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Recommended Reviews - Scalini Restaurant
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Scalini is the sister restaurant to Villa Italia and upon hearing this I was most excited!! They don't take reservations much like Villa so on a Friday and Saturday evening you may find yourself in a long queue with the smell of awesome Italian cuisine wafting out making you hungrier..moral? Get there early! Once inside the Restaurant had a real rustic Italian feel much like Villa and upstairs they have starts painted on the ceiling so you almost feel like your dining al fresco! The staff are really great and really busy too, but the sheer volume of turnovers doesn't seem to phase them in the slightest! We ordered Brochette to start and it was really great! A huge portion (which worried me as a pizza was on its way) and tasted absolutely perfect! Then came the pizza with chicken, jalapenos, onion and peppers! It was really great and had a real homemade authentic taste! We got a fab bottle of Chianti from the extensive wine list which really complimented the food. A great Italian if you don't mind a bit of a wait! But don't let the wait put you off- it's worth it!
Well that was a big let down tonight...been here a few times and it usually bs very good...but tonight was a big let down The food was lovely but service was terrible...we wnt in got r table waited nearly 15mins to order.. i got spaghetti which was lovely as always. .if ur goin defo try it ull no b disappointed We were sitting in front of thr bar/till which had about 6 staff at it the hole time we were there...The manager took r order sumone else bought the food but no one can back to check on us or see if we needed drinks..plus we were finished about 15mins b4 sumone came to us...its not as if they cud mis us we were right infront of them Tonight was a big let down service way but food was lovely will b back but not any time soon
I love the interior of this restaurant. It has very rustic, Italian feel to it that's quite refreshing given the number of modern restaurants in Belfast these days. If you can, ask for a seat up at the very top. It's a good bit warmer up there, but you're up on what feels like a terrace and the ceiling is painted with a starry night so you can kid yourself you're dining al fresco in Verona! The staff will always look after you. They tend to dash about quite frantically though, which can affect how relaxed you feel. Although, having been to Italy, that's fairly standard! The food itself is good. Not mind-blowing, but still very good. Their menu also hasn't really changed in years, which is a bit annoying to be honest, but I suppose Scalini is really the kind of place that you go to for familiarity and comfort and good food and craic (I do anyway), so a bit of the mundane isn't necessarily a bad thing. Reasonably priced, you can get a good meal (including drinks) for about £30 a head. It's quite family friendly too, which is a big plus for a lot of people! Be prepared to queue though. They don't take reservations for parties of less than eight people, so it's first come, first served, which can mean a long wait - especially at the weekends.
I used to be a regular at Scalini many years ago and always enjoyed visiting. I haven't had a meal in this restaurant for about 3 years, so when a friend suggested we meet up at Scalini for a long overdue catch up I jumped at the chance to return. Thus I visited last night. The menu is predictable Italian dishes including pizzas, pastas and risottos with a quite a few vegetarian options. I had a Bruschetta starter which was nice but slightly bland, it seemed to lack some flavour but was improved with lots of black pepper. My Penne Primavera pasta main was delicious. The pasta was dried instead of fresh and was slightly undercooked for my taste, nonetheless the flavour was good. For dessert we shared delicious slices of pecan pie and chocolate orange cheesecake and they were heavenly - I'd almost visit Scalini purely for their great coffee and dessert! Service was spot on, Pinot Grigio fine and the restaurant itself buzzing with a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere. We noticed many large parties celebrating the December Christmas season and winter graduation at the nearby Queen's University. Despite this, service was quick and efficient with staff attentive but not intrusive. Scalini is a solid restaurant serving reliable Italian food. I've enjoyed many meals here over the years, my visit last night was good and I will definitely return. A nice place to enjoy a catch up with friends or spend time with family.
Our delightful landlady gets our house a voucher for Villa Italia/Scalini every Christmas and both times we have chosen Villa Italia. Perhaps it is because you have less to walk to the Globe or to the Union, but for many people Villa Italia is always first choice. My girlfriend and I went for a spur-of-the-moment pizza here on the way home from a hard day's shopping and to be honest, there is not much about this restaurant that would make me choose it over Villa Italia. Though the food is as good, and the staff are as nice, and the decor if anything is better, but the whole experience was a bit deflating. I think there is a happy medium when it comes to length of time spent waiting on food and then recieving your dish, but we were literally in there ten minutes before our pizza was brought out to us and we were wished a very quick Bon Apetite. Now some say it is a good idea, but I like the waiting for food and having a chat part of dinner. There wasn't the 'wow' factor I got with Villa Italia and I have been back to Villa Italia a few times. I don't think I'll go back to Scalini's, not because it is terrible, but because it is just a bit disappointing. Food was very good. Staff were very good. But to be in and out of a restaurant after half an hour I just thought was a bit too quick.
