Reviews of Babagatto Italian Restaurant. (Restaurant) in Nelson (Nelson).

Babagatto Italian Restaurant

353 Reviews

265 Comments

Restaurant

Italian restaurant

7 Morrison Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand

Description

Information of Babagatto Italian Restaurant, Restaurant in Nelson (Nelson)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Babagatto Italian Restaurant

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Reviews of Babagatto Italian Restaurant

I.

We were enjoy our dinner very much. Love the foods. Will definitely come back when passing through Nelson again.

T.

it's an amazing place!!! I feel like I had a short visit to Italy again. The food and service were awesome!!!

N.

I'm gonna call it... BEST Italian restaurant I've been to in New Zealand! Rafaello was a great host: super friendly and made us feel like we were at his home. He was very proud (with reasons for it) of his handmade pasta and pork belly dish. Now, I hate pork belly, but his version is cooked in sous-vide for 72h and I must say I loved it! The wine we drank was imported from Italy which gave the meal that extra oomph. It was great to have Rafaello tell us which pastas go well with black pepper or chili flakes, because honestly we were ready just to go with whatever was closest to our hands. However, I do appreciate the choices now. Mind-blown... Outstanding and definitely and must-visit in Nelson!

A.

Really delicious Italian food with adequate vegetarian options and excellent service 😃

M.

Amazing authentic Italian in a quiet off broadway setting. The owner pours the wine, educates you about the pasta and entertains. Best Italian in NZ for a long time. Highly recommend seeking this little gem out.

J.

Amazing atmosphere and incredible food, easily one of the best meals I’ve had in the 7 years living in NZ. Raph also made our meal personal with great recommendations, good stories, and good banter. Would definitely come here again and highly recommend!

s.

This is the place where you warm up your senses and your soul. Raf and Ale are just top hosts and the food is actually traditional Italian! You won't regret a visit 😉

A.

Excellent restaurant! I've been travelling around NZ for 3 years trying a lot of Italian restaurants, and I can finally say this is a real Italian restaurant. Excellent food, excellent service. Everything there is homemade 😋 I am really happy and definitely will come back everytime I come to Nelson. Thanks to the waitress Sofia and the chef and owner Rafaelo that brought such a good service to our table.

K.

The best Italian outside Rome, I closed my eyes and was in the streets, full of incredible architecture and sensational wine. Italian vibe and authentic Italian food, try everything but especially the carbonate, Parmigiano, traditional pork and chocolate fondant with hazelnut cream. All rocks your world!

h.

Came here last night with my girlfriends family. The host was great, friendly company especially being an authentic Italian, it was like we we're in his home. He offered great suggestions on what to order or how to order it as we where in a large group. We got a bottle of wine which was very nice (which is saying something because I don't like wine) and when the food arrived we all shared each other's orders in a buffet-styled manner, which added to the homely feel of the night (as was suggested by the host). The food was hot, fresh, and full of flavor. For dessert, I ordered the raspberry Pana cotta and it was delicious. To finish off the night we ordered a bottle of lemoncello which was VERY nice.. Anyone planning on coming here either as a couple or in a group be prepared for a great night surrounded by beautiful decor and wonderful food. Thanks for the great night!

V.

Best italian food we have eaten outside of Italy. Very impressed. Everything handmade, incredible flavor. Will be back whenever we are in Nelson.

P.

Jaw dropping dining experience. Such a great host. 1 chef in kitchen, full house and meals on table within 15-20 mins. Delicious food. Perfect. Best restaurant in region

K.

I come here EVERY TIME I’m in Nelson, the staff are so lovely and accommodating (I always get takeaway). Everything is so fresh and delicious! The tirimasu is also to die for! Would highly recommend

J.

A super yum and fun Italian dining experience! The food and wine were both authentic, creative and delicious. The host was very charismatic and was a great guide for us to choose our meals/wines. Ill be raving about Babagatto to friends for years to come.

B.

Fantastic service, very friendly and we loved the interaction. The food was delicious. Our daughter tried the Chinotto drink and loved it. Highly recommend this restaurant.

T.

Fabulous Italian food….struggling to think of better pasta…not over facing…delicious rose vino with it….the owner is a dream…highly recommended

I.

Brilliant food. Great atmosphere. Good Italian red wine. Very entertaining owner/waiter. Went back same week it was so good.

