Santini’s Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Queensland

Booked several days in advance to secure a table for 7. Seated fairly quickly. Approx 20 minutes later the wait staff came to take our drink order. We were informed that there was only one chef and a kitchen-hand for the evening (perhaps due to it being Jan 2, not really sure) so we accepted that wait times might be a little longer. Little did we know how ridiculous those wait times would be. We ordered drinks and entree to come out first, as you do. The wait for both to come to table was quite long. But we kept it in our mind that staff were perhaps swamped. We ordered 2 x garlic bread and 1 x Bruschetta Pomodoro. Garlic bread was nice. However the 'bruschetta' was lacking. Fresh, ripe tomatoes would have worked a treat in completing the 'bruschetta', we couldn't taste them at all. The 3 children in our party ordered pizza. 1 x meat lovers with no onion and 2 x tropical with no pineapple. Meat lovers came out with onion and had to be sent back and a fresh pizza made. The waitperson came over to inform us that the 2 non pineapple pizzas also had to be remade due to both original pizzas being made with pineapple. So yet more waiting. Adults ordered: Spaghetti Bolognese. It was dry and bland, Chicken Boscaiola. It was tasty and creamy and the vegetables were delicious. Lamb Shanks and Parma pizza. Meals came to table at differing times. Some were eating while others were still waiting. It was over 30 minutes between the first main and last main hitting the table, excluding the pizzas that had to be remade. Unacceptable. A couple of the dishes were tasty. The exception being the rather bland bolognese and the parma pizza which took some scouting to find the tomato base. Once found though, it was pretty good. Due to the stuff ups and ridiculous wait times, the waitperson came to apologise and informed us that if we so chose to have dessert, it would be on the house. This appeased my ever building frustrations, temporarily. The kids ordered gelato, which took 30 minutes to reach table which is an insane wait time for ice cream. It was at this point where my frustration leaked out and I vented such at the waitperson, who deflected responsibilty. Basically absolving themself and placing blame on the area in the kitchen that they didn't have control over. So, after just over 2 hours and 40 minutes, I would have to say that the experience was a mixture of annoyance and resignation. How much did this meal cost? $250. Not worth the expense IMHO. Also, the cockroaches, both living and dead, scattered throughout was a bit of a negative as well. Not a pleasant experience going to the bathroom and seeing dead cockroaches in dark corners and live ones hanging out on walls and behind toilets. Wont be going back.

P.S. Tried the 'tiramisu' once I got home. It had a somewhat unpleasant metallic flavour to it. Like it had been sitting in a metal tin for far too long.

Added Jan 3 2024

This is the only way I can see to react to your 'reasoning'. It's unfortunate that you can't take responsibilty for poor service, food etc. It is the holiday season. Literally the busiest time of year for Hervey Bay and your best excuse is to say you weren't prepared for it?

BTW..the picture I have attached is what I got when I asked for Tiramisu. Don't even try to tell me that is what I got! Also, asking for management next time we come in to ensure we get the 'first hand experience' is just ridiculous. Shouldn't this 'first hand experience' be offered to everyone, all the time? Food...

After years of visiting Hervey Bay, we finally committed to having our first ever Santini dining experience.

Unfortunately, it didn't meet expectation, with varying degrees of satisfaction/dissatisfaction felt throughout our group.

Having booked earlier in the week, the staff were expecting us and quickly had us seated. One particular waitress was very good, seemed knowledgeable about processes and menu, and visited regularly to touch base and take our drinks and food orders.

Unfortunately, the second waitress cannot be praised in the same manner. She seemed to have very little understanding of what to do, and also made mistakes regarding the menu which, on several occasions, created confusion when items were brought to the table.

When ordering our mains, several members in our party requested that chicken be added to their Alla Romana pasta. This included my son, yet, when his was served, there wasn't a piece of chicken in sight. We brought this to the waitress' attention, so she sought help from the owner. He very quickly came to our table and assured us there was chicken on every plate, as requested. Thinking it was possibly shredded and hidden amongst the sauce and bacon, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and started eating. From start to finish, however, my son didn't encounter a single piece of chicken. This started to get on my nerves, as we'd flagged the issue twice, with no resolution. Therefore, when paying the bill, I again made mention of it to the staff member working the till. She checked our table details and immediately realised chicken had not been added to one of the Alla Romana meals, hence my son missing out. Even then, no apology or compensation was offered.

Putting the chicken issue aside, feedback from the group was mixed. The pizza was given a big thumbs up, and my Risotto Pescatore was excellent, and I loved every bite. The others' pasta dishes, however, were deemed okay but nothing to rave about.

Coffee and dessert didn't fare much better. They were all acceptable, but nothing warranted high praise or excitement.

Overall, with inconsistent service preceding an incorrect assumption from the owner (to my son's detriment), followed by mixed reviews of both the meals and desserts, I unfortunately have to say this evening wasn't a success. The negatives sadly outweighed the positives, and I'm doubtful...

Thank you Santini 😊

The aroma of delicious food and the warmth of friendly faces can turn any ordinary meal into an unforgettable experience.

From my experience Santini is a restaurant that perfectly combines amazing food with wonderful staff, making it a place worth recommending to friends and family and this is why Santini’s stands out as a top choice for dining out.

First, the food at Santini is truly remarkable, the menu offers a wide range of dishes that cater to various tastes, the mouthwatering pasta and Pizzas to lamb shanks and chicken boscaiola for example, I must state that the Gamberi prawns is my favourite…… its creamy texture and rich flavours are to die for 😊 All the dish’s I have tried have been prepared with fresh ingredients, ensuring that every bite is full of taste and quality.

In addition to the fantastic food, the staff at Santini plays a vital role in creating a welcoming atmosphere, from the moment I walk through the door, I’m greeted with smiles and friendly service. The waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, ready to offer recommendations based on individual preference, for instance, when I was unsure about what to order, the staff are quick to suggest popular dishes, making my dining experience enjoyable and stress-free.

The ambiance at Santini adds to its charm. The restaurant is tastefully decorated, with cozy lighting and comfortable seating that invites guests to relax and enjoy their meals. Whether dining with friends or family, the environment is perfect for creating lasting memories. Celebrations, casual dinners, or even a quick lunch can all be enjoyed in this lovely setting, making Santini a versatile choice for any occasion. The commitment to culinary excellence makes dining at Santini a delightful experience.

In conclusion, Santini is a restaurant that excels in both food and service. The delicious dishes and the friendly staff create an inviting atmosphere that is hard to resist with a commitment to quality and a focus on customer satisfaction, it is easy to see why Santini is worth recommending to friends and...