Dante's Pizzeria Ponsonby — Restaurant in Waitematā

My partner and I were feeling like a day out so we decided to visit Dantes on a sunny mid day.

We had been a couple times so we knew the pizza is pretty decent (the crust is well done, and the toppings they use are good quality).

This time we visited and while I will say the pizza was again very good, I didn't care for the tomato caprese salad. It was all right, but it's just a normal tomato (vine tomato) and some mozzarella that was very basic. Anyone could make this at home. I was hoping for maybe some Heirloom variety of tomato and some slightly better cheese. It was like buying stuff at countdown and eating it at a restaurant. It's fine, but not when you go out to a restaurant that is meant to be this calibre.

I really did enjoy their pizza. This time it was better than before as well. The crust was spot on. Nice slight charring on the edges, great texture, and flavor. Before when we came it had been a bit too burnt, but this time it was right on point. Sauce also very nice.

I would give Dantes four stars if I was going solely on the food. However the customer service we found to be somewhat condescending and non-hospitable. For example, after we were first seated by an employee (possibly kitchen worker?) another employee who was the server comes over from his cigarette break (he literally was just putting out the cigarette when he walked up) and greets us. My partner didn't know he was the server so she made a comment as to say, "oh you are our server. we didn't know at first because you were so casual." Which we were both actually confused. He just gave us this look like he was so annoyed and put off by her.

So we order our food and as he is taking our menus away he makes sure to remind us: "Make sure you eat all of your crusts." I mean sure. I hate wasting food, and I love it when a crust is great (I did eat all the crusts BTW), but I don't need to be told in such a manner. It wasn't out right rude. Just not the vibes you want to be experiencing when you go out for a nice meal.

Anyhow, so we were paid up and leaving and I did want to compliment the pizza (give credit when credit is due), and I mentioned that I was also a chef, and his response was, "if you really are we will be seeing you here again." I was surprised by this comment because wouldn't he want to invite us back?

Bottom line is it wasn't the most horrible experience ever. It was just a let down since we don't go out much anymore (I cook mostly at home). Will definitely be a while before I would go again. I just think it's really important when in hospitality to treat your customers above and beyond. It seemed to me like they treated us like we should have felt privileged to be there, and it just...

Hey Dante.. so you didn’t live up to the “in the top 50 of the world” hype. Dante, shame on you.

I mean, a chain restaurant that is 7th in Asia Pacific and 47th in the world should be the absolute next level, right?

I’m guessing whoever bribed those judged to give them that score must have been behind the till tonight cause that legend dngaf.

His customer service was on point as he decided to argue with me after I asked him to comp part of my bill.

Like this homie must have been told by Dante himself “Don’t bother retaining customers, we are number 47 in the world, we are the only pizza place in NZ to make that list”

We waited half an hour for something never to come, and when asked about it and why it didn’t they did nothing to help and nothing to make our table happy, it was like zero ducks were given. Even trying as a customer to get a drink comped for the lack of ducks given, shows there were even less ducks to give.

Everyone in the industry knows when you kook it this bad, Dante, you look after your customers, but hey yeah you pretty much fumbled the bag of sand on this one.

Look at the end of the day. Y’all are number 7 in Asia and number 47 in the world and i get that. Your highy and mighty I get that.

But

That still means there are 52 pizza places that are better than you.

Ya, pizza is as mid as your service.

Look forward to you arguing...

Came here tonight (Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day). Started off OK, staff pleasant and accommodating. Initially we were there for a drink as had ordered food from somewhere else (as is quite normal when sitting outside/in the common area). Turned a little nasty when it came time to pay though. Realised we were charged 15% surcharge then when I asked “where” this was displayed, the young guy promptly pointed to the faint blue signage on the open door glass (where no one would look let alone see). Satisfied (albeit not to any significant degree) that they had met their legal requirements for the display of the surcharge to patrons, the previously vibrant and personable manager came rushing over to see why I had questioned the surcharge. He was immediately defensive, proclaiming that a surcharge on a public holiday is “common sense” (among other sly side comments). My issue wasn’t whether or not the surcharge was expected or necessary, it was where it was displayed and if it was easily visible to patrons (it wasn’t - of course). Your food isn’t of a standard whereby you can throw away good, paying custom. 15-dollar pizza bread was dry too, plenty of other places around with...