I.

Absolutely Phenomenal. cannot say anything less about Babagatto, thats why they earn five stars from me. The quality of each dish was just as good, dare i say better than the way grandma would make it. Most importantly was the service... hands down the best ive ever had. Raf, you know your way around food and i must thank you for sharing your tastes and love for Italian cuisine with me. Cheers - Dan.

J.

The best restaurant I have been to! Amazing customer service and the staff were very friendly. Delicious meals (especially the classic bolognaise) and the desserts were unbeatable😍

D.

Knowledgeable and conversational staff. Excellent service and the food couldn't be better. We left quite satisfied. A must have meal in Nelson!

J.

Fabulous food & service if I lived in Nelson it would become my home away from home.

T.

A wonderful Italian dining experience - Italian friends took us there and we know why - this is THE restaurant for Italian locals dining in Nelson. Just an excellent example of Italian food - the best ingredients, perfectly prepared with expert knowledge and a touch of passion, along with great Italian friendly style of service. One of the best in NZ without a doubt.

A.

Brilliant wee gem in Nelson. A hankering for good pasta and an Italian red had us dine for lunch. Exceptional & down to earth authentic service + one 1.5yr old had a blast too. Will be back!

c.

Delicious authentic Italian food and very friendly service. Will surely come back if i come to Nelson again

J.

We were in Nelson this week from the Kapiti Coast. This restaurant is so good we went twice. Fabulous and unique service with wonderful authentic Italian cuisine

C.

Awesome little Italian restaurant in the heart of Nelson! We loved the food, their great selection of Italian wines and the super friendly, great service.

V.

Authentic Italian dining experience, highly recommended. Lovely friendly people, beautiful food. Very welcoming, it felt like home.😊

K.

Had my most expensive lunch of the year, which was delicious. Got the slow cooked Pork Belly - La PORCHETA which a tad too salty for me, but super tender and the fat melted in my mouth that I forgot about it. Would have been better if they gave me more salad since that was what I used to balance out the pang of salt. So in the end I finished all my greens and still had one whole piece of meat to take home. It’s still in my fridge so I’m not sure how different it will taste compared to what I had in the restaurant. The staff were friendly and it was nice to just look around the decorations around the restaurant. There was a walk-in customer who asked for pizza but they don’t do pizzas, so they left. It was a pretty quiet lunch and we really enjoyed our meal there where we didn’t feel rushed even though they close at 2pm and we only managed to finish our meal around half past two.

S.

We need an extra star! Beautifully friendly, comfortable, unassuming place. The staff were perfect - helpful and engaging. Wine recommendations spot on. Starter bread with separate oil and balsamic so you can choose your own ratio. Main courses were fantastic. Everything very clean and fresh, really one of my favourite Italian restaurants. Perfect!

p.

Fantastic. A genuine experience of traditional European hospitality and beautiful homecooked deliciousness. Thankyou Babagatto, a memorable birthday meal for our family.

M.

I would recommend this place to anyone. Service is beyond excellent, I felt like I was in Italy at my old stamping ground. And the food... mamma mia! Buonissima. Grazie mille I had such a great time.

E.

Best dinner I've had in a very long time! My fiance and I went here for my birthday and we were treated like family. It is hands down the best service I have ever had anywhere. The food was absolutely gorgeous and caters to any taste. The portions were a really good size and the prices were reasonable for what you get. Not to mention the amazing wine! We will definitely be making this a regular dinner spot!

D.

Absolutely amazing!! We loved it. Fantastic food, superb service just can’t fault it. Highly recommend

J.

I really like the service here, super friendly and traditional Italian style. If you try order something at the wrong time or that won't work with something else they tell you no :-)

A.

Very nice food. Great friendly service. Recommend the 3 day cooked pork. Yummm

A.

Fantastic host! Food is absolutely delicious and always of a consistently high standard. Our 5th visit and will be back again. Thank you so much for your engaging hospitality Raff 😄 Highly recommend to all who appreciate good quality flavourful food!

B.

Very very good food service excellent

C.

The wine, the atmosphere and the food, ...ahhh the food!! We loved everything about the night! Happened upon Babagatto when other plans fell through... Everything happens for a reason!!! Raphael's passion for food and people is evident. He knows the special link between the kitchen and the customer and it comes through in every plate. Well done! Charlie and Lisa

E.