"Scalini restaurant and pizzeria with its 250 seats is one of the latest arrivals on the restaurant scene in Belfast and was opened in October 2001 and has proved to be a great success story in such a short time. The word Scalini in Italian means 'steps' which becomes evident upon arrival, as the restaurant has been cleverly designed on multiple floor levels - each one with its own character. On one level you may feel as though you are dining 'al fresco' under a Mediterranean sky filled with stars twinkling above your head. " Above is the website blurb and if I were you I wouldn't believe all you read (other than what I write). This is a pretty bog-standard Italian restaurant. I've never had a bad experience here but I've never raved about it after either. The prices are ok, but there really is no reason why you wouldn't just go to Pizza Express.
Firstly this is a lovely restaurant, nice decor which at least is attempting to be somewhat authentic, the staff are friendly and thoughtful. Although the restaurant is a typical middle of the road italian, the food is definitely above par!. I was there a couple of years ago on a leaving party for someone in work. My colleagues seemed to have a good time and they coped very well with our large group. As you would expect on offer you have your typical choice of pizza, pasta, fish and meat dishes. If you're in Belfast and are after some italian cuisine. Since there isn't that many place to choose from, Scalini's may not be your number one choice but it would come a close second. It is reasonably priced. But there are much better places to go in Belfast.
It's a close second to the chubby cherub for me, the food could be a bit more flavoursome and a candle on the table would have been nice. There wasn't the romantic feel you'd expect from an Italian restaurant. Some background music would have helped too but the dessert was the highlight of the night and worth the visit alone
I think this restaurant is owned by the same people as Villa Italia. This place has been going for years, and is good for a night out with a crowd, because it can accommodate all sorts of numbers for a sit down meal. It's got an ancient Italian vibe going on with the décor, to match the Italian cuisine on the menu of course, and specialises in Pizza, Pasta and even does a good steak. It's got a lovely warm, inviting feel about it, with an indoor-outdoor feel, so you can imagine yourself on the terrace of an Italian hotel, overlooking exotic surroundings, even though you're in erm....well Belfast. The Veneziana Pizza is lovely, and all the pizzas are reasonably priced also, and the pasta dishes are good too, the Carbonara in particular I've had more than once. The service is good, and we've never had to wait too long for food, which is the sign of a well-run kitchen. It's smack bang in the University area, which is why it does well, I would say. Also, you can book a table here if you've got a party of 8 or more, unlike Villa Italia round the corner. Why would you stand outside for an hour when you can walk straight in here and get your table?
Scalini's is an Italian restaurant on Botanic Avenue, owned by the same people as the hugely successful Villa Italia. So you'd like to think that the people running it know what they're up to. And, of course, they do. The food is all very similar, as are the ridiculous queues to get in, as is the top notch service. But Scalini's is unfortunate enough to not have the same charm as its sister restaurant because it hasn't been around for long enough. Everything still looks bright and new, to its detriment in comparison. But Scalini's stands up well to any other Italian restaurant in the city. It would be especially suitable for anybody mental enough to have chosen to go vegetarian (sorry, vegetarians) - there is a good selection of meat-free dishes. I was even tempted to try one myself recently - mushroom ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. Delicious. But their steaks in wild mushroom sauce are better.
