Tutti Trattoria — Restaurant in Melbourne

Constructive criticism here. Tutti Trattoria had been recommended to us by our adult daughter and others, who know our preferences when it comes to dining, so it was a major disappointment when our experience didn't align with the recommendations.

First impression: very full, very loud, glad we weren't sitting on the tables near the front counter as it would have been very intrusive to your dining having people so close to you on their way in/out and waiting to pay or pick up take away.

Menu: on first inspection, the menu didn't have any items that seemed to be showpieces and glancing around to what other diners were having, nothing stood out as a prime choice. If you're wanting authentic carbonara, this isn't the place, carbonara is not alfredo- please ditch the cream.

Service: the waiting staff who was allocated to our table may have been new. No issue with her manners or demeanour, well spoken and very polite, however the product knowledge was lacking. We ordered our entree and main selections, we were asked if we wanted our entrees to come out with the mains, (no thank you), and in less than 10 minutes our entrees had arrived, very obviously not freshly prepared and it was reflected in the presentation and taste. No sooner had they arrived and I had literally just cut my first piece, not yet got it to my lips, when the same staff member asked "would you like your mains to come now?" My partner and I were surprised and a little annoyed that we were again asked, in total 3 times before we had completed our entrees (and no, we weren't eating slowly). This experience made us feel as though we could not sit and enjoy our meal and we were to be rushed out quickly.

Taste: when we dine out, we have a basic expectation and that is what we eat should be better than what we can prepare at home. Unfortunately our dining experience did not meet that criteria. The rigatoni was so overcooked that it fell apart when attempting to pierce a fork into the tubes. It was a bowl of flat, soggy, bland pasta with the tiniest of morsels of "seafood", that didn't equate to the price tag. The ragu sauce was pale and anaemic of colour and flavour, with the same issue of overcooked pasta. Both appeared as though they had been prepared a significant time ahead of our arrival.

So glad we didn't order the steak, as if it's so easy to ruin pasta, we couldn't imagine how bad the steak would have been.

It's a shame this venue seems to be focussed on the "get them in and out as quickly" as possible rather than focussing on creating well made and presented meals.

If anyone can remember the Fasta Pasta franchise, the pasta there was better than what we had and I've had fresher and better tasting pasta at the service stations on the highways in Italy.

Perhaps the owners should consider if their Nonna would be proud of the food they're presenting.

We gave them a try but won't be back. Key words: sloppy, over-cooked,...

Visited this restaurant a few days ago with a booking for nine to celebrate a friend’s birthday. While the food, especially the vodka pasta, was incredible. The customer service was completely lacking.

When we arrived, there was no hostess at the front or any signage indicating where to wait. Unsure of what to do, and with half of our group still outside, we approached the counter at the back to let staff know we had arrived. Instead of being greeted, we were rudely yelled at and shooed away by the hostess, who told us she “can’t serve us like that.” And to “move out of the way”. It was humiliating and we were left taken back by the lack of manners.

When we were finally seated, only eight places were set despite our booking for nine. Staff had to shift another couple’s table to fit us in. The hostess profusely apologising to them but saying nothing to us. At that point, I felt as if we were being treated as an inconvenience.

We got our drinks quickly, but then waited over 30 minutes just to order our mains, struggling to get anyone’s attention. I understand it was busy, but forgetting a group of nine seems careless. Thankfully, once our order was finally taken, the food came quickly and the rest of the service came from different staff who were lovely, except having asked for table water three separate times and only having it arrive halfway through our mains, the staff were somewhat attentive.

Despite how good the food was, I left feeling anxious and upset, barely able to eat. The way we were treated on arrival wreaked the entire experience. I don’t know if it was our group size or our age, but the way we were spoken to was unacceptable. With better service that involves at least a please and thank you and a less cramped space, this could have easily been a...

Summary: below average for the price on both the service and food aspects.

Food:

Nothing really to write home about, fusilli vodka simply tasted like cream and not much else, no hint of the tomato/vodka combo nor a hint of spice that it was purported to contain. Felt like a lazy rendition.

Gnocchi bolognese, gnocchi were soft / pillow-like so positives there but not really much else. Bolognese was slightly watery, so hadn't been reduced properly/finished in the pan to give it some concentration of flavour. Lacked depth.

Pizza wasn't too bad but again, it's nothing you can't really get elsewhere at a more affordable level. Sausage was nice, mushroom and truffle also somewhat decent but again, for $30 and $28 respectively, could be better.

Service:

Pretty lazy on all fronts, ordered a bottle of wine to simply have it plonked down in the middle of the table and the server walking away and not bothering to fill up the glasses. Have never seen this occur in a restaurant before even at supposedly more casual places.

Had to ask for a bottle of water and drinking glasses, none provided at the start as well as the server didn't really bother to ask or offer. Again, haven't seen this occur at other places

When asking for wine glasses, the server left them all at one end of the table and didn't bother to place them at in front of the guests that were having wine (which was indicated).

Decor/atmosphere:

Place is decorated nicely although a bit too white and bright which gives it a more casual feel so the menu / prices feel a bit mismatched.

All up, the place has potential with the nice decor but service and value proposition...