I came here because a friend told me I had never had excellent, real Italian. I still don't know if I've had good Italian but I enjoyed the food. Service was pretty good. The front of house is quirky and a bit vacant but friendly enough. Sometimes wonder if he gets so lost in entertaining guests that he forgets everything else. The chef seemed super busy. I hope that the chef seemed is well looked after - especially if she is the wife of the owner/manager.

S.

Beautiful little restaurant, with authentic Italian food. The pasta was made fresh and so delicious. We accidentally ordered a meal with meat in when one of us was vegetarian, and the owner didn’t hesitate to quickly take it back and bring out another option free of charge. He matched a delicious red wine for our meal and the tiramisu was to die for. Highly recommend

S.

A most favolosa experience. The food was authentica and deliziosa. The owner was just gorgeous and waited on us with warmth, humour and Italiano suave. He was more than happy to accommodate my special request of spaghetti aglio e olio, which wasn't on the menu (it's the Italian peasants pasta so not the most fancy) but the memories it brings me... ahhhh. My friend had lasagne and said it was incredible. Finishing with the chocolate lava cake with hazelnut custard... omg! Incredible food, service, ambience and pricing. Without question we will come again and I hope it's soon! Ti Amo babagatto... ❤

T.

The best restaurant in Nelson by miles. Miles & miles. Such a good team; so great experience. I always feel in Europe here. Oh, congratulations on the Euro 2020 win!

S.

Fantastic service, really good gnocchi, wine, slow cooked pork, homemade long proved bread, and delicious olive oil... What more could you want from an Italian restaurant? Must go back to try the melenzani parmigiana, and dessert!

S.

Love the authenticity of the place! Need to go back to try more dishes 😄

R.

Chef was fantastic and service amazing!! If your visiting Nelson make sure you eat at this awesome place 👌🍝🍲

M.

This restaurant is honestly like eating in Italy, the food and the service. The owner makes you feel like you've come as a guest to his home for dinner. He is warm, funny, and creates a memorable atmosphere. If your looking for a run of the mill stuffy impersonal experience don't go to Babagatto. Also food is delicious.

J.

Amazing food.waiter/owner? a real character.definitely recommend

M.

Thank you so much for the most delicious food and wonderful service.

T.

One of the best dining experiences of my life, made perfect by the fabulous Raffaello who is a master of front of house. The food was fabulous, nice decor and a superb dining experience with banter and personalised engaged service. Thank you to the team behind the scenes who showed the love of food to match the love of people. See you again soon I hope!

M.

The owner Raffaello is entertaining and he knows what the customer service is. Food is great, ( wish to have more varieties though) great wine selection. Especially their pork dish is amazing. I'd recommend booking as the place is always full.

R.

Amazing service and food, will definitely be coming back sometime!

N.

Amazing host! Really nice restaurant. Enjoyed every part of my dinner experience especially the translations of food names!

P.

Came across this fabulous Italian restaurant in the entertainment book. Turned out to be one of the best meals out we have had. Beautiful food and fun friendly service. The slow cooked pork was melt in the mouth, and the panna cotta and chocolate lava cake devine. Bellissimo!

S.

Delicious food, very friendly and good pricing

A.

One of the best Italian restaurants for authentic food, the homemade pasta was incredible, and the pork belly was the best I have had. I wish I would of tryed this place sooner 9/10

A.

Really great place. The owner is a magnificent host. Highly recommend the 72 hour marinated pork belly and lasagna.

M.

Staff were amazing with our little girl. Beautiful food.

G.

We really liked this place. Ate there twice: dinner and then lunch the next day. Personal, entertaining service. Straightforward Italian deliciousness.

B.

Best italian restaurant we had in NZ. Everything is fresh and so tasty. Great atmosphere and Raf makes you feel like home. Highly recommand it !

J.

Good food,great service,not badly priced

J.

Delicious pasta and the owner was really friendly

R.

We were made so welcome. The food was delicious and completely genuine Italian cuisine. Not our imagined idea of what we were getting. A great night out for six women friends.

M.

Had a fantastic lunch, best Italian we have had. Service was great & the owners were friendly we will be going back!

V.

Delicious! Fantastic food (we ordered the Tagliatelle and Ravioli, no room for dessert), wonderful wine, great service and lovely atmosphere. Would eat here again in a heartbeat.

