples than necessary. read more

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I came here with a group of friends after hearing so much about this place (Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, anyone?) We made a booking (you will have to) since this place is no stranger to customers. It's definitely on the romantic side, so if you need a date idea you can't go wrong with A Tavola. There's a standard menu and a special menu that changes often. Our server knew his stuff, and gave plentiful recommendations in regards to portion sizes and what most people order. My good friend recommended the pappardelle saying it's the best he's ever had (apparently they go through different meats like lamb, turkey, beef, and so on...we had the turkey version.) I have to agree with his assessment...but full disclosure, this is the first time I've ever had pappardelle, but it was damn good. We went on an ordering binge as you can see from the photos uploaded....highlights were the Olive all Ascolana, buffalo mozzarella, pappardelle, bucatini, taglioni, and carpaccio. The other dishes were also very good, but those stood out. Our server somehow knew to come by just when we needed him to, so bravo on that. One of the best Italian places in Sydney. read more

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A very romantic night with my love.......:) We both hv starter n main, I had polenta baked with salami with Pam chz on top.... I love polenta so I order it. It taste good with truffle oil n chz mixed with polenta but it so salty of the salami...... My love had one is pouched veal he said it very salty too as the sea salt in it. Main i had pasta with mussels n love had lamb Pasta both pasta was handmade it's wonderful same as the mussel n lamb read more

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This is a very quiet, classical, romantic Italian restaurant with perfectly executed, mostly traditional Italian food. We were seated upstairs - I think if you're dining with friends, being downstairs at the communal table is a lot less "intimate". The service was impeccable. Very attentive, polite and knowledgable wait staff. The food was great - dessert was a standout for me. A modern twist on a classic affogato served in a cappucino cup. With salted caramel sprinkles on top. I nearly lost my mind eating that thing! Also they predominantly (or perhaps ONLY) have Italian wines here, so if you dislike an earthy Italian red... well, fair warning! read more

A Tavola - Spaghetti alla cozze & a glass of sicilian wine. - Italian Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

I am definitely not a fan!! I've been here twice. First time was mediocre and came for a second time as my sister said it had changed for the better. We left unsatisfied again. A few hygiene problems, below par waitstaff quality and hit and miss food. I'm afraid I'm going to have to classify this restaurant as one of the many over-hyped places. More info below. So the hygiene issue is related to the seating at the long communal table. The waitstaff did not wipe down the surface after diners left meaning residue from the previous meal stayed. As they set the cutlery directly onto the table without any sort of material underneath...this means that any food yuck stuff from the previous meals of the night can get onto your spoon, fork etc. ew! Maybe they do wipe it down on some nights but when my sister and I went yesterday they did not at all. Service is also questionable. They do a poor job in not bumping into you when serving and they took a long time seating people when there were spaces available; we were lucky to be seated quickly, however, a line did form up near the doorway inside the restaurant and we felt very sorry for them particularly as there were open and already set spaces. We also witnessed a rude interaction when a customers entered the restaurant and proceeded to find a friend who was already in the restaurant. The waiter rudely told her to wait at the door (in the line) even when told that her friend was already in the restaurant. The food was a hit or miss. The pappardelle with ragu was so watery and too salty. For a Italian restaurant that prides itself with fresh pasta, the overall quality of the surrounding elements were unexpectedly poor. The ravioli was a solid 5/10. Nothing special and forgettable. The spaghetti with mussels etc was a redeeming dish and sits at a solid 7/10. The burrata was great 8/10 but we got another starter with octopus and beans and that was disgusting 2/10. Overall, not worth the hype, the price and the taste. I wouldn't even recommend this place as a date spot as the lighting is bad and it is really hard to talk here without having to talk exhaustively loudly. Will not return! read more

