Gino’s Pasta to Go — Restaurant in Katherine

It's a true shame I can't rate this any lower than the minimum of 1-star. Coloured fairy lights flashing in my face with skipping music didn't set the scene awfully well.

We ordered the so called famous Arancini balls as quoted by a 5 star reviewer, thinking we would get a nice Italian meal as also claimed by the other twelve '5-star reviewers'. Rubbery cold cheese on the inside, after being cooked in the microwave (Could hear him opening and closing it a couple of times because he was running off his feet). Also where he heats up the spaghetti sauce that goes with them.

I brought the coldness of the cheese to Gino's attention to which he politely asked if I wanted him to make more, I declined and said no thank you, I don't feel like them anymore.

A couple of minutes later he re-asked and I continued to reassure I wasn't interested in them anymore. After all that, he tried to guilt me into saying yes by saying "Oh, the chef has already prepared them for you". Without considering my continued responses, he brought them out a minute later, piping hot and how they should have been the first time, but again, you could tell he had just doubled the time on the microwave and rushed them out. Slamming the door behind him. I didn't eat any of the four balls, wasting food he could have otherwise kept for other customers.

Pizza was average and not appetising after the above.

It got to payment and was shocked that I was charged for the entree's, I brought up the fact they were on our bill with the response "We did everything we could, there wasn't anything else that could have been done".

Gino, you could have listened to your customer the first time, accepted you made a mistake and had a more pleased customer walking away from your Italian restaurant.

I know you're in Katharine and I'm definitely not expecting fine dining with the produce you'd have access to and lack of staff that were working, but the service and cooking skill you showed that night isn't what any diner is expecting when they eat out and pay for at the end of the night.

I'll finish this stupidly long review by saying, throw your microwave out and start preparing food like all your reviews make you, the chef out to have the ability for (which I'm sure you're capable of otherwise you wouldn't have taken over Mahogany's...

I'll start with the positives. The staff were very kind, the Arancini balls and garlic bread was very good (according to my friends as I didn't order it myself), and I was happy to see that they served Peroni beer as it was one of my favorite beers in Italy and I had been craving it for a long time.

Unfortunately now to the negative. The atmosphere left a lot to be desired with just a couple posters on the wall and a Vespa in the corner making the dining area seem a little sparse and lacking a welcoming atmosphere. The service was incredibly slow. It took nearly an hour after ordering to get our food and not once did the staff come out to check on us after we received our food. The pasta alla carbonara was incredibly bland and the noodles overcooked almost to the point of being mushy. The only flavor to be found was in the bacon and the heaps of pepper I added to the dish. The sauce was very watery and did not cling to the noodles as carbonara should. I could hardly taste any cheese which is shocking as 2 of the 4 ingredients in a carbonara sauce are rather strong cheeses (Pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano). The only thing that allowed me to finish the meal was my own hunger and I left feeling rather disappointed.

I sincerely hope you take this review not as hate but an honest critique. If I ever find myself in Katherine again I would gladly give your restaurant...

4.5 star? DREAMING! Try 2.5. Very basic standard food. Slow service. also late & overcooked steak. I’m sorry no excuses. 4 small meatballs $24? Woolworths pizza bases? Please.... I know it’s impossible to get staff. All our standards need to drop! Sad times.

Noticed one waitress. 40 customers over 3 hours maybe, but doubt it. Maximum 15-20 at one time the whole time we were there. Not busy like the Katherine club. They had 1 waitress 100ppl at once like many other places. Running them out doing 4 jobs. I hope they’re on double time!

Steak was brown and firm. Order was medium rare. Thats 6 minutes tops! We all finished eating before the steak even came out 30+ minutes after last meal, all staggered.

Not once did we hear sorry. You got more cash than the food was worth. Tried to charge for the steak that was returned. Rest of bill payed.

Where are the bases made? Definitely pre made not cool!

It is our duty to share the truth, rather than be offended and defensive, please consider the feedback for your improvement and take back some business from Katherine club.

We support hospitality by eating out every opportunity and pay cash, but this was SUB MACCAS...