Pasta Di Piazza — Restaurant in Birmingham

On the 17th January 2022, I went on line and made a booking for a table for two for 630p.m. on Valentine's Day, 14th February 2022. I received an email confirming that I had made the booking but someone would telephone or email me to confirm the booking. Strange but I expected to hear from them in a couple of days.

So on the 28th January 2022, I sent an email seeking confirmation of the booking.

On the 30th January 2022, I received a telephone call, saying the only way to confirm the booking was to visit in person and pay a £10.00 deposit per person. The man I spoke to would not accept card payment.

I had a dentist appointment the next day, and as they opened at noon, I said I would attend after the appointment. As I had a tooth extraction, I went with my wife and she went, in person to confirm the appointment. She was told the booking was not confirmed, that he required cash, which she didn't have (who does since COVID) and until he had £20 in cash the booking was not confirmed.

Seems to me that the only reason for cash is to avoid the tax man. We have used the restaurant before it closed down, which was a shame as the previous owner did not demand cash up front and the food was excellent.

The restaurant is small and my wife commented that it was crammed with tables, more than under the previous owner, so it wouldn't have been a pleasant meal, COVID...

We live round the corner, but had been ten years since we had visited this restaurant. Pizza is our little boy's favourite thing in the world, and grandad was visiting, so we took a nice walk - after checking that it would be open at 4pm on a Sunday.

It was, but it was quiet. That's ok by me, it means the food usually comes quickly! The refurbishment has done a nice job, this doesn't feel like a restaurant in Acocks Green once you're through the door.

It also feels very authentic - unlike the chains that are creeping onto every high street. The staff, the menu, even the background music are all very Italian.

Service was really friendly throughout, and the food came quickly. It was all really good - the simple margarita for the boy was light and had a tasty cheese tang to prove it wasnt just cheddar and mozzarella. I had an excellent Calzone, my dad had to share his penne and meatballs with his grandson. The boss had frutti di mare, and was very pleased with her choice.

Four mains, with some drinks and a big garlic bread to share, was a shade over £50. This is more or less the same as I'd be paying in a Strada or a Prezzo, but the quality of the food was much better. We're already planning on going back with grandma when she turns up for her shift of helping with the long...

Food is okay, drinks are good. The first time we visited the carbonara came out soaked in a buttery oil.. we gave them another chance as the staff was nice, the vibe was great, we liked the drinks, we assumed the food would be better the next time but the second time we visited the restaurant the staff were very rude, didn’t seem to want to serve us, food was even worse than last time, I assume the staff are friendly as and when they please. When we had eaten our meals we ordered more drinks and shots to finish and paid, once we had finished and headed to the car, one member of staff chased us down the street telling us we hadn’t paid for our meal, me thinking nothing of it I just assumed the card didn’t work? My partner had a receipt and he had paid. They just turned away and walked back to the restaurant, no apology for the attempt of embarrassment, nothing! I think with the food not being the best presented the staff should be a little bit...