Fat Nonna's Pizza & Pasta — Local services in Newcastle-Maitland

Didn't end up eating. A recent review said it had improved under new management and we decided to give them a shot.

Online pricing differed between Google menu and website so attended in person. Chose a $65 pizza/pasta/bread/drink deal from the board above the counter. Was advised lasagne (the cheapest pasta) would be an extra $5 so changed our choice.

Price came to more than $70, was lowered to $69 because we were paying cash. Queried difference to board menu which stated $65. Young bloke was at a loss.

Older bloke (not Fat and definitely not a Nonna) popped up and stated $69 was what the computer said. I pointed at the board that said $65. Old mate argued I was getting more than $130 worth (not true) to which I lol'd "that's why I'm taking the deal" and pointed at the board again. NotFatNotNonna bloke told me costs (eg dough) had gone up. I suggested they needed to update the board. He said they hadn't had time. I pointed out they'd had enough time to update the computer, they should've taken out time to amend the board, even if it meant using a Sharpie. He said the price was on the computer and they couldn't just change it, it wasn't much of a difference and I was holding enough to cover it anyway. I said okay, sorry about the hassle and told them not to worry about the order.

I thanked the young bloke for his patience in explaining the menu choices etc to us, apologised for mucking up his order pad and turned to leave. Old mate lurched for the iPad/computer muttering about trying something but it was too late. I'd lost my appetite.

Customers shouldn't have to pay blindly nor quibble about inflated prices. Let's face it: a couple of bucks for EVERY order adds up to a LOT of underhanded gleaning.

I don't have a problem with paying in full. I DO have a problem with being quietly ripped off and having to take a polite but firm stance against it. I also have a problem with having to explain to the situation to an incredibly embarrassed companion who admitted they wouldn't have noticed but would have paid up even if they had. (Side note: we're cool, but it's a bit sad to me that their reaction is probably the norm, so in this case the establishment will keep on doing what they do).

We ended up to returning to an alternate outlet further up the highway - where we admittedly paid more because they didn't have an identical deal but we knew the price in advance and had plenty of delicious leftovers. Added a star for the young bloke doing his job as best anyone could but ... Not going back to NotFat NotNonna's in the...

I am a driver for Menulog, and I was absolutely appalled by the way this place is managed. When I arrived, I saw only young teenagers running the restaurant with no adult manager or supervisor in sight. The place was completely disorganised, with large crowds of frustrated customers waiting for their orders. The only adult I saw was a cook.

I personally waited 20 minutes to collect my customers order. It was clear that the workers—who were just kids—were completely overwhelmed and stressed. At no point do I blame them; they were clearly doing their best under terrible circumstances. The real issue is the complete lack of proper management.

To make matters worse, when I finally went back to check on my order, I saw that it had been sitting there the whole time, along with about 5 other orders that no one had called out. Customers were left standing around confused, while the young staff, unsure of how to manage such high influx of orders, were trying to manage everything on their own. I honestly felt so horrible.

It is unacceptable for a business to run this way and unacceptable to put kids in this sort of position. Not only did this create an awful experience for customers, who were waiting long periods of time in the heat, but it’s incredibly unfair to the young workers who are honestly being set up for failure. Honestly, not the first time I’ve seen this with Fat Nona’s. This and the extreme heat the kids are working in. Seems to be a common occurrence that there are only young teens as the staff who are working extreme heat and theres long wait times for the customers. All the best to the staff working today and I hope they aren’t put in this...

Edited for second order. Ordered meat supreme with pineapple added for $2 extra, and the foccacia. Meat supreme with pineapple - a ton of cabanossi, onion, and still trying to find the beef. Pizza tasted bland even with an anticipated hint of sweetness from the pineapple. One plus, pizza was ready and fairly hot despite us inadvertently being 10mins late picking it up. As for the foccacia, luckily, we only paid $14 for it, because it had a distinct bitter after-taste, topping was sporadically spread out...not unlike a half and half pizza.

As much as we support local businesses, we would not order from them again.

5months prior, we tried Fat Nonnnas Belmont for the first time. Vegetariana with chicken added, and Pappas Potato with added beef. Generously sized pizzas and worth the $$. Both really tasty pizzas, except the vegetariana, could have done with a little sweetness (maybe pineapple), and the Pappa Potato a little salty in parts.

There are plenty of toppings and a delicious base. Would order again. It's definitely not a box...