Italian Restaurants: Pietruccio - Hamilton

I personally think this is the best Italian food I have eaten outside the country itself. Another reviewer here seems to have misunderstood how the gourmet evening works. You need smaller-looking portions and a leisurely feeling to the arrival of courses in order to not burst by the end of the night! I have been 4 times over the last 4 years and find the service and staff of the highest quality - so friendly and attentive. The flavours are tantalising without being pretentious and the gourmet meals are particularly good value for money - last night in one meal we had courses including salmon, truffles, scallops, beef, lamb etc etc. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Just relax and enter in to the chilled atmosphere....

I have been to Pietruccio's a few times now and every single time I have visited I have been blown away with the quality of food and value for money, not to mention the very friendly staff and chef Pino himself. The 'Gourmet Menu' in which the previous Review from Peter refers to is an absolute must if you are thinking of paying Pietruccio's a visit. I would recommend this to anyone who loves quality ingredients, isn't afraid to try something new and likes the excitement of not knowing what is coming next. It consists of 7 different courses and in my opinion each a very substantial amount. I have had the Gourmet Menu 3 times now and had completely different courses each time (apart from Pino's amazing Hazelnut ice cream which is to die for) and everytime I have came out planning my next visit! If you are someone who really appreciates TRUE Italian food (and not the chains who think huge bowls of pasta and fried breaded mozzarela sticks constitues a good Italian meal) which uses fresh local ingredients then this is definitely the place to be and I guarantee you will keep going back....

Have just returned from what I can only say was a fabulous eating experience.The staff were very attentive and most welcoming,the surroundings very tranquil and the food was just sublime.... My husband and I enjoyed the food so much that the plates were wiped clean with the bread so as not to waste anything.When can I go back please:)...

Not the first time I have visited Pietruccio's and how the times have changed for them. I don't often write reviews but after reading so many which extol their culinary and dining virtues and excellence, I have to disagree quite strongly. Apart from their food being extremely overpriced, pretentiously so in fact (for an Italian restaurant, I mean it's not as if we're short of choice in that department) the waiting staff were rude to me and the party of friends with whom I was dining, so rude in fact that one particular waitress was bordering on argumentative and quite publicly so. I have never been so embarrassed in all of my dining experiences. Had we have been a group of yobs, their responses may well have been justified but then, they price such clientel out of their market, the only plus point on their pricing structure, I feel. There was no menu, which I was surprised at and food just kept arriving every twenty minutes or so without choice or warning though when we expected the pre-requested coffee course (it took over ten minutes from the end of dessert for us to lose patience and put a discreet hand in the air) coffee never arrived. When questioned about this, the waitress again became very abrupt. I am incensed that patrons paying through the nose for what THEY want us to eat and in very small portions it must be said, can be treated in such a poor, rude and dismissive manner. Food was above average but not spectacular and not on par with previous visits, portions very small and certainly NOT worth their exorbitant price-tag. I shall never return to this restaurant ever again and forewarn others likewise and my friends and family feel the same. Overall, a teeth-pulling, embarrassing and awful night which cost a small fortune for the privilege. RA....