L'Unico Trattoria Italiano — Restaurant in Queensland

Food? Had better. It lacks the modern Italian class. Service? Being seated is the worst experience. They will lecture you if you take a seat. But when you wait - they don’t notice you, or MAKE you wait. I’m not talking about a minute. Try anywhere between 2-5 minutes… after they told you to go to the door. And a few times of watched the waiters loiter or just have a casual conversation while a group of customers wait.

And if you do finally take a seat, you can try to wave to them and they won’t notice - and other customers feel embarassed for your table.

I was surprised when the wine and pizza came out. One waiter dropped it in the bucket, dropped the bucket on the table and walked off. Another waiter dropped the pizza on the table and walked off. I could tell they just wanted to go home.

Either just for a coffee in the morning or a dinner at night… it’s been the same peculiar service. Sometimes it’s hard to get their attention even if they are loitering or talking to other staff.

If you came with a bunch of friends for coffee in the morning - they’ll pay attention. But the service is cold and desirable considering the location. So why five stars?

Google asks about what time or what meals I ate. All of them. Same awkward, cold and lecture-like experience. It’s weird watching people loiter to be seated, trying to get a waiters attention on different tables, or to even pay.

The five stars? Gabrielle.

They need to watch this waiter at work and learn from him. He seems to be on the ball and cares about your Italian L’unico meal and Trinity Beach experience. He even helped tables move as it started to sprinkle while the other waiters did whatever they were doing inside. Amazing!

Just hope you have Gabrielle as your waiter. He gives you the assured Italian restaurant experience you want in this divine, tropical location. He will make you feel your order is important and that your foot, company and night is memorable at Trinity Beach’s L’unico.

Right now he has the face, hospitality and presence you want for an Italian restaurant to help you enjoy this unique dining experience.

If Gabrielle is not there, this place seems like an expensive morning or night out with a clunky, cold service. Ask for his service. It’s amazing how some people do make a place a 5 star experience and others...

Thursday 17 July 1230pm

Wooki and Winnie ( the furry diners) helped celebrate Wendy’s 70th birthday today with her (younger 😆) buddy Liz

And in true L’unico style ….

The crew sang happy birthday 🎈 🎂

Christian amazing Margaritas 👌 In a tumbler, fresh lemon , salt & sugar rim My specifications always met ✔️

Kim The most enchanting hostess ❤️ ontzettend bedankt Danke val

Niki the sweetest paprika you’ll ever meet! 😆💋 always ready to look after your furry ones with love in abundance

Dawn a local with such inner & outer beauty , calm and yet vibrant too 👑

Augustina ❤️❤️❤️ I have a girl crush 🙄 It’s ok she knows I’m a fan, not a stalker 😇 Morning , noon or night, this one is always on point 👌

mi Tesoro ❤️❤️ 🎁

Renee The most amazing eyes and smile , genuine , kind, cheeky and serene 😏 Note to Renee : cazcabel coconut tequila 👌

Chefs The behind the scenes people that make it happen to high quality standards 10 ⭐️

Antonella la superba, you can see the enjoyment in her work 🤸‍♂️

Please remember almost all of the team members speak English as a second language. So take your time ordering and speak English eloquently and slowly ? proper like also lol 😂

I always take 3 guesses by their accent to guess where they originate from! I get it within 3 usually , usually 😬

Why not give it a try yourselves?

WHO doesn’t LOVE ❤️ a guessing game?? 👂🗣️🤷🏻🤷‍♂️

The inimitable Annie ❤️ was there today too As usual, her poise, gracious presence and hospitality never ever falters

I once complimented Matty on a previous amazing meal & impeccable service (mussels in white wine)

His response: “ Mate thank you, we don’t always get it right , but lovely when we do “

So humble a couple ❤️❤️ Locals will know these two from previous owners of: Blue Moon Grill (delish) and Duck’s Nuts original years ago at Kewarra

Note to self: Ask Matty, duck’s nuts? Please explain? 😆

Update Friday 18th public holiday here in Cairns … it’s lame Show Day 🙄 Maybe expect a slight surcharge for the additional wages being paid today to this crew I’m here again for frozen margarita - just one I had to slow down!! I got headfreeze 😩 Then The delightful Mackinley hand delivered my order of Annie’s chicken...

Avoid this location. Some members of the wait staff, kitchen staff and management are utterly incompetent at their post.

We arrived shortly after dinner opening time and were seated promptly. It was not busy. The waitress took our order, then we waited.... other tables around us became occupied their food orders taken and also delivered. Meanwhile our water nor drink order had been filled, let alone appetizers or main course foods. We asked our hostess as well as two other waitstaff if there was an issue since our order had not been fulfilled yet, seems like our waitress forgot to put in our order and perhaps forgotten about our table entirely? We were told it would be out soon. Meanwhile as we further waited, other tables around us had already eaten all their food and left and were filled with new patrons as we asked again our waitress and another staff member what the holdup was, this time we were told the kitchen is experiencing some issues. (lies, somehow all other tables food was being delivered?) Now 90 minutes after placing the order, some of our food comes... we ask to just pack it away as we were already late for other commitments for the evening. As we pay and exit the host asks how things were and we explained the situation. The manager on duty had the audacity to immediately blame the situation on us "you should have brought it up with your server or other staff sooner" which we responded that we did then she says "you should have come to the manager sooner". total disbelief at the disregard for their patrons. We were still asked to pay even after explaining all our food didn't come. "we can give you a 10% discount". Not wanting to be late for our commitments and also didn't want to deal with disrespectful management we paid and left.

This might be an outlier experience and I understand these things happen sometimes by waitstaff but the way it was handled by management after was outrageous. For anyone considering eating here please be advised of the staff incompetence and I urge you to spend your time and...