C.

Absolutely stunning meal. Thank you so much for the recommendations.

S.

We went to Babagatto‘s on a local recommendation, and cannot have been more impressed. The owner went above and beyond and the food was amazing, super authentic and full of flavour. We all left raving about our experience.

S.

Exceptional place for good food and amazing atmosphere. We have arrived in Nelson few month ago and used to have a very nice Italian place where we were before and Babagatto is a small, very warm management and excellent food. You pay the price for the quality of homemade ingredients and this is where we go eating as often as we can, we always enjoy.

D.

We had a great meal. Lovely food, great italian wine and wonderful owners. Will definitely visit again next time we are in town. Genuine Italian hospitality.

S.

Overcharged us on the bill. Second time this has occured ;(

D.

Exceptional Italian restaurant. The pasta with sausage and mushrooms was delightful, fresh and perfectly cooked. The red wine was also splendid, proper full bodied Italian reds, not thin Kiwi pinots! Service and welcome was also top drawer. Only complaint was the dessert of chocolate lava cake was a let down, hadn't risen much and didn't taste much of chocolate but didn't detract from a brilliant dining experience, nice and relaxed too.

A.

Great experience and atmosphere and tasty food, celebrating Italy's 🇮🇹 Eurocup win. Raffaelo is a great host

M.

Excellent service. The restaurant has a lovely homely feel and is unpretentious. Exceptional food and left with a full belly. Must try for authentic Italian food. My favourite Nelson restaurant.

W.

Nice traditional pasta, really good atmosphere for a loudish family feel at the time and the waiter is exceptional (best one I've ever had) Raf definetely cares a lot about food and good service. All in all a great meal and night and the Tirimasu is outstanding

D.

I had the chicken in a marsala sauce and the panacota. My husband had the gnocchi which was light and fluffy. Both were very tasty. They give you sour dough with lovely olive oil and balsamic vinegar which we were not charged for. We Would happily go back.

E.

I am Italian and I have been living in Australia for the past 13 years. I was in New Zealand on a holiday with my family and after reading the reviews about this place I decided to give it a go. I must say that it definitely exceeded my expectations! The place is very nice, the Italian manager is very kind and friendly and the cuisine excellent and really Italian. We ordered a 'tagliere di salumi', and then I ordered the gnocchi with mushrooms and speck, which were spectacular! We ordered Tiramisu for dessert and it was amazing! It's difficult to eat in a real Italian place like this even in Sydney, and it was a great surprise to find such an excellent place in Nelson, NZ. Highly recommended!

B.

The service was excellent - very friendly and warm. They were happy to replace my mother-in-law's coffee when she ordered the wrong one by accident. The waitress also heard us talking about our upcoming visit to Kaikoura and gave us some helpful advice. They also had free wifi and gave our whole family access codes, which we really appreciated!

N.

This place feels very homely, like you are visiting friends in Bologna. Simple food, done well. A bit pricey but that won't stop me from coming back.

E.

This is an amazing Italian restaurant owned by a real Italian with true passion for great food. I had Italian food in many places but this one really stands out mainly due to the daily hand-made pasta and pretty much everything else that can be hand made. My wife and I visited twice during our short stay in Nelson and both times the food was fantastic. Highly recommended!

P.

What a brilliant experience. A culinary piece to make the Italian masters proud. Great atmosphere, with food to match. To top it all off this fine establishment, had service that rivaled Noma. All in all, I felt transported to Italy. Can't recommend this place enough

H.

WOW - I went there with a friend for dinner - the whole experience was absolutely fantastic! I had Ravioli which were simply divine and the wine also was top notch. Best Italian food I have had outside Italy!! Shame I do not live in Nelson but I will return there on my next trip! Thank you!

K.

Had salami starter which was nice, but the gnocchi was sloppy and ravioli was way under cooked, said I could have it true Italian style (they didn't know we had an Italian restaurant in London for 30 yrs) it was not true butter and sage in any way shape or form.... Safe dust? Then no coffee they had turned the machine off 👎🙅 disappointed

K.

This place is awesome, had some great red wine and excellent pasta and brilliant service. Thanks.

S.

Very Italian food. Beautiful handmade pasta and deserts are delicious as well. The complementary sour dough had a crisp crust with fluffy inside. Bruchetta was also very tasty.

D.

