Elba’s Pazza Pizza — Restaurant in South Island

I won't be returning to Eat Italy any time soon; until they drastically improve their customer service. Wanting to support businesses in my local community I have eaten here on a few occasions. The food is good but their customer service is stocking.

On the last two times I have been here, I have been turned away, despite having booked. On the first of these occasions, I booked online via their website. When myself and my guests turned up they said they had no booking: When I said that I had booked via their website, they said "Oh that's not working"!

A couple of months later I again booked on their website. This time I received a message back saying it was booked. Great, I thought. Unfortunately one of our party got held up at work and messaged me to say they'd be late. This was two hours before our booking. I called the restaurant immediately. No one answered but I left a voice message explaining the situation and asking if we cool a push the booking to an hour later. I asked them to call back to confirm. I never received a call so proceeded to the restaurant.

Upon arrival there was no knowledge of my call, the restaurant was full and we were told that they couldn't accomodate us. I asked if they could please check with the owner, whom I could see in the kitchen. The waitress came back with the same answer - no tables available. I pointed out that I had called earlier and left a voice message and asked whose job it was to check the messages. She said all of them. When questioned as to why they hadn't checked she replied that the phone had no credit so they couldn't check!! I was totally flabbergasted and as this was the second such mess up, I am shocked at their lack of business sense & customer service.

So, in short, I won't be back, and would like to warn others that this may also happen to them. Even an apology and an offer of a free glass of wine or similar would have been better than an outright ‘no, go away’ attitude. Come on Eat Italy. Up...

DISAPPOINTING

Nice white linen table cloths, and cheap small paper napkins.

Wine and beer were warm.

Wood Fired Bread with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Oregano $10

We weren't expecting a thin pizza base with a splash of oil and organo

Martinated Olives - Italian Olives, Sundries Tomatoes, Feta, Oregano, Olive Oil $11.

We weren't expecting a mix Delmain Anitpasto products. No sign of Feta or Oregano

Stinco Di Porco - Italian Pork Shank with Roast Potatoes and Fresh Herbs $30

We weren't expecting 3 cubes of near raw pork, with hardly cooked potatoes, and a few mescaline leaves and 3 small pieces of cucumber. Had to ask for a steak knife as the knife provided wouldn't cut the pork.

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara - Spagetti, Bacon, Chicken, Creamy Caronara Sauce, Parmesan $33

The serving could only be described as a snack portion, not a main.

Gelati Sorbetti - Chocolate, Lemon, Vangilia, Hazelnut, Salted Caramel, Boysenberry

1 scoop ($5.50) 2 scoops ($8) 3 scoops $12)

1 scoop was served in a paper cut with a wood spoon. 2 scoop was served in a bowl with a wood spoon.

Poor service, we had 3 different waiting staff, whom spent most of their time talking. No one asked how the meals were. One of our party had to stand a wave to get additional drinks and to see the dessert...

Thoroughly enjoyed having my partners birthday here. There is great food for everyone and the quality and portion size is quite consistent. The tables and kitchen are quite fancy but in summer it's a chillaxed vibe with bifold doors opening right up. No blinds mean at some tables you may need sunglasses as the sun sets if you're seated by the window.

Unfortunately the automated booking system didn't send us a confirmation (I checked Gmail spam) and I wasn't able to get hold of anyone over 3 days to change our booking by 30 mins and arrange a cake to be dropped off. So it ruined the surprise for my partner a little. My only advice would be to check the phone number listed a few times a day and and people back (I left a voice message). It wasn't a big deal though and they lit the candles and brought the cake out to the table and refused to charge us any fee even though we didn't eat their dessert.

Would definitely go back as I love the food and vibe here. The place is nicer than it looks on the website! Go there! (P.S for next level dining get a few more alcoholic options. Buying a bottle of a chilled wine wasn't available when we dined and beer is...