Rudy's Pizza Napoletana - Sale — Restaurant in Trafford

Had a business meeting in Sale and we decided to head into town for a bite to eat (only 2 of us). It was 6pm on a quiet Tuesday evening and we came across this pizzeria so decided to try it out. On entering the restaurant, the smell of the food was so nice and appetizing so it was extremely disappointing to be told that the restaurant was fully booked and we would have to wait around 1.5 hours before we have a table when we could clearly see there was at least 7-8 empty tables empty (the restaurant was clearly not busy). The waiter did offer us a seat at the bar area facing the kitchen but for us this area was too small. This is where I have the problem...I asked if we could sit outside on one of those tables but the waiter said no because they were not doing outside service as they would be too busy!! Ultimately, it wasn't a huge problem for us as we left and found a restaurant that was helpful and accommodating and quite happy to take our money and look after us well. Like I said earlier in this review, the pizzas looked really good and the smell was excellent it was just sad that we were let down by poor customer service and we didn't get the chance to actually taste what looked like great food. Sadly due to the poor customer service we will not return!

I've scored this place a 1* based on the service (or lack of) and atmosphere and I've not given any rating to the food as we did not get to try any.

Judging by the smell and appearance, the food...

We’ve been coming to Rudys Sale for years but tonight is our last. It’s just deteriorated so much. Not because of the staff, who are lovely and excellent, but because the design and structure of the service - and the product - massively reduce the the quality of the experience. It’s so hard to even walk through the door to reach your table because the entrance is congested with food delivery guys. No beef with them at all, they’re doing the job they’re paid to do, but that small opening just isn’t designed to have 30-50 delivery pizzas an hour (at least?) leaving the premises and dining customers. Is this a take out or a restaurant? They need to get the balance right. It feels like pure greed.

The result is the greeting and service is a mess and the staff are stressed by it. We witnessed some really awful encounters between harassed Deliveroo drivers and the restaurant staff. Both likely facing poor conditions but not enjoyable as a diner to see all of this play out.

Pizza was mediocre. My pizza barely had any tomato sauce and was dry and over cooked. Wood fire smoke is a world better than Rudys now. Worst bit was being unable to order a second drink and then being asked to pay using a QR code that asked for service charge! I always tip but the whole experience was utterly lacking in any kind of human contact I just couldn’t do it.

We don’t go back...

Rudy’s Pizza… hmm, what do I say? It’s a nice, very nice. I had the triple pepperoni, mamma mia, it was like a parade of little drums all banging happily on a cheesy mattress. Was there enough? Yes. Could I eat more? Always. I’m a pepperoni beast, I’d wallpaper my hallway with it if the council allowed.

I tried a couple of other slices too of other pizzas canna remember the names, they were fine, like polite strangers at a bus stop. The cloudy lemonade though it was sparkling, refreshing, it quenched my thirst like a tired worm sipping rain off a trampoline.

The staff? Lovely. Like friendly butterflies who also know how to operate an oven. The atmosphere? Warm, buzzy, felt like someone had sprinkled laughter dust on the tables.

Only grumble? The price. Thirteen quid for a thin pizza! That’s big money. Feels like the sort of thing you’d only pay if the pizza also came with a small donkey or a framed photograph of Kevin Keegan. Add drinks and kids into the mix, and suddenly you’re remortgaging the budgie. But hey, this is England, everything’s got a price tag bigger than its trousers. I’m a working man, but still, Rudy’s… I’ll be back. Let’s a go! But not immediately I...