Ratana Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria — Restaurant in Canterbury

EDIT: since the review I’ve dined in this restaurant again - had delicious food and great service. We had the chance to talk about what happened before and it was cleared up. Anyway, I highly recommend their carbonara and quattro formaggi pizza.

Good food RUINED by one of your staff. Was very much looking forward to bring my family visiting from abroad to this restaurant. What ruined it is the girl who was in charge of the cashier when my mother and I were settling the bill. The girl seemed very uninviting and uninterested. Upon paying, my mother’s amex card was declined, so I apologized to the cashier girl and told her to give me a moment to get another credit card - she again, just gave off a very dismissive vibe. When we got another credit card, we got a prompt with the choices to click “yes” or “no”, I asked the girl and she told me click “no”. This caused a conflict in their system wherein she insisted the payment did not go through, so we would have to pay again. When I was expressing my concern about my mom’s card MAYBE being charged twice if we do it again, the girl could not care less. So disappointed. She literally just walked away as soon as she saw our server come up to help us. Our male server on the other hand was helpful and reassuring so a huge thank you to him.

For reference, we dined on a Sunday...

The wait staff unfortunately let the establishment down. Our waitress had to check with the kitchen what the Pasta of the Day was, and I suggested to her it would be nice to be offered cracked pepper or parmesan cheese when presenting the main dish. Dirty dishes between courses weren't cleared. The restaurant was also very cold, we never took our jackets off. I guess with high ceilings and us being the first punters of the night they hadn’t time to get the temperature up. It was a shame about those little nuisances as with a few tweaks this has the makings of a superb restaurant. The food itself was stunning. We had Polenta Fries for entrée, and they were to die for, I had the Gnocchi with Napoli sauce for my main and my wife had the Carbonara with a creamy carbonara sauce. Both dishes exceeded our expectations, and the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly, they really know how to cook their pasta here. Flavour's were delightful, and the best Gnocchi I've had for a very long time. We would definitely go back….but maybe with thermals on. Oh and thank you for playing a mixture of Italian music, always a nice touch to compliment...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Authentic Italian Excellence in Rolleston – Ratana is a Must-Visit!

Tucked away in the heart of Rolleston, Ratana Italian Restaurant is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk through the door, you're welcomed with warm smiles, an inviting ambiance, and the comforting aroma of authentic Italian cooking.

The food is simply outstanding. The porchetta was perfectly seasoned with crispy crackling and tender, juicy meat that melted in the mouth. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, rich in flavor, and slow-cooked to perfection. To top it all off, the tiramisu was divine—light, creamy, and the perfect balance of coffee and cocoa. Every bite felt like a true taste of Italy.

The staff were equally impressive—friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. They made us feel genuinely welcomed and ensured our dining experience was flawless from start to finish.

If you're in Rolleston and craving authentic Italian cuisine, look no further than Ratana. Incredible food, impeccable service, and a cozy, elegant setting—it doesn’t get better than this. Highly...