LOVELY HOME-MADE ITALIAN. DELICIOUS! I put Bongusto to the…read morelunch taste and quality test. I requested a Vegan option and without missing a beat, the friendly staff had many possibilities instantly available. I chose the soup of the day (potato and pea with fresh foccacia slices) and added some gourmet olive oil and fresh ground black pepper from the condiments cabinet and what was superior turned to magic. The soup convinced Me of Bongusto's commitment to quality so I went back to ask if a Vegan pasta option was available. A cannelini beans and sun-dried tomato ravioli with crudaiola sauce and toasted pinenuts was offered and I immediately ordered it. I asked if some green salad leaves could be brought out to accompany the ravioli and the waitress quickly appeared with freshly washed spinach! Absolutely creamy and delicious ravioli! Bongusto makes traditional Italian meals that are both meat, eggs and cheese based as well as Vegan. Pizzas slices are available but are all pre-made and then heated. Bongusto would move a blue ribbon notch ahead with made to order pizzas from a wood-fired oven. A non-Vegan selection of desserts is displayed in the glass cases. Tea, juices, kombucha, barista coffee, Italian beers and sparkling waters are also available. The one quirky thing about Bongusto is its location and decour. It's in a common mini strip mall and the interior design is a nice attempt at showcasing Italy, but when all is said and done, the location and the interior don't match the excellence of the all-star Italian chef who owns this gourmet sensation and for this reason, the dining experience is ultimately compromised. It would be most appreciated if Bongusto moved into a well-appointed space with a wood-fired pizza oven and a complete Vegan menu including desserts that compliment the clear cullnary creativity of its most professional Italian chef/owner. Check the Bongusto website for daily specials and by all means travel out of the Wellington centre to visit this superb Italian eatery.

Lovely Italian food purveyors who have a nice retail shop. We have gotten into the habit of getting…read morethe same custom pizza every Friday. You'd think we'd get bored. We do not. The tiny variations.... I've bought sweets and desserts too and they are also delicious.

I stopped making pasta when this place opened because their fresh pasta is so much better and is…read morequite affordable. Morning croissants and coffee are great, and the pizza at lunch is very popular. The takeaway pasta meals are good too, and they can heat them up there if you'd rather have a pasta lunch.

Nicolini's came highly recommended by my boss who used to live in Wellington, and I'm happy to…read morereport--it didn't disappoint. The pasta was incredible--fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with love. Definitely one of the better Italian meals I've had in a while. That said, the service could use a bit of fine-tuning. The food took quite a long time to come out, and the appetizer never arrived before the main course. There was no heads-up about the delay either, which left us wondering what was going on. Still, once the food hit the table, it was worth the wait. I'd go back again, just maybe with a little extra patience next time.

We got in late found this just a few minutes from our hotel. Bread is fresh and warm. Split the…read morerigatoni with venison sausage very good.

Hubby and I went on a date night on Tuesday night to take advantage of their 3-course meal for $45…read more I ordered an Amalfi to drink or what I usually call a lemon drop, it was really good and my husband ordered a beer. We got the Margherita pizza to share as our starter which we both really liked, my husband ordered the risotto for his main and he loved it! I ordered the tagliatelle al ragu which I thought was good but would probably try something else next time. We both ordered the tiramisu for dessert which I thought was the best tiramisu I've ever had!! Yum! We had excellent customer service and we enjoyed this restaurant very much. I would recommend Fratelli to anyone wanting an evening out of delicious Italian food.

My companion and I came here for early dinner on our way to a show. At 5-30pm we were first, but…read moreonly just. The service was lovely and although the menu offered so many delights, we both opted for the fish of the day. Our drinks came quickly, our table was in the corner of the front section and it was a great place to sit, watch the world got by and chat. Our meals came soon - even though we hadn't said we had a time constraint - we had grilled Terakihi fillet with fennel, olives and a beautiful salad. We also ordered a side salad of Rocket and Parmesan. We didn't need a dessert or coffees. By the time we left (just before 7pm) the place was fairly busy, but sitting where we were, we hadn't realised. The entire experience was very enjoyable. I am so pleased my friend chose this place. Thank you Fratelli - I'll be back.

At the butt end of Cuba Street, you'd need to go a little out of the main drag to find CIN CIN…read more That said, it was well worth the detour. The premises is simple enough, nothing memorable but the staff were excellent and attentive. We shared a very moreish calamari but I then had a carbonara that was simply delicious. Not like any carbonara I've had before, the creamy sauce base and bacon lardons were divine. I think the pasta was penne but inhaled the lot so fast I didn't stop long enough to check. Waddled back into the evening sunshine. Recommended.