2 years ago
I grew up in the NYC area and in an Italian neighborhood. This was quite possibly the best Italian meal that I have ever had . I had the seafood linguine. The pasta was done to perfection, the sauce delicious, and there was tons of seafood in it . Service and atmosphere also very good ! I went back two nights later and had the same exact meal , and it was just as good . Oh and the tiramisu was to die for ! I had a nice chat with the manager and we shared a limoncello. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Wonderful experience!!! Food was lovely, prices are reasonable , and the staff were so friendly. The place was busy and they still kept the service fast, and were so nice. Our table had a birthday and they brought out desert with candles and sang and were so helpful. Special thanks to Bruno, who kept checking up on us and making sure everything was perfect, and took photos for us!! read more
16 years ago
Scalini is the sister restaurant to Villa Italia and upon hearing this I was most excited!! They don't take reservations much like Villa so on a Friday and Saturday evening you may find yourself in a long queue with the smell of awesome Italian cuisine wafting out making you hungrier..moral? Get there early! Once inside the Restaurant had a real rustic Italian feel much like Villa and upstairs they have starts painted on the ceiling so you almost feel like your dining al fresco! The staff are really great and really busy too, but the sheer volume of turnovers doesn't seem to phase them in the slightest! We ordered Brochette to start and it was really great! A huge portion (which worried me as a pizza was on its way) and tasted absolutely perfect! Then came the pizza with chicken, jalapenos, onion and peppers! It was really great and had a real homemade authentic taste! We got a fab bottle of Chianti from the extensive wine list which really complimented the food. A great Italian if you don't mind a bit of a wait! But don't let the wait put you off- it's worth it! read more
10 years ago
Well that was a big let down tonight...been here a few times and it usually bs very good...but tonight was a big let down The food was lovely but service was terrible...we wnt in got r table waited nearly 15mins to order.. i got spaghetti which was lovely as always. .if ur goin defo try it ull no b disappointed We were sitting in front of thr bar/till which had about 6 staff at it the hole time we were there...The manager took r order sumone else bought the food but no one can back to check on us or see if we needed drinks..plus we were finished about 15mins b4 sumone came to us...its not as if they cud mis us we were right infront of them Tonight was a big let down service way but food was lovely will b back but not any time soon read more
16 years ago
I love the interior of this restaurant. It has very rustic, Italian feel to it that's quite refreshing given the number of modern restaurants in Belfast these days. If you can, ask for a seat up at the very top. It's a good bit warmer up there, but you're up on what feels like a terrace and the ceiling is painted with a starry night so you can kid yourself you're dining al fresco in Verona! The staff will always look after you. They tend to dash about quite frantically though, which can affect how relaxed you feel. Although, having been to Italy, that's fairly standard! The food itself is good. Not mind-blowing, but still very good. Their menu also hasn't really changed in years, which is a bit annoying to be honest, but I suppose Scalini is really the kind of place that you go to for familiarity and comfort and good food and craic (I do anyway), so a bit of the mundane isn't necessarily a bad thing. Reasonably priced, you can get a good meal (including drinks) for about £30 a head. It's quite family friendly too, which is a big plus for a lot of people! Be prepared to queue though. They don't take reservations for parties of less than eight people, so it's first come, first served, which can mean a long wait - especially at the weekends. read more
I used to be a regular at Scalini many years ago and always enjoyed visiting. I haven't had a meal in this restaurant for about 3 years, so when a friend suggested we meet up at Scalini for a long overdue catch up I jumped at the chance to return. Thus I visited last night. The menu is predictable Italian dishes including pizzas, pastas and risottos with a quite a few vegetarian options. I had a Bruschetta starter which was nice but slightly bland, it seemed to lack some flavour but was improved with lots of black pepper. My Penne Primavera pasta main was delicious. The pasta was dried instead of fresh and was slightly undercooked for my taste, nonetheless the flavour was good. For dessert we shared delicious slices of pecan pie and chocolate orange cheesecake and they were heavenly - I'd almost visit Scalini purely for their great coffee and dessert! Service was spot on, Pinot Grigio fine and the restaurant itself buzzing with a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere. We noticed many large parties celebrating the December Christmas season and winter graduation at the nearby Queen's University. Despite this, service was quick and efficient with staff attentive but not intrusive. Scalini is a solid restaurant serving reliable Italian food. I've enjoyed many meals here over the years, my visit last night was good and I will definitely return. A nice place to enjoy a catch up with friends or spend time with family. read more
16 years ago
Our delightful landlady gets our house a voucher for Villa Italia/Scalini every Christmas and both times we have chosen Villa Italia. Perhaps it is because you have less to walk to the Globe or to the Union, but for many people Villa Italia is always first choice. My girlfriend and I went for a spur-of-the-moment pizza here on the way home from a hard day's shopping and to be honest, there is not much about this restaurant that would make me choose it over Villa Italia. Though the food is as good, and the staff are as nice, and the decor if anything is better, but the whole experience was a bit deflating. I think there is a happy medium when it comes to length of time spent waiting on food and then recieving your dish, but we were literally in there ten minutes before our pizza was brought out to us and we were wished a very quick Bon Apetite. Now some say it is a good idea, but I like the waiting for food and having a chat part of dinner. There wasn't the 'wow' factor I got with Villa Italia and I have been back to Villa Italia a few times. I don't think I'll go back to Scalini's, not because it is terrible, but because it is just a bit disappointing. Food was very good. Staff were very good. But to be in and out of a restaurant after half an hour I just thought was a bit too quick. read more
