Woozza — Restaurant in Galway

We have been regulars of Wooza for quite a while and typically I would have lunch with my 2 sons there midweek once every 2 weeks and also we would go there as a family at the weekend perhaps once a month. The food is always very nice and service is generally very good with the owner or manager there themselves almost every time. We would normally leave a 10% tip because of very good food and attentive service.

However, myself, my daughter and two sons went for lunch today and we wont be back again until they change their new policy at the very least -- a mandatory 10% service charge on all bills. The service today was minimal ... take your order and bring the food when they remembered to .. and that's it. The three waiters/waitress (at least one of whom has been working there for months) only had 4 or 5 tables to deal with but spent 90% of their time just chatting to each other. There was no checking of how we were getting on, was all okay, did we need more water etc. It took nearly 15 minutes between our starters being cleared before 3 pizzas and a pasta dish arrived ... all because they were not keeping an eye on how we were progressing with our starters. While waiting for my pizza, I had to take a phone call so told my son to ask for my pizza to be just boxed for a take away (I was still charged the full eat in price for it!). Even when I returned after the call the pizza wasnt even brought to me in the box nor was I asked if I'd prefer to eat it at the table or anything said to me about it. I'd say they hadn't even noticed that I was gone for 20 minutes.

Overall it was abysmal service and certainly would not merit 1% never mind 10% service charge. One final thing that really annoyed me was that the itemized bill did not contain a line item for this 10% charge ... every other food and drink item was individually listed on the bill but the 10% charge was not which I think is very sly indeed. Sure .. it was explained that there was a 10% charged added on in the small print at the bottom of the bill. Don't get me wrong, they do have a notice of this new 10% charge clearly on display (I didnt notice it on the way in but my daughter did) but today's whole experience was a clear example why tips work (providing a good service means you will likely get one) and a mandatory service charge is BS (you can just ignore the customer and do the bare minimum and still get). I would also observe that neither the owner nor manager were there today so when I said I wouldnt be back it was greeted with a cursory "I'm sorry...

I LOVE WOOZZA! every time i come to galway, which is monthly, i make a beeline for this lovely italian restaurant.

i always get the carbonara - i pride myself on making a great authentic carbonara at home, but woozza surpasses mine with ease. it’s so delicious i never get the chance to photograph it because my water mouths and i need to taste it IMMEDIATELY. creamy, salty, crispy, soft.. all topped with fresh parmesan brought to your table. addictive. dreamy. so delicious.

the tiramisu is also a must - i did manage to take a photo the first time i got it because, well, can you blame me – check out that presentation! sweet, soft, somehow light and rich at the same time. i have come to the conclusion that every tiramisu needs strawberries as a garnish, it complements it so well. i am a harsh tiramisu critic because i love it so much… this one is on par with dolce sicily in dublin, only woozza has nicer service 👀

the staff is always so kind and attentive, it’s always great to hear italian spoken in an italian restaurant, and you can taste their dedication to authentic italian cuisine in every bite.

i came about ten minutes earlier than my friend the other day and i was nervous about the inconvenience but they totally understood and were so patient with me. i even suggested i could get our white wine ahead of time, and one of our servers insist i wait until my friend comes, so it could be as cold as possible. very nice touch, very sweet sentiment.

in my experience, it’s unpredictable if the restaurant will be very busy or only a few tables taken - i’ve never been refused service because it was too busy but i would recommend calling ahead of time if possible, just to make the staff’s life somewhat easier! if you can, the window seat is lovely but there’s a great atmosphere all over the restaurant. looking forward to summer where we can dine al fresco!

get yourself to woozza ASAP....

An Authentic Slice of Italy – A Must-Visit for Pizza Lovers! 🍕🇮🇹

From the moment we sat down, we knew we were in for something special. The aroma of freshly baked dough and melted cheese coming from the wood-fired oven was absolutely irresistible. We ordered two pizzas and a bruschetta platter, and every bite transported us straight to the heart of Italy.

The pizza was perfectly baked, with a crisp, slightly charred crust that gave it that unmistakable wood-fired flavor. The pepperoni pizza, topped with spicy jalapeños and bubbling mozzarella, struck the ideal balance between rich, savory, and spicy. The dough was light and airy yet chewy—clearly made with skill and love.

The bruschetta was equally divine. Served on warm, golden focaccia-style bread, it was generously topped with juicy, fresh tomatoes and finished with fragrant basil leaves. A drizzle of olive oil and herbs brought everything together in a wonderfully vibrant and refreshing starter.

We paired our meal with a couple of Peroni beers which complemented the food beautifully. The service was friendly and attentive, and the cozy, rustic ambiance of the restaurant made the experience even more enjoyable.

This place is a hidden gem for authentic Italian cuisine. Whether you're a local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this culinary delight. We’ll...