A Taste of the Amalfi Coast in KL – Family Dinner at Positano Risto, Publika
Dining out as a family is always an experience we cherish, and our recent visit to Positano Risto @ Publika KL turned out to be one of the most memorable evenings we’ve had in a long time. From the warm hospitality to the authentic Italian flavors, everything about our dinner was top-notch — and it wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible team who made us feel so welcomed.
We were a family of five looking for a cozy yet elegant place to enjoy dinner, and Positano Risto ticked every box. The atmosphere was inviting, the lighting just right, and the vibe effortlessly transported us from Kuala Lumpur to the heart of Italy.
A Huge Thank You to Tasha, Azwan, Hakim & Luca
Before diving into the food (which was amazing), I have to give a heartfelt thank you to the team who took such good care of us: Azwan, who welcomed us with a big smile and got us settled in comfortably; Hakim, who was attentive and knowledgeable, always nearby when we needed something; and Luca, whose behind-the-scenes work kept everything running seamlessly.
But the biggest and most sincere thank you goes to Tasha.
Tasha was nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment we sat down, she brought an energy and warmth that instantly made us feel like VIPs. She engaged with all of us – not just the adults but our kids too – with genuine interest and kindness. Her menu recommendations were flawless (more on that below!), and she checked in often without ever being intrusive.
What truly stood out about Tasha was her attention to detail and the way she made everything feel personal. She took the time to understand our preferences and even surprised us with small thoughtful touches throughout the night. When she noticed my mum admiring the presentation of another dish at a nearby table, she came over and offered a short description and backstory — it’s these small things that turn good service into unforgettable service.
Food That Speaks for Itself
We started with the Calamari Fritti and Bruschetta Al Pomodoro — both fresh and flavorful. The calamari was perfectly crisp without being greasy, and the tomatoes on the bruschetta tasted like they were straight from an Italian garden.
For mains, we followed Tasha’s suggestions — and she absolutely nailed it. The Truffle Alfredo with Tagliatelle was rich, creamy, and indulgent. My kids devoured the Margherita Pizza and the Mac & Cheese, and even asked for seconds (which never happens!).
Desserts were the grand finale — we had the Tiramisu and Chocolate Lava Cake, and both were dreamy. Tasha made sure they were served with a scoop of vanilla gelato that just brought everything together beautifully.
A Note on the Service & Atmosphere
The service at Positano Risto was truly exceptional — professional yet warm, fast without being rushed. It’s clear the team works well together and takes pride in what they do.
But it was Tasha who made the evening truly special. Her cheerful demeanor, genuine hospitality, and effortless charm brought an emotional warmth that turned a simple family dinner into a treasured memory. She has a remarkable way of making people feel seen, heard, and cared for — and that’s a rare gift in hospitality.
Final Thoughts
If you're in KL and craving Italian food done right — with soul, flavor, and heart — you need to visit Positano Risto @ Publika. And if you’re lucky enough to be served by Tasha, you’re in for something truly special.
To Tasha, Azwan, Hakim, and Luca – thank you for giving my family a night to remember. Tasha, your passion and grace were the highlights of our evening, and we’re already planning our return visit —...
Read moreA Disappointing Experience at Posatino Risto I had the unfortunate experience of dining at Posatino Restaurant, and I must say it was nothing short of a disappointment. . Let's start with the first issue that struck me right away: the exorbitant prices. The price point of the dishes offered at this establishment simply does not match the quality of the food. I found myself expecting culinary excellence, only to be met with lackluster flavors and poorly executed dishes.
The 4 cheese pizza, which I had high hopes for, was a major letdown. The pizza was shockingly bland, in dire need of seasoning to add some much-needed taste. It was as if the chef completely forgot to infuse any sort of flavor into this supposed delicacy. The promise of a cheesy delight fell flat and left me disappointed and questioning the expertise of the chef.
Another disappointing item was the 4 season pizza. A clear example of a poorly made dish. It appeared as though the four different toppings were haphazardly dumped on the pizza as an afterthought. The presentation was unappealing, and it seemed as if the kitchen staff couldn't care less about the appearance or taste of the food they were serving. It's disheartening to witness such a lack of effort and attention to detail in a restaurant that claims to offer a high-quality dining experience.
To add insult to injury, the squid ink spaghetti, advertised as featuring Tiger prawns, arrived at our table lacking any sign of these promised prawns. It was a stark reminder of the misleading nature of Posatino's advertisement. The absence of the advertised ingredient further exemplifies the lack of attention to detail and the disregard for customer satisfaction. I must say that I feel cheated. If Posatino cannot even deliver on something as simple as including the stated ingredients, how can they expect customers to trust any other aspect of their When asked about the absence of the Tiger prawns , the waitress simply said that there was a change in the menu. It does not make sense as the spaghetti is missing the tiger prawns and replaced with a medium size "udang". Even the squid doesn't taste fresh and it was probably cooked from a frozen batch. On a slightly positive note, I find the servers at Posatino Risto were the only redeeming factor during my visit. They were helpful, polite, and pleasant, which provided a small glimmer of hope amidst the dismal experience. However, even their exceptional service could not compensate for the overall dismal state of Posatino Risto. In conclusion, I cannot stress enough how much of a letdown Posatino restaurant turned out to be. From the overpriced dishes, the advertisement of the Posatino Restaurant in Publika proved to be a total misrepresentation. Save your money, your time, your taste buds and look elsewhere for a truly satisfying...
Read moreFirst time we visited this halal italian eatery. We came dressed in simple t- shirts, sandals and nothing glamorous and yet we were greeted by really friendly waiters and even by the new restaurant manager, Luka. We are from KL and trust me, we know , despite any popularity, there are pleasant welcoming waiters and also regrettably , there are rude n cold ones too.
This place can be instagrammable but NOT pretentious.😁🥰
We ordered Lobster Ravioli, pepperoni pizza, Cannoli and tiramisu.
Before that, im not sure why there r certain bad reviews about the food being bland or tasteless. This is Italian food guys and they arent supposed to be as spicy or heavily spiced like Malaysian food.
As far as i experienced Italian food elsewhere in KL, italian food normally should give a natural taste of the ingredients used in the meals without MSG or extra salt etc. You cant expect a squid ink meal to taste like mee goreng mamak pedas.
For example, at another italian restaurant, i ordered risotto thinking its gonna taste at least like nasi goreng cina. Honestly,after eating risotto , for me, risotto tasted like plain bland, white rice despite its colour.😂😂 No matter how glamorous Chef Gordon Ramsay says the word, thats my first n last. 😂So, the tastelessness is NOT the fault of the chef but ITS JUST HOW ITALIAN FOOD would taste.😁
If you really wana try ITALIAN food then leave your malaysian taste bud home. What i mean to say is, lets be adventurous!!😁
Unless there is an Italian here giving bad reviews about Italian food, i would say the Italian food here taste...italian.😁 wink. After all , the restaurant manager is an Italian. So, ill take his word when it comes to authentic taste.
Ok as far as the Italian food that we ordered are concerned, they are all tasty n delicious. In short, this Italian food satisfied my taste palate. Bottoms up. 😋
For an extra flair, try ordering the tiramisu. Thats the meal you see with the burner in the video.
The price may be above average but for the food, environment and even warm hospitality, its worth it. Luka, was most pleasant in serving us too. Thats him serving the tiramisu. Yeah the manager. You see what i mean when i said they r not pretentious despite being located in an upscale neighborhood. The vibe is... genuine n authentic.
So to the owner of this restaurant, well done. Hope you continue to flourish in your business because by you continuing here, you can educate malaysian on how italian food should taste like.
As the italian say, deliziouso!...
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