Emilio’s Ristorante The Junction — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

If you think Emilio's at the Junction is going to be as good a cafe as The Hood was you have another think coming. I took my grandson for an after school ice cream and thought I'd have an iced coffee and a cake (which I'd have to share of course). So my grandson chose his ice cream and the staff fellow started on it immediately. My first mistake. Then when about to pay I ordered the iced coffee and cake and paid. We sat down, my grandson with his vanilla ice cream cone that he reckoned was delicious. After a few minutes another customer arrived with her children and ordered ice creams and a milkshake for herself. They were sitting down with their order and my earlier order still had not arrived. I caught the staff fellow's attention and he indicated it was on its way. A further five minutes later it had still not arrived. I waited a few more minutes and it did not arrive. I went to the till and told the owner/manager that the afternoon coffee with my grandson was spoiled and since my order was not made to cancel and give me a refund. This he did. I thanked him and went back to sit with my grandson while he finished his ice cream. When he finished we got up and started to leave. The owner/manager approached me and told me not to come back as I was not welcome as he didn't like my attitude. It suits me. While the ice creams are undoubtedly very good not all of the staff are able to make a good coffee and the service is abysmally slow. My tip if you must go there is to order your coffee before anything else and make sure the staff member who is going to make it has had...

The venue looked wonderful and had a great atmosphere, the host was very friendly and welcoming and our entrees were fantastic. Unfortunately there are a few issues that I have to address. We were sitting at one of the smaller tables and we didn't have a problem with that because it was at our suggestion, the problem was that our mains arrived before our entrees were cleared from the table which made it very congested, the waitress walked off and I had to ask someone if they could remove the entrees from the table. Regarding our mains, only two out of the three arrived at the table, the third one was a pizza, after about 10min I made an enquiry about the pizza, I was was told, but two mains. When the pizza still hadn't arrived after another 10min we got a small plate and share our two mains with our visiting friend. As we had nearly finished the two mains I when to the country and asked if the pizza could be put in a takeaway box when it was finished. Regarding the pizza, we went to eat it when we got home, but I was terrible and we through it out. Our visitor happened to be a chef from New Zealand, she said it appeared there was no communication between the chef in the kitchen and the person making the pizza in a different location a short distance away, otherwise they would have insured that all mains arrived at the same time, probably just a few teething issues. The manager did apologise for this when he found out. I will finish by saying that the staff were friendly and welcoming, the manager was very professional and it's a lovely...

Emilio's Ristorante The Junction offers an unforgettable dining experience from start to finish. Despite not having a reservation, we were warmly greeted by the owner, who went out of his way to find us a table and make us feel completely at home. The staff were not only friendly but also attentive and helpful, contributing to the welcoming atmosphere.

The food was a true highlight. It was simple yet exceptional, prepared using the finest quality ingredients, exactly as a great restaurant should. Each dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented, showcasing Emilio’s commitment to delivering great food.

But the real treat was the Affogato dessert with Baci chocolate—it was heavenly. This indulgent dessert takes you on a journey to haven offering rich, satisfying flavors and then returns you back to earth that leave you smiling long after.

Emilio's @ Junction blends old-world charm with modern touches, from the decor to the staff uniforms, cutlery, and menu. Everything about the experience reflects a dedication to excellence. We should all support Emilio's Restaurants (Junction and Warners Bay) for their exceptional food and outstanding customer service. A visit here is more than just a meal; it's an experience that leaves you looking forward to your next visit.

Apologies for a long review as there is so much more to describe the experience. Even better, try it for yourselves...