La Pinta — Restaurant in Melbourne

I echo the sentiments shared by numerous other reviewers regarding the deeply disappointing experiences patrons have had. The venue initially presented itself as an inviting ambience accompanied by friendly service which rapidly deteriorated into a nightmare. A reservation was meticulously arranged, with the understanding that a substantial set menu dinner would be provided. Instead of ample servings, patrons were served miniature tapas-style entrees. The pacing between these diminutive dishes was notably prolonged culminating in a situation where the entire set menu concluded, leaving diners famished. Noteworthy is the fact that this establishment's customary tapas style portion size recommendation outside of the set menu is intended to be shared by two individuals. Thus, a simple grasp of arithmetic reveals that if ten individuals are partaking, five orders of the selected dishes should be delivered to the table. This basic logic appears to have eluded La Pinta, which appears to believe that serving two to three portions of the chosen dishes to a group of ten is adequate. It is worth emphasizing that the dishes were presented on plates scarcely larger than coffee cup saucers or small dessert plates. A point of concern is the clear communication provided to the waitress on arrival and reiterating dietary requirements that four among the group abstained from pork consumption. Yet, the only meat offering featured pork alongside a pasta dish. In response to expressed dissatisfaction regarding the miniscule quantity of the fare, and with patrons' hunger palpably unaddressed, the waitress merely offered an apologetic "sorry." One must ask, sorry for what? Genuine resolution involves rectifying the problem at hand, not merely acknowledging it. In the face of explicit feedback provided by a group of ten, La Pinta's response was resoundingly dismissive. All of this, compounded by a per-person fee of $60, which includes an inconspicuous $5 service charge, serves to heighten the disappointment. The concept of compensating for such abysmal, impolite treatment seems inherently unjust. Should patrons be obligated to remunerate an establishment for the privilege of dining within its premises? It is clear that the onus of needing business should not be transferred onto the customer. Regrettably, the feedback offered went unheard. Instead, two young waitresses, who exhibited a glaring lack of professionalism and an absence of ethical conduct in their interactions with paying clientele, were witnessed openly exchanging laughter and smirks in the vicinity of the kitchen, alongside male chef who turn out to be the owner Adam Racina. Shortly thereafter, a male staff member approached the table, lingered momentarily, then retreated to the kitchen area. He reappeared after a brief interval and engaged in conversation with one of the group members – as it transpired, he was the manager and his name was Adam, we were advised that the owner was not at the venue? The entire exchange was marked by a distressing lack of empathy, smirking and trivialisation of the concerns being expressed. Eventually veracity will emerge, people will inevitably lend their support to local venues that value paying customers and embrace constructive feedback. To compound this disheartening sequence of events, the organizer of our gathering made full cash payment on the night only to find that her credit card was charged also an erroneous repetition of the initial full payment. For those seeking to celebrate a special occasion or gather in a large group, I strongly advise avoiding La Pinta. The likely outcome is that you will depart famished, coupled with an encounter characterized by abysmal quality and a juvenile mockery of any...

This place is excellent; old world Western European tapas with a modern touch. Think France, Spain, Portugal, and so on. There isn't a fixed menu, but instead a rotating, usually weekly blackboard of what's on offer. Similar to what you may find in Europe.

The food is focused on smaller, sharing style portions. La Pinta is a great place to catch up with old friends over a meal that is not rushed. Service is attentive and friendly and not niggling or obtrusive. Staff are always there to guide you and make recommendations if needed. But it is both helpful and wise to have an idea about which dish, or dishes you are in the mood for and what type or style of drink you desire.

The house made bread is excellent, and food is sent out at a leisurely but well timed place. Highlights include any form of seafood, charcuterie or cold meats, plus sausages. La Pinta is good for a quick light meal or drink. But more so worthy of an extended meal. It really comes into it's own when you take full advantage of the dining experience and dine in for an occasion, or have something to celebrate.

The service is attentive, but not overly delivered. Even better is the convivial bond that prospers between the staff; a happy place for work makes for a better environment to dine in, and ergo a better dining experience. You'll find a good balance between focused casual. It's definitely not stuffy nor rigid hoity toity service that usually follows off the back of a 38 page staff handbook about the customer service experience.

The dining experience is done well and is stripped back to a recipe that is inviting and welcoming. The staff here have a homely attitude. If seated at the bar, the view of the open bar and kitchen area only hightens the experience. It's definitely one of my most favourite venues. Well worth not only one, but several...

la pinta is a vibe, think bustling yet relaxed, dim lighting, chilled wine and small plates at an unassumingly beautiful venue tucked in preston. came along with a friend as this is her favourite spot and I was absolutely delighted. the open kitchen/bar surrounded with seating feels like entertainment, the perfect view to enjoy while sipping and snacking! we ordered a few plates from their ever changing menu, the fava bean dip and parmasen cauliflower being highlights. wine was superb too. we did however receive our dishes well apart from eachother - eg) the dip and bread within minutes but then cauliflower and beetroot not till ~30-40min later. while we enjoyed every bite of the food, it did slightly take away from the experience that we couldn't enjoy our plates together. nonetheless, we loved it! the cheesecake was diving but a tiny portion to share, i'd recommend trying two desserts! plates are also extremely decently priced, with most small ones being $20! you may leave smelling like wood fire and charcoal but thats all part of the experience - so authentic and immersive! walk ins only, la pinta is just too exclusive for bookings! a must visit, again and again!...