Pinocchio Restaurant Christchurch — Restaurant in England

Well, quite honestly, disappointed. Firstly, I used to eat here quite often as a teenager and in my 20's when I believe it was run by two Italian brothers. It was amazing, great food and fantastic hospitality. A very warm welcome. Well tonight was different. I called prior instead of just turning up late, possibly as they were closing their kitchen, so I thought I'd check first. I was greeted by a very enthusiastic young girl who said, "no problem, as long as we get our order in before 9pm". Great, I thought. When we got there at 8:45pm, the young girls who were working there were very hospitable and welcoming. But the owner, a woman possibly in her 50's was present and glared at us from the kitchen doorway. We sat, placed our order with a young waitress and waited for our food. I ordered a Carbonara. When it came, there was no bacon in it at all, apart from about 7 of the smallest, smallest crumbs of bacon. I showed my other half as I couldn't believe it. Talk about saving money. So our children had a pizza and sausage and chips. As I was getting my son to finish his pizza, I looked up and the owner is standing 12 feet away, again glaring at us with a look that can only be described as "Get out". It was 9:30pm. She was glaring at us, no smiles, no pleasantries at all. My other saw her too and it made us both feel very unwelcome and uncomfortable. My advice is, if you can't/don't want to be open until 11pm, don't become a restaurant owner. It was after all only 9:30pm. Otherwise, food was okay, waitresses were well mannered and warm, but got the feeling that they didn't want us there and the owner had no problem in letting her customers know. A proper cow with no manners. Nothing like it used to be as it is obviously now with different owners. Definitely won't be going back....

Wouldn't recommend going when busy, not sure what it’s like when they’re quiet but I can see from some reviews it can be a great little place if you catch them at the right moment.

Tables packed like sardines. To the point there are tables next to the door and you feel like you’re sitting on their lap while you wait to get a table.

Pizza still doughy in middle my child wouldn’t eat it as it was soggy. Pasta not well presented and wasn’t anything special, just pasta and sauce and i found 3 tiny bits of chicken at the bottom?

Staff are polite and attentive seem to not be communicating with each other as we ended up with 12 water glasses for a table of 6. Not sure why there’s a service charge, this should be optional.

Don’t bother taking your child there as nothing offered to keep them busy. kids menu is only 4 options deep with only one of them being an Italian option.

Pricing for mains are fair… Deserts however ridiculous 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream 6.50!

I cannot justify spending that much on ice cream unless you milked the cow yourself and made the ice cream yourself! Prices go up to near £9 for mainly ice cream based deserts, quite literally daylight robbery!

Not likely to return or recommend. Shame as was excited to be coming to a...

It’s an unassailable fact that there are Only two types of people on this planet - those who “like” their Canneloni with boring old spinach - and those who insist on a “proper” Italian recipe, with mince beef & tomato In a Bolognase-Type filling. Obviously, and as one of the latter group, when the urge for a couple of piping-hot tubes of loveliness, smothered In bechamel sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan & Black pepper Calls, then there is Only one place to go - Pinocchio’s. As if it isn’t hard enough, battling with all the other excellent eateries In Christchurch, then to be awarded the “Best Italian Restaraunt In The Country” award from yours truly, is a step UP the ladder of culinary accomplishments - and the (traditional Italian style - with No tomatoes) Minestrone soup is marvellous too. If you have any room remaining for pud, it has to be their home-made Tiramisu - yum. Pick your times to park carefully and you can leave the horseless carriage In Wick Lane, on the High Street, or even In the Council car park - then walk off the worst of your feast around the Priory or down to the...