Dalla Baia — Restaurant in Poulsbo

Three of us decided to give this place a shot while looking for Italian as a lot of places are closed on Tuesday.

We ordered bruschetta to start and I wasn't particularly a fan of it. It tasted like straight balsamic and I wished they'd been a little less heavy handed and used more tomatoes and garlic to balance it out. The free bread was...ok. My partner and I ordered gnocchi, carbonara, and a pizza while my friend ordered the bolognese. The gnocchi was not good at all. I appreciate that it was homemade and the actual gnocchi tasted okay (albeit kind of dense), but the sauce was terrible. Absolutely zero flavor or salt, just tasted of plain cream with chunks of tomato, very very bland. The pizza was also disappointing. The crust wasn't good (floury, dense, no airiness), and it felt like when an American pizza place tries to produce an Italian style pizza. Again, virtually no flavor in the sauce. Similar issues with the bolognese with a lack of flavor, but the noodles were fine. The carbonara was the best out of everything ordered and tasted alright, I didn't mind it, but not sure if that only stood out more since everything else was so lackluster.

I don't think I've ever paid so much for such bland food before. It really sucks to pay for a $100 meal with zero salt or flavor. I think the portion sizes were good for the pasta dishes and side salad.

The inside is a bit confusing as it doesn't really read like an Italian restaurant. There's a bunch of random signage and...wall moss?? I'm not sure. There just doesn't seem to be any effort to create an ambiance. This is personal preference of course, but the interior was a bit weird..?

The waiter was nice, I don't have any complaints about the service. It was nothing outstanding, but wasn't bad either. Just kind of average.

Hopefully things improve because the menu all sounds great when you read it, the execution is just way off. I wouldn't...

1/27/24. I'm a disabled customer with Autism and Sensory Processing disorder, Saturday evening I was attempting to dine. The only table available and I was Seated at the table in front of the TV. The waitress (White woman with light brown hair and glasses in her early 50's) walked up to my table and looked at me funny and asked me how many people are going to be eating with you tonight and I said, just me. The waitress rudely said, oh god making a ugly face at me, and had a disgruntled attitude and walked away and later returned and began gathering extra tableware off the table and I asked the waitress nicely if it is okay if she helps me move the table to the right over a few feet so I can see the TV better, there was plenty of space to the right. The waitress rudely said, Why, and kept making rude faces at me! I turned and looked at the hostess stand and began to walk to ask for help and the waitress walked over fast to the host stand nearby where the two owners had walked up to and the waitress began complaining about me and misrepresenting me and saying that I am rude and she doesn't want to wait on me. I spoke to both owners and explained to them individually what happened and the male owner told me the waitress has been with us for a long time and has never had a complaint. I felt he was trying to discredit my negative experience and how I was treated by the waitress. I feel the waitress was very unprofessional and the matter was mishandled by those in charge. The waitress clearly didn't want to wait on me. This restaurant employees need sensitivity training at the very least. Major conflict of interest and corruption. The owners also own ( The Loft ) restaurant. The restaurant owners and staff solicit customers to give 5 Star reviews and solicit their family and friends to make up 5 Star reviews. The owners and staff create a culture and...

Overall Rating - 8.17 🍜Food - 7/10 The cannelloni was very delicious, quite simple, just a pesto mixed with cream on top of a simple stuffed pasta. The broccolini on top was slightly cold but it was quite delicious and the serving felt a little small, there was only two cannelloni on the plate. The eggplant parmasan was disappointing. The polenta was mushy and clumpy and unseasoned. The eggplant was unseasoned and lost its crisp. The marinara was overly acidic and lacked flavor. The Verdura Arrostita pizza was quite delicious, the roasted garlic on top was the highlight. The crust was fine, as well as the other veggies on top. The winter salad was delicious, very simple but and clean and delicious! The coconut panna cotta with mango chutney was fantastic! The italian soda very good, although it could have benefited from some whipped cream or a garnish of sorts. The complimentary focaccia and oil was very delicious, the topping on the bread was fantastic! 👩‍🦼‍➡️Accessibility - 9/10 the restaurant is quite accessible physically, it is completely ground level with a ramp on the side walk. The accessible parking is a little far from the restaurant though sadly. Sensory wise, the music is calm and the lights are dim. 🧑‍🍳Service - 10/10 the service was fantastic, we got in one hour before closing and did not feel rushed or like we were not wanted in anyway. The waiter was very kind and helpful and made a great dessert recommendation. 🍽️Ambiance - 9/10 Good lighting, very pretty decor, nice music, great view. 🚗Parking - 7/10 There is not parking in front of the restaurant so it is a little inaccessible but not too bad. 💵Price - 7/10 it is a bit pricey for the food, the ambiance is very nice but the food felt a little simple or not as worthy of the price, it wasn’t bad, just not as worthy of the price for...