I may not have been to every Italian restaurant Sydney has to offer, but I do know that this is some of the best pasta I've had in any restaurant in the world (although I've only been to Italy once, and I was 9 or 10). If you don't book in advance you'll likely be seated at that the large communal table at the front of the restaurant, so you'll likely be seated next to your partner as opposed to opposite, which personally, I'm not a massive fan of, but guess I'll let it slide! The highlight of the menu for me is the Pappardelle con Ragu di Manzo e Rafan (slow braised beef in red wine, rosemary and tomato - $34). The handmade pappardelle is fantastic and the sauce is rich and thick. Washed down with half a bottle of the Steffano Massone Gavi ($69 - the dining partner had the other half), and it was a filling meal even without an entree or dessert! Although the appearance of the Cremino al Cioccolato (chocolate and hazelnut crema, salty caramel gelato, Italian meringue - $14) at our neighbours proved too tempting, so we got one to share. Totally worth it! It may be a little pricier than many of the other choices on Victoria St, but you certainly get what you pay for here! read more

A Tavola - Italian Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Gorgeous little restaurant with simple but authentic Italian food. Wonderful and friendly service. Be prepared to be seated at the long communal table downstairs, and chat to the people sitting close to you if you feel inclined. This place does amazing things with mushrooms. But aside from that, excellent pasta and excellent salads. I can't wait to go back to try more! read more

A Tavola - Specials board tonight - Italian Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

You can deduce immediately after reading the menus (wall and paper versions) that this tucked away restaurant is pasta based, which for us on this occasion was ideal. I read about the communal dining situation beforehand but still being confronted with the reality was quite disheartening, I'm not a "communal table with strangers" type of gal but hey putting up with it this once...the food better be sensational. As aforementioned, they have a small paper menu plus a consigli menu written on a board on the wall outlining their fresh handmade pastas of the day. The options did look delectable until I found out everything had chilli heat in it, despite it not being outlined on the menu. In fact our strong Italian accented waiter whom was explaining the entire menu to us, proudly described it as "we put chilli in everything". After I politely detailed chilli was death to me, he counter offered that the chefs could whip up a simple pasta dish of spaghetti, buffalo mozzarella, basil and tomato based sauce which they serve to the "gluten free customers". So because I don't eat chilli I am suddenly classed as gluten free? Apparently this option wasn't even on the menu. I was curious what they'd charge this dish as and sure enough on the bill at the end it was totaled up as "GF pasta". Ookay then. My partner was less complicated; he went for the ever popular lamb ragu pappardelle pasta, which was quite good accordingly to him but not chilli enough- if at all. For appetizers we went for the buffalo mozzarella, rocket, tomato & prosciutto and fried salame veneto, polenta & parmigiano, served with bread starter + dipping oil. These dishes were well made and fresh, especially all that rocket but average tasting. In the end I didn't mind my GF dish, the pasta did taste gluten free ish (you can taste the difference) but it was the sauce that truly made it. Tomato based sauce pasta dishes are a dime a dozen but so many are hit or miss. This time worked well and if I had the capacity to finish the plate I would've. Although it was slightly more sauce drowned than pasta. It was still over $100 for the two of us but we didn't have a bad experience. Just not going to be jumping through hoops to make another reservation. read more

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This is a romantic restaurant that is the perfect date spot for any special occasion. The staff are friendly, the wine list is amazing and the fresh made pasta is to die for in their dishes. This is Italian dining as it should be. The huge communal table is great if you enjoy the buzz of the happy crowd and the back room tables perfect if you want to wine and dine alone with your special someone. Go for any of the pasta dishes with any of the seafood options and you can't go wrong. As this place is for a special occasion the price reflects that. Having only frequented the one in the city I will say that one at Bondi looks just as enticing - will have to head there for that next special evening. read more