16 years ago
"Scalini restaurant and pizzeria with its 250 seats is one of the latest arrivals on the restaurant scene in Belfast and was opened in October 2001 and has proved to be a great success story in such a short time. The word Scalini in Italian means 'steps' which becomes evident upon arrival, as the restaurant has been cleverly designed on multiple floor levels - each one with its own character. On one level you may feel as though you are dining 'al fresco' under a Mediterranean sky filled with stars twinkling above your head. " Above is the website blurb and if I were you I wouldn't believe all you read (other than what I write). This is a pretty bog-standard Italian restaurant. I've never had a bad experience here but I've never raved about it after either. The prices are ok, but there really is no reason why you wouldn't just go to Pizza Express. read more
16 years ago
Firstly this is a lovely restaurant, nice decor which at least is attempting to be somewhat authentic, the staff are friendly and thoughtful. Although the restaurant is a typical middle of the road italian, the food is definitely above par!. I was there a couple of years ago on a leaving party for someone in work. My colleagues seemed to have a good time and they coped very well with our large group. As you would expect on offer you have your typical choice of pizza, pasta, fish and meat dishes. If you're in Belfast and are after some italian cuisine. Since there isn't that many place to choose from, Scalini's may not be your number one choice but it would come a close second. It is reasonably priced. But there are much better places to go in Belfast. read more
It's a close second to the chubby cherub for me, the food could be a bit more flavoursome and a candle on the table would have been nice. There wasn't the romantic feel you'd expect from an Italian restaurant. Some background music would have helped too but the dessert was the highlight of the night and worth the visit alone read more
16 years ago
I think this restaurant is owned by the same people as Villa Italia. This place has been going for years, and is good for a night out with a crowd, because it can accommodate all sorts of numbers for a sit down meal. It's got an ancient Italian vibe going on with the décor, to match the Italian cuisine on the menu of course, and specialises in Pizza, Pasta and even does a good steak. It's got a lovely warm, inviting feel about it, with an indoor-outdoor feel, so you can imagine yourself on the terrace of an Italian hotel, overlooking exotic surroundings, even though you're in erm....well Belfast. The Veneziana Pizza is lovely, and all the pizzas are reasonably priced also, and the pasta dishes are good too, the Carbonara in particular I've had more than once. The service is good, and we've never had to wait too long for food, which is the sign of a well-run kitchen. It's smack bang in the University area, which is why it does well, I would say. Also, you can book a table here if you've got a party of 8 or more, unlike Villa Italia round the corner. Why would you stand outside for an hour when you can walk straight in here and get your table? read more
14 years ago
16 years ago
Scalini's is an Italian restaurant on Botanic Avenue, owned by the same people as the hugely successful Villa Italia. So you'd like to think that the people running it know what they're up to. And, of course, they do. The food is all very similar, as are the ridiculous queues to get in, as is the top notch service. But Scalini's is unfortunate enough to not have the same charm as its sister restaurant because it hasn't been around for long enough. Everything still looks bright and new, to its detriment in comparison. But Scalini's stands up well to any other Italian restaurant in the city. It would be especially suitable for anybody mental enough to have chosen to go vegetarian (sorry, vegetarians) - there is a good selection of meat-free dishes. I was even tempted to try one myself recently - mushroom ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. Delicious. But their steaks in wild mushroom sauce are better. read more
16 years ago
10 years ago
We decided to try in here for our 6th wedding anniversary dinner. On entering the restaurant you were greeted by the lovely rustic Italia feel decor and of course the Italian food smells which was lovely. We were escorted to our table which was ok but I would have prefered a window seat. We got 2 starters between us to share. Meatballs and garlic bread and crispy garlic mushrooms with a garlic dip, the garlic bread was fresh and flavoursome. The meatballs were served in a tomato sauce which was nice and flavoursome, the meatballs had a nice meaty taste but I found a few bits of gristle which I hate. The crispy mushrooms were lovely and tasty the garlic dip went along with the crispy mushrooms.we both then ordered ours mains two lasagnes. The lasagne was a big portion and was loaded with lean mince and topped with cheese, lovely lasagne one of the nicest I've had although could be a bit more flavoursome. I got tiramisu for dessert which came served in a mug. The tiramisu was lovely so creamy but i didn't get much coffee or chocolate flavour but it was delicious but again for me needed a bit more coffee and chocolate flavour. Staff were friendly. I would visit scalini again. read more
10 years ago
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16 years ago
this is one of my families favourite restaurant - the manages mario and valerio are so lovely and make us feel so welcome everytime we're there and the food is second to none. i highly reccommend to anyone who loves italian food read more
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14 years ago
Scalini Restaurant - italian - Updated May 2026
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