The food arrives fast. The menu is diverse. It's child friendly and even has an outdoor area…read more The service is good, very human, but could be a bit more organised (they didn't remember who ordered what). Their fresh fig + almonds desert is a must try!

One last meal in Wellington so we decided to splurge and check out Cicio Cacio Osteria in Newtown…read more It's hidden in an alleyway (use Wilson Street) which adds to its charm. We dropped in on a Tuesday afternoon (around 12:30pm). It wasn't busy at all; only two other tables. The service was really, really impressive. Our waitress (we found out she's German) literally wrote what was available from the menu on our table, in full detail, from heart. We were impressed. The inside is super warm and inviting. It's the perfect spot for a date. There's a chalkboard menu that changes often (hence why there is no printed menu) that's broken into starters, primi (pasta), secondi (meats), sides and desserts. - Antipastino ($17.00 NZD) - this was our favourite dish of our meal. Olives, figs, two types of meat (salami and pancetta) and three cheeses (asiago, brie and another). All three cheeses were fantastic and had great texture. Same for the meats; satisfying bite and aged in flavour. - Spaghetti aglio et olio ($12.00 NZD) - one of their lunch specials (oil and garlic for the non-Italian speakers). Quite good. Don't think the pasta was homemade (their main entrees pastas are freshly made) but it was still good. - Roast chicken with potatoes ($15.00 NZD) - the other lunch special and sadly, when things started going downhill. Potatoes were over salted; same with the chicken but it was also dry. - Lamb rump with carrot and onions ($25.00 NZD) - the lamp rump was tender enough to pull off with a fork but it lacked flavour. The carrots and onions were sooooo buttery but not in a good way. Again, major balancing issues with the seasoning. We were hoping for CCO to be good but it didn't quite live up to the hype. Amazing service but the food didn't match.

This Italian restaurant is a must do for Wellingtonians…read more Tucked away in Newtown, it has a family feel. The staff are friendly and the food is not what you expect from an Italian restaurant. It's what I'm guessing Italians would eat if they went out. Pace yourself, get an entree, and finish off with a desert. Can't go wrong with the house wine, either. We'll definitely come back. They were very child friendly and the food did not take too long to come out.

A lovey lunch we share the green salad, then ARANCINI and then the small Capsicum pizzette. The…read morestaff were so hospitable and were helpful in selecting our entrees. The green nut pesto was nice.

We sat at the bar and had some wonderful conversations with waiters and people next to us and…read moreacross from us. The food was great. Here is a picture of delicious eggplant.

Absolutely fantastic experience. The service was attentive, personal and friendly. The gnocchi with…read moretwo cheeses and pistachio was divine. I've never had potato gnocchi so tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The sauce was pure, creamy deliciousness. My companions all loved their dishes as well, and sharing a tiramisu was the perfect end.

If you haven't been, go there as soon as you can. It's classy, it's cute, it's subtle and…read morespectacular. An intimate touch of Italy with the home spun feel if New Zealand. The entree of carpaccio beef melted in my mouth and as our top cooking show would say 'I give you a 10'. Main of linguine was as expected, delicately flavored with a generous portion. Dessert was a fluffy, light, tasty tiramisu. All throughout delivered by a masterful host whose attentive, friendly nature made me want to go back for that alone. Thank you, will go again! Oh reasonable prices and great wine!!

I'm sharing this to highlight the hiring practices here. Last Thursday, I was brought in for a…read moreone-hour trial. I assisted a server and provided professional support to tables for the duration of the hour. Afterward, the manager asked for my availability, which I sent that evening, but I have been completely ghosted since. It became clear that this "trial" was less about assessing my years of service experience and more of a "vibe check" based on their specific aesthetic. Using experienced professionals for unpaid labor--even for an hour--is a major red flag. I recommend that industry professionals be cautious, and that ethical diners who care about fair labor practices support businesses that value experience over appearances

Pizza was outstanding and service was quick…read more Good location and easy to find. The lemon cello Cosmopolitan was excellent

Clean open space. Service was okay. We came later, so it…read morelooked like they were done for the evening. We wanted to order bread, but no one came back to check on us. Food was good. Good quality. A decent portion size.

I never leave reviews but this was really just terrible Italian food. Caprese salad was not fresh…read moreat all, smoked salmon pasta wasn't even made with smoked salmon, cream sauce tasted very off, garlic bread was just over cooked pizza dough with garlic on top. Arugula salad was the only thing that was fine. My stomach was upset after 3 bites so we barely ate anything. Would definitely not recommend