A Tavola - Seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

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A Tavola has been a favourite of mine for years. It is one of the very few Sydney Italian restaurants that still serves authentic Italian food (no fusion or foams here) and kept its sexiness. There are a few restrictions due to the size of the restaurant. They have a small capacity and you may end up on the communal table, which I actually prefer but not everyone does. But once you get past that you'll see the high quality and consistency of their food, drinks, as well as their service (wish I could say the same for some of the other popular celebrity chef affiliated or trendy Italian restaurants). They've even now got cheat sheets for those who cannot read the Italian menu or remember what the waitstaff said. Definitely recommended for a first date, or in our case...any excuse we can come up with date. Did I mention they are sexy? read more

This is possibly my favourite Italian restaurant in Sydney. Trendy restaurant in a converted terrace with courtyard, on Darlinghursts vibrant Victoria St. Open during the week and on weekends (closed Sunday). Friday and Saturday it has two sittings - 6:30 and 8:30. You must book to avoid disappointment. A Tavola has consistent a la carte menu and always boasts an impressive seasonal list of specials. It is on the pricey side, but worth every cent. All pastas are made on site and are simple exceptional. You must try the pappardelle dish at least once. I have tried it twice now, once with beef and once with pork. Zuppa de Pesce is also outstanding as is the Osso Bucco. Complement your main with the crisp red cabbage salad, you won't be disappointed! The wine list is comprehensive and if you don't know your Italian wines then the wait staff are knowledgeable and make great recommendations based on your dishes. The dessert selection caters for different palates and the cheese platter are divine. Staff are knowledgeable and passionate about excellent food and wine and this is reflected in excellent service. I highly recommend A Tavola for both a romantic night for two or for a social night out with friends. Bellissimo! Tip: If you do want a more intimate experience, make sure you ask for a table in the courtyard or upstairs rather than on the communal table. read more

In a romantically lit townhouse-come-restaurant, with a delicious glass of a Sangiovese, a slow cooked baby goat parpadelle and an Italian waiter with passion for the menu, you could fool yourself into thinking you were in Italy. Enough said. read more

Simple Italian meals. Hand made pasta drying on racks around the restaurant - sometimes on the backs of the chairs. Meat plates as entrees with enough meat to stuff you silly. We headed here with another couple at Valentines (highly recommended to escape the cliche that is the lovey dovey couple) and braved the queue of people at the second sitting. Had a great entree of mortadella, bresaola and prosciutto and a main of papardelle and shredded wagyu and finished off with their chocolate dessert (of course). Exceptional food. Wine was not the best except for the dessert prosecco, would have liked some Australian wines. Good service. read more

We experienced an enjoyable meal at this restaurant tonight. The service was very good , the staff were very friendly and attentive. The menu had a special for the day section. The general menu was also offered. Long table seating option, individual table service, bookings can be made. The food was good the pasta dish special for the night was a little on the cool side, but still enjoyable and a reasonable serving. The fish special was good the potatoes were under cooked, but all ok. The price was as expected a little pricey for the type of meal. I probably will return. read more

ATavola meaning 'to the table', is a smart and cute Italian bistro, that's been a firm favourite of mine for years. The entrance to the restaurant is dominated by a large marble communal dining table, while the back room and the upstairs sections provide more intimate seating with smaller tables. You can always be assured of friendly efficient service and consistently good quality food, at reasonable prices. The restaurant's main menu is printed on a small piece of paper tucked into your napkin. Take my advice and immediately put this to the side. Not that there aren't some great options on this menu, but you're after the good stuff. You want that Blackboard menu. The Blackboard menu contains their 'specials' - especially their homemade pasta selections for the evening. This is where you'll find those true gems. Mr T and I dine on a Friday evening, and immediately set our minds to the Blackboard menu. I was pleased to see the Buratta entree was still on the menu - a dish I can never go past. Also, the Pappardelle (which I order every time) was a pork ragu this evening. My choices were made. Easy. Mr T chose the Quail entree and the Fish Ravioli. As expected, all the dishes were amazing and my reputation was upheld. When it was time for dessert, I tentatively asked our waitress if the salted caramel dessert, which was served to look like a cappuccino, was still on the menu. Turns out it was! Take it from me. This is a dessert you will remember for a long time to come and it is well worth those extra calories. Love this place! read more

