Portofino — Restaurant in Hamilton

Our date night meal was a bit disappointing to be honest. It takes a lot of effort to organize babysitters etc and escape for an evening only to get below average service. I've eaten at the Portofino in Gisborne a few times and the food and service was excellent. I expected the same in Hamilton but was unpleasantly surprised. This started with me trying to book a table online a few days in advance. After hearing nothing back, I phoned to confirm on the day and was told another table would be booked for me as there was no record of my online booking. When we arrived, the staff seemed to be overrun and overwhelmed and too busy to help us. There was no table booked. They didn't come to offer drinks so my wife went to the bar. I didn't get offered anything until I managed to flag down a waiter and organise a drink. The pasta my wife ordered was fantastic. My pizza was extremely small(4 pieces), smaller than a kids pizza...Not a dinner size pizza. This was disappointing as I have had the same pizza at the Gisborne restaurant several times and it filled the plate. The ingredients and food quality is great but the service and overall experience was very poor. Just wanted to share this and be honest. You guys can definitely step it up several levels from...

Have dined at this place couple of time, a week day lunch and a weekend lunch. Service is rather average. We have been to various Portofinos in Auckand, the service at this location has a much lower standard. No smiles to start with. The busy Saturday we were there, the waiter walked passed us as we arrived at the entrance but he did not even acknowledge us. And their website was showing having $15 main specials, but on spot, we were told that is not correct plus whole bunch of other reasons why they wouldn't honour the website info, it has nothing to do with them..But it was from official Portofino website! If so, they need to take down the specials that are no longer on offer. When the front door is fully opened, the noise from the traffic at the traffic lights right at the front was tremendous, we couldn't have a proper conversation. Price is ok and serving is on the smaller side. There are many other choices in CBD offering yummy Italian food, so unlikely to return to this specific Portofinos again - due to the lower than average service level comparable to other eateries in CBD. We have been to other Portofino locations in Auckand such as Mission Bay, ex Takpauna (Now Amore), the service level were much much better and friendlier than this one...

Right from the start... we arrived and got pointed to a seat at the other side of the restaurant... after clarifying where we think the maitre de was pointing, we think we sat at the right table. Got offered water that didn't arrive. Eventually we were able order wine and asked for water again. Asked for the fish special, wine arrived and water...asked for the fish special again...confirmed. after okay entree, mains arrived... wow. A $40 eyey fillet steak with two huge pieces of broccoli, carrots and potato and 3 beans. Adjacent table ordered the same and the look on their face was just as shocked as ours. My seafood risotto left me just sad... where was the seafood, where was the love? The flavour? No salt or pepper on the table or offered. Going to the toilet was like going down the rabbit hole in Alice and Wonderland and I'm just grateful I made it back to my table. One poor waitress (it was her first night) had a great attitude - she gets the 1 star...and I hope she has the common sense to quit. We were not asked how the meal was nor asked of we wanted desert, more wine, water... nothing. Will not be returning. $140 spent on wine, entree, 2x mains... the...