Di Palma's — Restaurant in Melbourne

To get to Di Palma's for me on a Saturday night in traffic is almost a 45 minute drive, so I was really hoping it would be worth it. Guess what? It was.

We found parking across the street (though it can be tough to find a space) and were greeted warmly at the door and shown to our table. It's a large restaurant with a few different "rooms" and even more private "rooms" if you're having a big birthday, or anniversary celebration. Needless to say, tables aren't all on top of each other and you can have a conversation and be heard.

For entree, we shared the Bolognese and mozzarella arancini with basil aioli and boy, it was delish. Next time, I think I'll get my own serve, because they're too good to share. For main, I ordered the House made rigatoni with chicken, semi dried tomato, zucchini and basil pesto. It was so beautiful and flavourful, but if I'm going to be a touch picky, I'd say the pasta was just a little bit too al dente for me. But flavour is key and it was there. As if I needed dessert ... I ordered the Churros. I think they were the best I've had in Melbourne and it came with strawberries, ice cream and chocolate sauce. I didn't like the sauce at all and barely touched it. The dish was fine on its own without it.

Honestly, the food was great, the service was top notch. It was a busy, busy night, yet food came out in reasonable time. I think the prices were reasonable, but we used the Entertainment Book card to get a discount. I really can't fault the restaurant much at all. I just know now that when I go next time, when making the booking, I'll request a table by the windows. And I WILL definitely go another time. It's...

Never going there again. The waitress' are so rude. My family had a booking for 8 people. I arrived with a couple of my brothers a minute before my dad did who was the one who'd made the booking. I walked up to the counter and said "hi we have a booking at 7pm but I'm not exactly sure which name its booked under" before I continue (I was going to guess my surname, my dads name etc.) she said, whilst still looking down, "well that doesnt help me at all does it?" She then looks up at me for my response and I realise she isn't even joking. I just said "umm ok" she then sighed and goes "do you at least know how many people it's for?" I didn't even want to talk to this lady anymore at this point and thankfully at that exact time my dad walked in and said who it was booked under. The few of us that witnessed how the first woman spoke to me were so shocked by her rude blunt manner especially when I was very polite in the way I approached her. I worked in hospitality for 8 years I was speechless with this woman's attitude. Just another smaller thing, my dad being the kinda odd, old guy he is said to another waitress "konichiwa" (she wasn't asian or anything he just speaks a few languages and says hello in other languages sometimes) he didn't mean any offense by it, but her response was "I'm not Chinese. Do I look Chinese to you?" It was so uncalled for. Anyway none of us will ever go there again. We liked the food but it's quite overpriced and the waitress' have...

Hmmm... mixed feelings.. not in a hurry to go back... nice decor.. reasonable menu selection but definateky not bake for quality... on a table for a party of 8... we were the only table not to have a table cloth.. with the back to a door and a pos terminal behind me I felt cold with the constant draft and continually had wait staff moving my back as they rushed around to enter things in the pos... as for food... well some of us had pizza.. mine with the Italian sausage was tastless it was boring.. the mexicana was delicious.. and the Aussie was ok... but nothing special and at$30 each is where I start to get real concerns... its your usual big plate small dish arrangement and I felt sorry for those who ordered pasta... they were entree sized meals. The crumbed veal looked boring... a bit of crumbed meat and some rocket... let's call it for what it was ... nothing special.. over priced... could find better in Kew... staff were a bit cheeky, loved to listen into a conversation and make comment... but after posting the bill and walking out... no one really said thank you... not the young staff or the older ones who I assume were the owners.. no bye.. no thank you.. nothing... did we not spend enough on drinks, meal, dessert... looks great from the road... but I would...