We all meet here for a friends birthday and should have known from the moment we walked in that it wasn’t going to be good. As first time dinners we had no idea where to go to be seated and we packed in the tiny corridor with people eating to one side, people waiting for tables and people squeezing past to leave. When we did finally get to the be seated our table wasn’t ready and as there was no waiting space inside we were sent outside to wait. Finally we were able to be seated at a table that was wedged up against the wall to the point where we had to climb over the chairs. We had to read the menu by candle light as it was that dark, we had to yell at each other as the music was too loud and the place was so jammed with people that the waiter had to really squeeze past all the tables. it was also crazy hot and there was no fresh air. Meant we couldn’t wait to leave. Would not recommend for anyone who wants to have a conversation, be able to more from the table with out clambering over chairs and others or for people that don’t like sweating up a storm while eatting.

My partner and I were part of a birthday group of 7 with a recent Friday night 8pm booking. We were shown to tables locked together at the back of the main room, given menu’s & explained we were waiting for the last couple. The biggest problem was waiting. Drinks had just arrived when the couple arrived. I asked the waitress for another wine glass. Drinks waiter came with a beer for the couple & as we were just about to ‘toast’ the birthday girl I had to pour wine into a water glass for the lady who was without a wine glass. Waitress took order which was en tree’s & mains. Entree took ages. Main took ages too! The food was very nice though. It was getting late so just ordered coffee/liqueurs to finish off. Most disappointing. We have been ‘regulars’ there for a number of years. I don’t even feel I want to wait for a takeaway pizza now. Another problem was the restaurant was so packed the waitress could hardly move around us especially with our tables pushed back to the wall. Maybe they should re-arrange the seating…

Delicious pizza, very gourmet but the olive salad that I ordered as an entree was a little disappointing because all that came out was olives, a bit of cheese and a tiny slice of bread. The restaurant had too many tables and chairs, which is fair enough because it is a popular restaurant, but it is a little bit of a squish for the diners.

We have been regular diners at this restaurant since it opened, we returned this week and will never dine there again.
From the risotto being bland and the waiter saying ‘yes we have heard that lately’, to two meals being cold on the inside and all having to be returned.
Then being charged for having aioli and tomato sauce with your fries – 5 bowls an extra $3 a bowl ! We spent $645 as this was a birthday event, and the management couldn’t of cared.
Absolute shame.

Went for dinner with 3 others. Had the gnocchi with the meat sauce, it was awesome and enough food (medium size) to feed me three times over. Thank goodness for doggy bags! Everyone else had wonderful dishes too – pizza, calzone and a pasta (penne pollo) and nice breads to start. Great food and wonderful attentive service from a tall brunette waitress (didn’t catch her name). Would go back again, only issue is getting a table – essential to book, we went at 6.30pm on a Tuesday and it was packed so very glad we booked ahead!!

I have travelled to many different countries, dined at many different restaurants, consider myself a bit of a foodie, and I have never experienced such poor service as I did at Tutto Bene. We arrived early, and were told our table wasn’t ready, which is fair enough, so we went away and arrived 15 minutes late and our table still wasn’t ready. There were 20 of us, so we all had to squeeze up and stand around waiting. Our table booking was for 8.30pm. At 9pm our table was finally ready, until another group of people went and sat at it and we had to get the maitre d to ask them to move. It took 10 of us asking, and about an hour to get wine glasses for our BYO wine. The people who wanted to order drinks, couldn’t seem to get a drinks menu or any service. When we finally were able to order our food, some of the dishes had run out, or weren’t available. This should have been something that we were told prior to ordering. Now I could deal with all of this if the food was sensational…it wasn’t. My first choice for entree was the anti pasto platter, which they had run out of, so I got the Baked Pizza Bread instead. Parts were burnt and it was nothing outstanding. The entrees came out, with the waitresses standing beside the table yelling the name of the dish at us, and then slamming it down in front of you. At Tutto Bene they take your name and match the order to your name, so why not just say “Order for Steve”? The entree dishes were never cleared, so when the mains came out, we had no room to put our plates down. The waitresses rolled their eyes at us and acted like we were such a big inconvenience. Perhaps if they had cleared the entree dishes, we would have had room. It was roughly around this point that my husband finally got the corkscrew that he’d asked for when we arrived. The mains again, were just okay, nothing spectacular. I got the mixed vegetarian Gnocchi. There was nothing ‘mixed’ about it, it all just tasted the same, and it had a standard bland tomato sauce over the top. A friend of ours who is an ex chef from London, was brought out her meal and it wasn’t even close to what she ordered. The maitre d came out and challenged her as to what she ordered! She told them to cancel the order, as the rest of the group had finished eating. 15 minutes later, her order came out, after she had told them not cook it. And again, they challenged her as to whether she had cancelled it or not. She had 19 witnesses. There were no hand towels in the toilets to dry your hands, we had 4 people cramped around the end of our table as they hadn’t put out enough tables, and most of the night the wait staff were standing by the tv watching the royal wedding. It’s pretty safe to say that none of our group of 20 will ever be going back here. Poor, poor effort Tutto Bene. Lucky we weren’t food critics!

What a fantastic restaurant! Lovely setting, great service & AWESOME food! Yum, will definately be back for more

This was my favourite place for dinner However I was very disappointed with the service when taking my family for dinner. We waited 30mins for drinks as they had been forgotten then we got a chipped glass which my 3 year old granddaughter was drinking out of when I informed the manager he told me “lucky it’s not very sharp” The meal itself was fantastic, It is a shame that they are so passionate about the food and not interested in the people who pay for it. I would never take my family there again and would spend my $300 elsewhere.

Loved the food, too many choices on the menu was hard to decide what to have. Great service, friendly staff and reasonably priced. Slightly noisey and the tables abit close together but I would definately go back.

This was the BEST and I mean BEST meal I have had in this country!!!!! So refreshing to see a menu that has proper (it was so bloody good!!!!) Garlic Bread (a pizza base with garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese…delicious), NOT that aweful cheap french loaf with butter inbetween the slices.

The Pizza was heaven, the risotto was perfect, and the pasta was great.

The waitress recommended a Chilean wine which was perfect for our meal and they didn’t flinch when we brought our own birthday cake (Thanks guys!!!)… The greatest and best restaurant I have eaten in in New Zealand. If only every other restaurant would get up to the standard this one is at, perhaps Kiwi’s would appreciate eating out more!!!!

WELL DONE!!!!!

went here with family and it was fantastic service relaxed but great service , the staff were friendly great atmosphere and beautiful food such a big menu for a small resturant but not over crowded something for everyone, big servings too
ended up taking mine home in a lovely wee parcel
truly enjoyed the whole evening
great effort on their part
cheers

This place is great! Authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of Christchurch. I had my last meal there when I left last year (about my 20th visit) and on this visit, I shall make it my last meal again. The meals are great, the prices are reasonable, and the staff are always willing to accommodate any request. This review is a ‘grazie’ for their help with my picky tastes and my Italian girlfriend!

I love this place, food and atmosphere wonderful, bustling and vibrant and very friendly service.

Vibrant Italian restaurant, full on atmosphere, good food, Italian proprietor. Great fun for a buzzy night out. Need to book.