Basilico Macclesfield in Cheshire East

We used to love Ciao and was hoping for an amazing Italian. Social just lacked that friendly, Italian feel. Service lacks warmth and personality. It was quiet enough to take the time to smile at least and engage with the customers. Food is nice enough but cold and not presented brilliantly. Tiramisu had hair in it and rubbish bag left in the hallway as you walked to toilets. One of my little girls banged her head and the bar staff just looked over and carried on laughing and chatting. Ciao used to make the children feel special and that’s why they wanted to eat there! Food is expensive for what it is.

We had a table upstairs ✅ Only one other family in the back room, however the waitress came in twice and did not acknowledge we were there. The other 2 table the. filled and guess what….the waitress came in and took someone else’s order. We were there for at least 15 minutes prior to the other tables being taken. Such a shames as the reviews looked good. So we moved on somewhere else and was served promptly. Go somewhere else don’t waste your time.

Having not been to Sasso since the re-furb, and a couple of years prior to that where we had found the food average at best, we plumped to try the restaurant again on Valentines evening 2025. Something wasn't quite right when we arrived for our 20.30pm booking, as scores of groups and couples were queuing on the stairs, all on the ground floor with said queue building behind us out the front door. Communication was non existent with no maître d' or other member of staff coming to apologise for the wait or advise how long the delay would be. When we reached the queue of people on the first floor, a couple were being seated who had an earlier reservation than us at 8pm - they were seated at 8.45pm. Bar staff were obviously rushed off their feet, but there was no engagement from anyone to offer us a drink, paid for or otherwise while we wait. It was also disappointing to see cocktail puree / mix being poured out of a pre-mixed bag given the prices, something you wouldn't normally catch seated in the restaurant. We decided to give up on our reservation, with the view if service and communication was poor before even being seated, this would long continue into any meal and we would be left with slim pickings from the menu. There's no denying the re-furb is beautiful, the restaurant / chain are obviously trying to portray a more upmarket feel (and some of the prices reflect that) but this experience was anything but. I appreciate it was a busy evening, and potentially maybe something had happened E.g staff sickness but to have zero communication and sense of arrogance is unacceptable and below par. What a contrast, to Mr Chongs over the road who managed to squeeze us in at short notice, and even apologised for the wait while they made us up a table! My score is based on this experience and previous findings of the food not being anything significantly better than average. Save your time and try the excellent independent independent Italian restaurants in the area - Osteria Sapori in Whaley Bridge and Colosseo in Hayfield where the food, service and ambience are a country mile ahead.

I had garlic bread for starters but there wasn't much garlic on the bread then, worst of all, I ordered a pizza and had to eat it with a knife and fork because it all slipped off the end due to having been frozen and reheated. The Tiramusu was very tasty though!

Lovely food and brilliant service.