A Tavola, Bondi Beach Vibe Open, airy and crisp. It doesn't need much else, the freshly made pasta drying on the large 10.4m marble tavola (table) in the middle of the restaurant speaks for itself. Lovers of authentic premium pasta and hungry people in general. I was surprised to see hungry 'little' people (children, not dwarfs) slurping on spaghetti. Initially I wouldn't have picked it for a family restaurant but A Tavola very much is. My boyfriend and I came here with his mother and her partner for Sunday lunch and we were all thoroughly impressed by the food and the staff who are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and come with a charming Italian accent. Spend $$$ It was an expensive lunch - Thank you Denise and Searly for your generosity Dress code The place carries the casual Bondi vibe. Lunch was very relaxed and comfortable, I'm sure dinner would be along the same dress code. Must try dishes The pasta is freshly made every morning and left out on the marble table to dry. The menu changes daily and the specials are written on the chalk board, this is where you want to order from. We ordered (images clockwise) the mezzelune con piselli e ricotta (ravioli) , Orecchiette Con Fegatini di pollo, Pappardelle con ragu di manzo. The ragu was my favourite followed by the ravioli. We also had the Calamari Fritti, very nice and soft. The baked olives was something I hadn't tried before it was an arancini-esque ball with a baked olive in the middle, really delicious! The best part The dessert! The tagliatelle con maiale in latte - so understated. Its served like a latte but it's incredible, the table fell silent. You have to dig deep to scoop up all the layers of chocolaty/cream goodness - MUST TRY!! Love Bangers x See my blog for photos :) read more

Fantastic authentic little itallian place in Darlinghurst. Book ahead to get a private table upstairs or try your luck at the door like we did. We arrived without a booking and asked if there was any chance of getting a table, the guy assisting us was very friendly and indicated to a group of men on the communal table and said they are about to leave if we could wait 10mins or so. he directed us across the street to a cocktail bar and took our number. we were happy to wait with a cocktail and within 5 minutes he had called to say the table was ready when we were. We ended up on the HUGE communal table that takes up the entire lower level which was fine and we made friends with the people around us. Entree salad was fresh and delicious. both our mains were perfectly al dente and full of flavour. We decided to share their signature dessert - a layered chocolate, salted carmael and itallian meringue dish that is served in a cup and looks like a cappuccino! So much that when the waitress pout it down we said We didn't order that! She said, no, that's your dessert and turned the cup upside down to show that it wasn't a coffee! too funny. Anyway, be warned, this is not for sharing. get your own!! Wonderful night with fantastic food and service. read more

A Tavola came highly recommended and now I know why. Wow, what an evening. Our table of three shared apps of fresh pasta and then mains of mezzeluna stuffed with ling cod, a chicken/veal/pork mince bolognese-style pasta, and parpadelle with short rib meat sauce no room for dessert, only two bottles of wine All was served to us by handsome Florentine-born Phillipo on the back patio Can't wait to come back. read more

A Tavola came highly recommended, and we found our 5 dishes ok, clearly made with care and fresh ingredients, but nothing stood out for me as exceptional except the marshmallow-y dessert served in a coffee cup which was quite good. Tried the polenta and crab pasta, and the ricotta starter - both ok, but not something I would crave or seek out to have again. I also found the dishes quite pricey ($350 for a dinner for 5, 1 bottle of wine, 2 desserts and three starters). The primary menu only lists the names of the dishes - so ask for the menu with the descriptions of the dishes so you can make an informed choice ... Perhaps I am spoiled by Trovata's Italian food just down the street which I had earlier in the week, or the wood-fired pizzas at the lovely Puntino Trattoria on Crown which I personally prefer and found much more reasonably priced, though neither of these places is as trendy as A Tavola. read more