This place is one of the best restaurants I have been too, great food and greater service highly recommend. Authentic Italian.

R.

Lovely meal. Excellent service. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff/ owner. Enjoyed the wine and limoncello. Would fully recommend.

J.

Fantastic authentic Italian dishes as well as brilliant attentive service! Highly recommend Babagatto!!

S.

All I can say is "WOW" It was our anniversary, we asked if they would make us Lasagne, even though it was not on the menu, they went out of their way to make it for us and treated us like royalty. The atmosphere is so cozy, the staff wonderful and the food is the best Italian I have ever had, and I have been to many Italian restaurants back home in America. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a taste for delicious, authentic, Italian food.

B.

Fantastic food, service and hospitality. Would highly recommend to anyone. Their love for great food is expressed in everything they do.

G.

Pleasant enough ambiance. Service direct and delivered with enthusiasm and charm. Food while distinctly homemade and apparently authentic in flavour and texture in the final analysis lacks genuine pizzazz. The tagliatelle was finely made and perfectly al dente. However, the molten chocolate cake dessert was somewhat small and unprepossessing on a plate surrounded by a thin gruel of fruit-garnished “English soup”. Tolerably OK but at $14.00 a serving one might have hoped to be wowed by a bit more substance and a bit better style. Over all pricing (subject to upward pressure to change) is a bit steep for the standard of fare (subject to downward stress in order to retain economic profit margins). The break-even balance threatens to ‘disappear’ these sort of establishments which deserve to survive for good cultural reasons and because their loving owners genuinely work hard but because they are constantly confronted by fashion in public taste which grows increasingly towards both higher and lower ends of the eating-out market and which may eventually mean they fail to survive. Not a disaster, but also not memorable and so in this diner’s opinion, not to be repeated.

R.

This place is delicious and I am glad we ate dinner here. However, since we did show up so late several items were already done for the day. I ended up going with my second choice. The atmosphere appears to be a quiet and local eatery which I found nice.

E.

Incredible food and such friendly, helpful and caring staff. Feels like you have been transported to Italy!!

D.

Great food with a waiter/owner treating the guest as family. Plenty of knowledge about the food and Italy. We'll worth a visit

P.

As usual, great food, great atmosphere and genuine Italian fare, service and staff. We travel every year to Italy and this is the closest match to our favourite restaurants in Umbria. Top marks.

J.

Babagatto is owned by some beautiful Italian friends we have come to know and love. They make traditional italian food from family recipes, what more could you want?!. Nothing fancy or pretentious here, just good pasta and VERY good italian wine

R.

Amazing! Good friendly staff, amazing food and short wait time. Would recommend this place to anyone.

P.

The welcome is and was always very nice, and the homemade bread just delicious. When Babagatto opened its doors we were one of the first to test it out and were astounded how authentic it was. The portions were good and the prices were affordable. We went there today for my birthday and were shocked by the prices, $25 for gnocchi and $15 for bruschetta. The bruschetta was also so different it was some kind of strange: melted cheese with bacon on bread & melted cheese with mushrooms on bread, what happened to olive oil and tomatoes on bread? The gnocchi were good. I was disappointed with the bruschetta and that it became unaffordable. We spent $50 for 1 bruschetta, 1 gnocchi and two coffees!!! I gave it three stars because of the good service and the yummy bread on its own as a starter but it’s unlikely I will go there back.

N.

Great host, good food :)

K.

Amazing experience, delicious food and I would come back in a heart beat!! Can't recommend enough

E.

Mamma Mia! I can't believe I found an authentic Italian restaurant (I had been in italy for 6 months) in little Nelson! The staffs were Italians (with their signature accent!) And the tall waiter was friendly and informal just like a family restaurant. The tiramisu is worth it even though it's not the real mascarpone but a homemade version. Still better than any you get elsewhere. Do not order spaghetti bolognese or linguine Alfredo because they don't exist in Italy and the owners won't make kiwi-nised Italian food. Warning: real Italian food is not full of bacon, meat and cheese. It's simple food which emphasises the quality of the ingredients.

M.

As soon as you walk in the door you're greeted with warmth and smiles, that follows on throughout the evening. The Carbonara is probably my go to dish in Italian restaurants and its the best I've ever eaten. 10/10 👍🏻

C.

Great handmade pasta and the owner really goes out of his way to give you a good dining experience, something that's surprisingly rare these days.

