Pulcinella da Stefano — Restaurant in Chiang Mai Province

With hesitation I write the review. I really wanted to be happy here. We have visited this restaurant every year we have come to Chiang Mai besides 2020. I did not cancel my 2020 trip….the airline did.

Every time we have come the owner has come over and made small talk. In 2019, he said he remembered us. This time he just sat at the table. He did jump up to seat us but went right back. We ordered like the true Italian I am. Ordered everything. About 8 things for 2 people. Drinks, wine, anti pastas, etc. Even spoke Italian when meeting the owner. None of it was enough to get him to stop by our table or check on us personally.

For those that are Italian or just love authentic Italians….small restaurants like this are known all over the world for the owner and chef (many times the same thing) coming over to the table to inquire on their cooking or to make small talk.

The food was actually still good except for one very important serious issue….this is not the sauce I remember. I was concerned when the calamari did not come out with marinara sauce. When I asked for some I got Ketchup tasting “tomato sauce”. Same as I got from a Thai owned pizza place.

I thought it could be the tomato’s in the area but the tomatoes that came with the dish were great. This is NOT this owners sauce. I refuse to believe it.

I am not against a can style sauce, heck, my mothers Sicilian recipe is a simple tomato paste and tomato purée and is amazing. I’m hoping this is just a supply chain issue and will be fixed.

I may give them another chance before we head back for America because my mother actually came with us this year and has been really craving Italian since we have been here a month. This is her first time visiting anywhere else but the Old Country. However, if we go into a family style Italian restaurant and it doesn’t feel family she will be very sad. Not sure I can take the chance.

I will say that their tomatoes, mozzarella from the bruschetta , and basil tasted wonderful. We were not offered shredded mozzarella on anything. I understand this is not Thai culture to do so but this restaurant is representing Italy in Thailand. I implore the owner to remember his roots. Tourists are coming back. Dust of your Italian accent and represent our culture.

When I return next year, if things improve I will be sure to update my review. I seriously am leaving this to help a...

I am Italian, and the bruschetta was a disgrace. The bread was disgusting, cheap quality and it had no substance at all. Bruschetta has to be made with ciabatta bread! If you are a serious Italian restaurant you should know this, instead of buying cheap bread and sell it for high price. Also they put BUTTER on the bread. Are you for real or? You would go to jail in Italy for that. The original recipe is only oil, garlic and salt! No butter! It tasted awful. Funny part is the owner is Italian, how doesnt he know this I wonder. I also ordered a calzone which missed flavour, I couldn’t taste neither spinach, ham, nor cheese. The dough was ok. My girlfriend ordered spaghetti with mushroom and sausage, it was nice, but the sauce had a lot of oil/fat which made it very greasy.

Cheap ingredients are used in this restaurant, but still charge top money. I have been to much better Italian restaurants in Thailand. I will not...

Great atmosphere, food was ok but nothing spectacular. We were there around 5:45pm, o ly 3 other customers, staff spent alot of their time on their cell phones. ..so service should have been better. Owners weren't on site as I asked to speak to them . The decor and atmosphere was very nice, unfortunately there was a thai gentleman that had his phone on and he was watching a TV show loudly which tuned out the music, hence ruined the atmosphere. Eventually I asked the wait staff to ask him to turn it down, which he did. I am part italian and a chef so I do know about Italian cuisine. I was somewhat disappointed but will try again in the future to see if things improve. I can not stress enough to the

owners the importance of them being on site during service hours, especially in Thailand as staff don't have the dame level of service and customer care when owners aren't on site. I know it's a delicate...