Carluccio's — Restaurant in Dublin

Wanted to share this because I think it’s important. My wife and I have been to Carluccio’s before (12-months ago) and had a great dinner. We liked it so much we went out of our way to go there tonight.

Tonight we went to Carluccio’s with both sets of our parents to celebrate my wife’s birthday and it was probably the worst meal we have had in a long time.

Side note: We frequently travel to Ireland to visit family and like to think we know the dublin restaurant scene well.

When we arrived Carluccio’s, the server (Antonio) took our drink orders and was very cordial. After he took the drinks, we placed our dinner orders. Antonio seemed to accommodating but then he forgot to take my order completely. We attempted to flag him down but I had to physically walk up to the bar area to ask him to put in my order. Antonio was apologetic and stated he would address.

The appetizers came out fine. Then the meals started to be delivered. All but my meal (chicken saltimbocca) came out. After 5 mins, Antonio stated he sent my saltimbocca didn’t look good so he asked for another one. I took it for face value but after waiting an additional 10 mins I believed that he probably never placed the order in the system. At that point most of our guests were almost all through with their meals. After my dish arrived, it looked like it was going to taste. Bland and displeasing. I took one bite and the chicken was caked in a butter sauce, had zero flavor and was over cooked. There was zero hint of it even being seared in a wine sauce. It did the opposite of “jump in my mouth.” In fact, I didn’t finish the dish it was that unpleasant. Antonio did ask how it tasted and I told him it was eh okay but not the best. He then walked away.

In addition to that, I asked my wife how her meal was as she didn’t seem to be eating her spaghetti carbonara. She noted that it too was very bland and that there wasn’t much of anything going on in the dish. After tasting hers, I knew the that the whole meal was most likely not good. After surveying the rest of our party they stated the meals were nothing thrilling.

When Antonio arrived back he cleared the dishes and asked if anyone wanted dessert. Our daughter’s meal included dessert and I asked earlier if the restaurant could do something nice for my wife’s birthday. My wife was so displeased with how we were handled from forgetting to take my order, to the late delivery of the my meal, to the horrible taste that she didn’t want dessert.

Myself and my father in law ordered coffee. Antonio did bring out a dessert to my wife with another server and sang happy birthday (which was nice). However, the damage was already done.

At the end, we will most likely not be returning to Carluccios anytime soon nor we will be referring anyone to this restaurant moving forward. Both the food and service really needs to be addressed. The food scene in Dublin is growing and if Carluccio’s want to keep up with the rest I recommend they look long and hard at their back and front of the...

Very very disappointed. Had a very special day planned as a treat for a friend who was going thru a really miserable time, a spa session then lunch. Went to Carluccios after our spa session as it brought back fond memories for my friend, I had never been but wasn't overly impressed from the start. Decor a bit faded but staff seemed friendly enough. Ordered garlic bread and pate for starters. Garlic bread was cold but we were really hungry so ate it. Three triangles of cold burnt hard toast with the pate (which was dry and just didn't taste fresh) asked for more fresh toast but server brought out a bread basket instead and said it would take too long for toast.. Whaaaat?? No toast available in a Restaurant.. told the server that the garlic bread and toast were cold and pate tasted old.. . She apologised and then just asked if we wanted more?? we said no. I ordered the beef ragu pasta, recommended by the server, and had to send it back as it was inedible it was so salty, apart from that it was watery with hardly any meat, no sauce and a massive pile of spaghetti and just looked like leftovers.. The manageress came up after I sent it back to say she had tasted it and she agreed it was really salty, again I was asked if I wanted more??? My friend got the chicken milanese which was dry as a bone with a salad which consisted of dried out bits of salad with one cherry tomato.. You could safely use the chicken to sole a shoe. We didn't spend much time in the restaurant to be honest as it was just a painful experience and when we went to pay they did deduct my meal from the bill and even tho my friend also didn't eat her meal, she didn't complain so paid.. It wasn't cheap either for what we did pay for. All in all a waste of time and money.. Food absolutely disgusting, servers clueless.. It was soooooo bad I am very surprised at some good reviews on here. Too many good places to eat in Dublin to waste your time here in my opinion.

UPDATE : CARLUCCIO'S APPEARED SURPRISED BY MY REVIEW AND RESPONDED BY ASKING ME TO CONTACT THEM TO DISCUSS.. I THOUGHT THEY WERE ACTUALLY INTERESTED.. . BUT NO.. WRITTEN BY THEM PURELY FOR EFFECT TO BE SEEN TO BE INTERESTED.. . I MADE THE EFFORT AND CONTACTED THEM TWICE BUT THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO CONTACT ME BACK.. I ABSOLUTELY 100% STAND...

Hello I eat at your restaurant regularly , this Morning 15th August I waited 20 minutes at an outside table with no service, when I entered a young server called I think William told me when I asked if someone could please take my order, sure he replied and then went back to chatting with another staff member. 15 minutes later still no service, when I went into the cafe again to ask this young man if someone could please take my order, he informed me that there is no outside table service ?? despite a young couple two table's up from me outside enjoying their breakfast.When I asked about this couple having outside service he told me thats because they ordered takeaway ???? they were eating of plates and had obviously not ordered takeaway. Why this young man would choose to lie to me twice instead of just taking my order is beyond me, I hope that the colour of my skin had nothing to do with but I am very angry and disappointed that a member of your staff would act in such a way. I have never complained to any restaurant before ever, usually I just don't return, but for the sake of your business, I wanted to let you know that this is how your staff are acting. I see the hard work and professionalism that you evening staff put into running your restaurant and feel this is not fair on either them or me, thank you for your time, best wishes,...