G.

Their menu is full of delicious authentic meals but what really makes this place stand out, is their exceptional service and hospitality. You don't get service as good as this very often and I will be going back for sure.

P.

Fantastic friendly dinning. Our new favourite family Friday night restaurant

M.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and our 3 children. Lovely meals and great host. Will definitely be back

Y.

Food was delicious and the people were beyond lovely. Decor beautiful wines perfectly Italian. Thanks guys we will definitely be back again!

B.

The most delicious Traditional Carbonara I've had outside of Italy! Absolutely delicious!

S.

10/10 would recommend . Although unassuming from the outside you walk in and are welcomed by warmth, a tasteful atmosphere, and most importantly the maitre d' what follows is amazing food, wine and service that is second to none. Babagatto has just raised the bar!!

A.

Place with great vibe. Friendly staff with great sense of humour. Main food was lovely we really enjoyed it. And the deserts were just stunning. We highly recommend this place. We will be back :-)

R.

Picked up dinner tonight. Everything was ready on time, no contact pay wave on the window. Lovely food and an extra bread as well. Gracie, pasto fantastic.

S.

Good real Italian food.

M.

Warm and peaceful atmosphere, super friendly owners, made us feel like family and the food was outstanding. Thank you Raf and Susanna for a wonderful experience!!

A.

Just had a meal at Babagatto. As usual the food is exceptional. Love it. Felt like I was back in Italy.

D.

Dinner tonight was superb. Gnocchi was what I had. The fiano wine was excellent compliment to the food. Friendly and helpful service.

F.

Delicious food with very attentive service

G.

Excellent place to stay, but keep away from the street front. The dinner menu was excellent as well with very friendly staff.

M.

What a fabulous place! The food is excellent and the host is wonderful......highly recommended

R.

Family orientated, simple but delicious Italian food. Good ambiance and real Italians who know the menu backwards. Good wine list too!

J.

Lovely intimate restaurant. Excellent service. My first taste of Gnocchi very nice.

C.

A taste sensation - absolutely loved visiting this restaurant while in Nelson. Personal service and food to die for. Thoroughly recommend.

J.

Very friendly staff, super authentic Italian food - good vegan options! Very delicious 😁

F.

Very nice food and service excellent

L.

I visited Babagatto with a friend of mine while exploring Nelson based on the recommendation of a vibrant Paraguayan girl I met on the plane. Both me and my friend come from Bologna, the world capital of food. Raffaello, the owner, welcomed us with jokes, humor, flair and extravaganza. The food was out of this world. I had ravioli and my friend penne, just for a start! We ate half his kitchen. Raffaello is a genius in the kitchen and a comedian on the floor. Most importantly, he has a big heart. Go there to have the best and most authentic Italian experience of the southern emisphere. Consider visiting Nelson just to eat at Babagatto. Miss it at your own peril. Raffaello, thank you for everything.

R.

Not a big selection, but very good food. This restaurant deserves far more business than it seems to have. Attention Nelson: Try Babagatto; you'll like it!

N.

Great atmosphere - friendly, fun and make you feel very welcome. Delicious Italian wine. A must visit

L.

Beautiful food, awesome service. Can't ask for much more than that!

A.

One of the few real Italian restaurants in the region, fantastic home made style food with great ingredients. Really a surprise and very very good

D.

Was a little disappointed with babagattos this year. We have visted several times in the past and always found it bubbly and full of life. This year it was very quite with only one other table occupied so the atmosphere was subdued.

S.

Babagattos does the BEST pasta. Free bread, and the tiramisu is amazing. My partner and I love coming here!

R.

Really like this restaurant, the owners are welcoming and the food is magnificent. Great atmosphere for a quiet dinner or a more social time.

B.

this is THE best place to eat in Nelson! there is no more authentic and passionate Italian cuisine than this place in all NZ. We LOVE it here.

L.

Amazing restaurant, great service and the most delicious tiramisu I have ever had!!

C.

Love it. Great italian restaurant . The real deal , here in little old Nelson.

N.

Great service and food. Loved the ravioli.

C.

Awesome place. The staff were fun and enjoyable (the front of house was awesome) and the food was delicious. Would love to go back

G.

Wonderful food, fantastic service. Would gladly eat here every night.

E.