Excellent service, always evolving menu with quality fresh produce, words can not describe this venue you just simply have to visit and enjoy... Although this is at the higher end of price it's certainly worth it for the attention to detail and freshness Main part of restaurant is communal table but out the back has excellent romantic tables for small groups of four or two. The wine is a little expensive but enjoyable. All the staff here go out of their way to make you feel welcome... I'd talk about the menu but there is no point as it changes weekly :-) Great for a romantic date or with friends read more

Amazing food in a very cute space. Felt like a neighborhood gem. Staff was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Everything felt authentic Italian. Would definitely go back. read more

Fabulous dinner and atmosphere was fabulous. The staff makes you feel like you are in Italy. The pasta dishes were large and can easily be shared. read more

recently went to A Tavola with a group of friends as it was highly recommended to us. we were not disappointed with the food at all. the venue itself was somewhat small with 2 floors. we were seated upstairs and it was a bit on the warm side. luckily we were next to some windows and had some air to cool us down. we started with some delicious entrees - Buffalo mozzarella, rocket, tomato, prosciutto | Fried salame Veneto, polenta, parmigiano | Baked olives. the baked olives were by far the best. i went with the spatchcock which literally melted in your mouth. it was prepared wonderfully over risotto. they have a good wine selection and the staff were very helpful with explaining each dish thoroughly. they were able to handle our group of 8 without issues. read more

I was with 5 of my besties and we all love good food experiences, good service with knowledge and an atmosphere that brings it to life. Plus the wine list added to the experience. Were we in Sydney or Italy? Great night. The location to other bars and pubs after dinner is fantastic too - just a short walk across the road to The Victoria Rooms (for an exy teapot cocktail) or The Green Park (if you fancy a more casual beer after). The only downside to A Tavola was that it was a little dark for our 40+ eyesight, we had to download a 'torch' app to read the menu - but I guess that added to the atmos. We'll be back. read more

WOW!! Amazing pasta, great but subtle service and divine deserts. Wine list pricing is somewhat hefty for what is on offer, but on the whole worthwhile. Definitely heading back here soon. read more

Very nice location, ambiance and waitstaff. The food was sub-par unfortunately. Undercooked pasta, runny burrata, over-seasoned dishes. Would avoid this place read more

Slightly inebriated I walked past a gorgeous looking guy standing in the doorway of a gorgeous looking restaurant. I was oooh-ing and ahhh-ing and he handed me his card and told me to book in and come to this divine eatery. I was thrilled to try it out and took 'Lover' on a date, mid week. It was rainy outside and lovely to enter the tastefully modern Italian restaurant. We were welcomed by an agreeable host and escorted past the long marble table, past the kitchen and out the back into their courtyard. I have to say, I was a little disappointed to be placed here. Inside looks so classy and the outside is like it's poorer cousin. Plastic tarp covers the entire space which of course this keeps out the rain however, it also keeps out the oxygen. It was extremely hot. They were obliging and turned off the heater but I was also put off by how loud it was. The sound reverberates and it just seems a little impersonal back there. Please do not think that I don't like A'Tavola. I do, I promise. OK, now for the positives! There is a freshness to A'Tavola that I love. The crowd is modern yet not too stuffy and there is a slight glamour to the tavern. The staff have a stoicism in their busyness and are pleasant and not too overpowering. The food, though, is the real star here. Every once in a while you come across a dish that you will dream about. As soon as I took a bite of the Papperdalle with Braised Beef cooked in milk and white wine sauce, I instantly fell in love. The pasta is unbeatable and with every scrumptious bite I thought of friend after friend that I shall bring here to show off. Show off that I am the one who has found the best pasta in Sydney! Salads are perfectly dressed and their wine list is divine albeit expensive. Who cares! The sheer quality of the dishes melt away any negativity that the bill shall bring. read more

Nice restaurant. Long table at front can get squeezy if lots of people arrive. Menu is a bit confusing but service and food are fantastic Highly recommended. read more