Tonda Italian — Restaurant in Melbourne

This review is months late but the memory of this night is still incredibly significant to me.

My family and I are local to the area and have gone to Tonda many times for events, celebrations, or when we (as italians) want to indulge in some luxurious Italian cooking for comfort without the stress of all the preparation. For years, we have loved eating there and developed our own catalogue of favourite meals (even though everything I've eaten there is incredible).

Earlier this year, Tonda once again proved what an amazing establishment it is on the day of my 19th birthday (unbeknownst to them). They truly went above and beyond.

For context, I never enjoy my birthday and was already reluctant to do anything to celebrate, but my mum had convinced me to oblige to a small dinner with just the immediate family - convincingly mentioning it would be at Tonda.

We walked in and the place was bustling, it was warm and vibrant inside, the communal experience of a good time radiated throughout the restaurant as the fabulous service and food perfectly complemented the company they shared. We were immediately greeted and sat at our table by the manager, who warned us that they were understaffed and they apologised if any service felt lacking, and that she would try her best to make things run smoothly.

Let me say, it felt like the total opposite. Not only did our orders get taken and delivered to us immediately, but all of the staff were lovely, very patient, and helpful when aiding my indecisiveness of what dish to order.

Our food arrived, and my mum convinced me to take a photo with my family for "ricordi" - to make sure there was some memory of my 19th birthday. I begrudgingly obliged. My mum, smiling as she showed me the photos, presented me and my dad posing whilst the head chef - who was busily working away behind us in the frame of the image - stopped for a brief moment to smile and wave in my photo. I cannot tell you how much this small gesture lifted my spirits out of my birthday-slump.

But it didn't stop just there! She sent us over a plate of (complimentary) calamari which was just incredible. It was tender and flavourful - sincerely a delight which was devoured promptly.

It was at this moment that I asked my mum if she had told the staff it was my birthday - which she knew I would've hated - but she said no. It was just their level of hospitality and kindness. Unprovoked, the team had done everything in their power to make me and my family feel so special.

After we finished our delicious meals and elegant cocktails, I felt I had to go say my thanks to the head chef for her incredible food and hospitality. Not only was she so kind and grateful for the compliment as we laughed and joked together, but upon mention of my birthday, she took a beautiful bottle of prosecco out of her collection. She handed it to me with a smile and said "Happy Birthday bella".

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for my experience that night at Tonda. Thank you to all of the staff, the manager, owners, and the head chef for my experience. They made a day I usually dread to an unforgettable experience where I felt truly special. And this was all without their knowledge of my birthday!!

There are no words for how highly I can recommend Tonda...

We recently celebrated my son's holy communion at Tonda Italian, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we stepped foot in the restaurant, we were treated like family. It felt as if my own aunties were in the kitchen, preparing our meals with love and care. The staff, especially Rebecca and Lisa, were simply awesome. They provided excellent customer service, ensuring that every detail of our celebration was taken care of.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh, my taste buds were in heaven! Every dish we ordered was a culinary masterpiece. The flavors were authentic and perfectly balanced, showcasing the true essence of Italian cuisine. The chefs at Tonda Italian truly know their craft and put their heart and soul into every plate.

One thing that impressed me was the generosity in portion sizes. We never felt like we were left wanting more. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised by the ample servings. It was evident that Tonda Italian values their customers and wants to ensure they leave with satisfied appetites.

In terms of value, Tonda Italian definitely exceeded expectations. Considering the quality of the food, the portion sizes, and the overall dining experience, the prices were more than fair. We felt like we received great value for our money, which is always a bonus when dining out.

Overall, our experience at Tonda Italian for my son's holy communion celebration was nothing short of fantastic. The warm and welcoming atmosphere, coupled with the exceptional food and attentive service, made it an evening to remember. I highly recommend Tonda Italian to anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience that feels like a home-cooked meal from your...

At first I written a terrible review, I gave them 2 stars just because their pizza is really good, and I say that as a regular, almost weekly customer. Last time I haven’t received my order, Uber left it at a wrong address. Today, as for the last couple of months, I placed an order at 6.50pm, estimated time was 7.45pm. I thought that’s fine, but now it’s 8.39, and Uber driver was still picking up, thought how can that driver even think of making anything on this order!? What is going on there?! It’s hard times, I know, but if you offer delivery than make food on time. Of course I blamed it on the restaurant. I ordered food because I wanted to stay home and have my food delivered so I don’t have to cook tonight. Well, it looks like I’m going to have my dinner just before I go to bed, as I have to wake up at 5am. I thought I was lucky I didn’t make a decision to pick up my dinner, I would be sitting in my car for hours. Not to mention that they are about 5 minutes away. So disappointed with this mess! We spoke with the owner and she is so apologetic, in an Italian way ;) Now, the owner is saying the Uber driver was not even there all this time and she is happy to bring my food to me on her own. How can these people stay relevant in what they do with Uber lying to us about their drivers waiting for orders?! Something needs to change. I guess I a not going to order via Uber any more, and do my pick up’s even after spending 12 hours...