Best Italian in New Zealand, hands down. Ravioli was splendid. Free truffle oil and breads!

J.

Outstanding food and service. The tiramisu was absolutely delicious! A great Italian experience.

A.

Amazing service and stunning food. We will come back again every time we come to Nelson.

B.

The experience here felt very authentic, the staff were also super friendly

M.

Delighted with the food and service. We had a group of 40 + and it was a great night that everyone enjoyed. I would recommend to anyone.

J.

Delicious food, host was great fun, well worth visiting.

E.

Delicious food and amazing service

t.

Very tasty food. Unique and authentic service. Would recommend in particular the beef cheek soup and the Strozzapreti. :)

t.

Good chef, exceptional food and the waiter was first class.... will go back next time we are in Nelson.

J.

Love this place, great food, amazing staff, the bread is so good you'll want a whole loaf to take home- and you can ring the day before and they'll have a fresh loaf for you to buy for home!

K.

Excellent food and amazing service by the owner. He went well above and beyond.

W.

Great food and service always. Raf is the best host, so friendly and helpful.

K.

Authentic Italian at its best. Awesome host so friendly.

S.

Yum loved it here great food friendly staff all you can ask for when you dine out..

P.

Lovely authentic Italian cuisine with passionate host.

T.

The best italian restaurant we‘ve been to in New Zealand. Delicious food, nice service and managed by italian people.

T.

Excellent food, great friendly personal service from Raff. Well recommended.

A.

The atmosphere and staff are absolutely awesome, food is great and incredibly fresh. Definitely returning again!

W.

Wonderful, authentic food. Great atmosphere.

A.

Spinach and ricotta ravioli is absolutely delightful . Excellent service!

A.

Really nice food. Friendly service, and not too expensive. Had a free bread basket at the table.

P.

Delicious food! :) Porchetta was great, and tiramisu just too good!

R.

Great food Also a good range of dishes.

J.

Died and gone to heaven. The wine, the food, the owner, the passion for truely authentic cuisine, dining experience and personable service. Divine!!!!!

P.

We had lunch here. What an amazing warm hostess. The pasta bread and wine all delicious

S.

What a great find! This is an unassuming little restaurant with wonderful authentic Italian food.The pasta is fresh and light, clearly homemade and delicious.

N.

Fantastic food. Would highly recommend to anyone.

s.

Fantastic staff, excellent ambiance and atmosphere and the food is to die for.

k.

Best Italian in New Zealand The wine ,food and service makes happy tears appear on your face Treat yourself By making this your happy place

S.

Excellent food and fantastic service, highly recommend.

C.

Lovely host, great food.

I.

Delicious italien food and wine. Adorable italien staff.

J.

Excellent Italian style cuisine with happy staff and pleasant surroundings.

I.

my meal was great but one out of eight is not great. quite pricey but I enjoyed it.

B.

Perfect Italian restaurant. Close my eyes and I could be there

A.

Delicious gnocci!

P.

Good Fun Great Atmosphere with Food so Delicious and Desserts just Wow :)

G.

The food was out of this world. Nice touch the owner comes out and greets everyone

N.

Table of 11. Excellent food, service and atmosphere.

J.

Amazing food, amazing wine, really nice staff, I recommend it 😀

A.

12/10 will definitely be coming back amazing food and awesome staff

K.

Really authentic Italian food. Loved it

L.

Great experience. Really good food. I'd be happy to return. Thanks.

C.

Fantastic host, great food

M.

Incredible owners, the best service you could ever imagine and heavenly food.

D.

Brilliant food, excellent service, been back many times, never disappointed!

A.

Awesome hospitality and experience . Loved the food and wine!

S.

Wonderful meal! Lovely hospitality. Felt the love in the food.

A.

Delicious food at good prices and lovely staff. Highly recommend

C.

Delicious food and great staff! Loved it, thank you Babagatto

K.

Only for those who can handle pure deliciousness combined with a great service.

A.

It was delicious and the people are very friendly itialian people

A.

Nice, authentic itallian food, great wine.

F.

Delicious authentic food and great service. Thank you

B.

Absolutely love dining there.. so friendly.. food to die for.

A.

Loved it, and the work mates cleaned everything on there plates. Enough said!.... Just need more on the plate.

l.

Beautiful food, wonderful friendly staff and service. Will be back !

B.

Outstanding service and amazing food, just like being in Italy.

C.

Authentic, delicious Italian restaurant. Friendly staff.

M.

Great food great service and LOVED the dinner

C.

Authentic Italian food in a relaxed and friendly setting.

T.

Not bad - we have had better coffee and breakfast Nelson.

J.

Lovely food good management 🍷🍷🍷👍😄😃

L.

Great meal. Tasty and well presented.

D.

Best Italian food in Nelson, Perhaps New Zealand

R.

Great food excellent customer service

J.

Great service. Baby friendly. Lovely tiramisu!

M.

Great service. Beautiful pasta.

M.

Delicious food and fantastic service !

H.

Simply the best. If you are a foodie,come here to test your pallet.

A.

Great food, great service....must try the strozzapreti

W.

Food amazing...love this place and will be back soon..😊

J.

Yummy food. Considerate staff with special needs food requirements

v.

Beautiful food friendly service

T.

Best Italian food in Nelson.

M.

Pizza margherita was good, but gnocchi were uninspired

J.

Delicious food and a great host.

Z.

Great food with genuine Italian passion and hospitality

M.

Great authentic Italian cuisine & service

B.

Excellent food & great service!

P.

Yum food, reasonable prices.

W.

Brilliant food! Good prices!

C.

Great food the real Italiana

C.

Great meal, friendly staff.

Y.

The best Italian I've had in ages

t.

Top delicious food in true Italian style

M.

Always lovely to dine there.

T.

Very friendly service and good food

T.

The best italian i’ve been to

D.

Delicious and authentic Italian food

M.

Italian at its best

A.

Perfect dinner and evening, thank you!!!

P.

Good Italian food and wine.

A.

Delicious! Great service!

A.

Great food and service!

B.

Great food and service.

C.

Great food, great proprietor

a.

The closest to Italia we can be.

J.

Great place people and food.

N.

Thd tiramisu was Devine!

陳.

Friendly staff. Tasty foods.

D.

Awesome service and meal

C.

This place took me and my taste buds right back to the real Italy We always visit when back in Nelson

N.

Great host

S.

Excellent

S.

Excellent

T.

Fabulous food

J.

Very enjoyable

B.

Fantastic.

M.

Amazing meal

S.

If you are the kind of person that likes to go and just sit and eat, this is probably not your place, and thats all just because Rafaello is very passionate about his cuisine. If you're like us and enjoy a good conversation and INCREDIBLY good Italian food then this is a MUST if you're visiting Nelson. Thanks Rafaello for an incredible and tasty night.

L.

Our host was very helpful and his suggestions for dinner were spot on as was his wine selection. Food was fresh and so tasty a great meal and a great price

E.

What an amazing find! Rafaello is very welcoming and warm host! You can tell he is passionate about his food and culture and really wants you to enjoy the food. The food was delicious and fresh! Ale the chef, she is amazing! Highly recommend! Thank you for a perfect night!

M.

Fabulous - among the best Italian food we’ve had anywhere, and Raffaello adds wonderful colour and character. We’re locals now, and this is going to be a regular.

B.

Amazing food and service!! We will definitely be coming back here again.

N.

(Translated) We all tasted really good! Authentic as in Italy. The fresh bread was so delicious and our three pasta dishes perfectly prepared, in the end we tried all three desserts and also all three were a dream. The waiter has served us very attentively and friendly! Perfect evening! (Original) Es hat uns allen wahnsinnig gut geschmeckt! Authentisch wie in Italien. Das frische Brot war so lecker und unsere drei Pastagerichte perfekt zubereitet, zum Schluss haben wir gleich alle drei Desserts probiert und auch die waren alle drei ein Traum. Der Kellner hat uns sehr aufmerksam und freundlich bedient! Perfekter Abend!

J.

(Translated) Very nice restaurant with Italian chef. The dishes are good and the atmosphere warm (Original) Restaurant avec chef italien très sympa. Les plats sont bons et l'ambiance chaleureuse

M.

(Translated) Excellent food and better service! We will return without doubts. Grazzie for everything. (Original) Excelente comida y mejor servicio! Volveremos sin dudas. Grazzie por todo.

K.

(Translated) The best Italian in Nelson, a perfect slice of ole Italy. Thanks Raffaello. (Original) The best Italian in Nelson, a perfect slice of ole Italy. Grazie Raffaello.

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