La Lupa 3 in Poole

Excellent meal - Food and service were brilliant. First went to La Lupa in the late 1970's just after it opened. It has been variable at times over the years but the present owners are exceptional providing a warm welcome in clean and comfortable surroundings with excellent food.

La Lupa is my favorite Italian restaurant in Dorset! The staff are wonderfully friendly and authentically Italian, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like a little piece of Italy. The food is consistently delicious, with rich flavors and fresh ingredients that truly stand out. From classic pastas to pizzas, everything I’ve tried has been incredible. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience in Dorset!

Absolutely amazing! Food was fantastic, the best meal I have had for a long time. Service was spot on, made you feel at home. Great location, would highly recommend.

We visited La Lupa this evening to celebrate my son's 18th Birthday and we're so glad that we did! We had a fantastic evening...a very warm welcome with great staff who were very attentive and friendly. The food was delicious and we would highly recommend visiting La Lupa! We can't wait to visit again...hopefully it won't be too long before we see you all again at La Lupa! : )

Don't go lunchtime out of season..Poole is a vibrant area and needs all of you guys to support the ethos of the area.The staff are lovely

Popped in without reservation. Busy evening but they found a table for us. Lovely feeling about the place and terrific friendly service. Wine and food was most enjoyable. Very friendly feeling, we will be back.

Have passed this restaurant a few times and having tried all the other Italians in Poole decided to give La Lupa a try. Really friendly welcome when we walked in and the place is much bigger than it looks from the outside. Very attentive staff who took drinks order shortly after we had been seated and given the menu. Lovely varied menu which caters to all tastes. The bruschetta was lovely and the fresh tomatoes seasoned perfectly. Also had the fresh pizza dough with Parma ham and soft cheese, whilst delicious I would recommend having this to share as the pizza dough are huge and having eaten that it didn’t leave much room for the main. For main we had traditional spaghetti bolognaise and penne arrabbiata- both delicious but couldn’t finished them. Wanted to finish the meal with something sweet but not room for much so went with selection of gelatos and sorbets - lovely. Overall really nice meal and would certainly recommend it.

Lovely restaurant situated in the harbour with good parking close by. Friendly staff and excellent food. Thoroughly recommend for any occasion. Recommend the pizzas.

Once again an excellent night at La Lupa with great food and drink severed by lovely staff who engage with you and are constantly looking out for you I would advise you book here as “a walk in attempt” could be disappointing as they are very busy. There is a wide choice to choose from on their menu and we’ve tried many of the choices over a period of time Well done Costin and his team, apologies I don’t know all the staffs names

Fantastic sea food and pasta. Lovely atmosphere, good selection of dishes, and friendly stuff. We'll return to try something new soon.

One of the few places open on Sunday night in Poole but what a great surprise! Our pizza and garlic bread were one of the best we had and the restaurant staff very accommodating. The perfect end to a wonderful day. I would highly recommend it.

Wow! What a find! Excellent service, fantastic food. Great value for money. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Stopped in for my Fathers 80th and they heard us. They gave him a wonderful gift. Wonderful authentic food and hospitality. Highly recommend

Absolutely fantastic food and service from La Lupa Poole! Our meals came fast and warm, tasty too. Very impressed with the professionalism and atmosphere. Highly recommend anyone who wants a good night out with friends or family to pay them a visit.

Service top notch. Food really delicious and a good choice on the menu. Highly recommend this place for a lovely evening

Wonderful quality home cooked food to an exceptional standard. Lovely service. Lovely cosy atmosphere. Pizza had lots of toppings and the desert was unusual and very very tasty

Excepțional staff, very friendly and welcoming. Food is delicious I can recommend to anyone who loves Italian food We really had good family time

Great atmosphere! Staff incredible as always and from the moment we walked in we felt welcomed! Cuisine amazing and home cooked, including the desserts. Always a friendly welcome. Thank you ❤️

Fantastic food and very friendly staff. Lovely Italian 🇮🇹 restaurant on Poole Quay. I had a pizza and it was so tasty. Would defiantly recommend to others.

Friendly and quick service, generous portions and great food, both starters and mains (we were too full for deserts). Only visiting Poole for one evening, early morning ferry, but I now know where I’m having dinner next time I’m in Poole.

Tucked away at the end of the Quayside this Italian eatery was great. having been there a few times now the service was excellent, food excellent and all at a fair price. The garlic bread starter was big, juicy and more'ish, the mains be it pasta, piza or any, always lovely. Just a couple of us, but a complimentary aperitif to round off, what a super touch. Always best to book they do quite naturally get busy.

Definitely will be returning. Treated my dad for his birthday. Food and wine were utterly delicious. Staff were lovely and efficient. Couldn’t fault our evening, thank you!

Superb Sicilian swordfish that we've had twice now. Very friendly with good service. Highly recommended for couples, larger groups and families.

We were a big group of 12 and service was excellent. No ling waits, no errors or mistakes. Food was really excellent. One of the best lasagnes I’ve eaten. Lovely atmosphere, excellent staff.

Nice atmosphere. Well cooked generously portioned Italian food. Be warned the delicious Calzone dessert is a very generous portion ie a whole calzone… Not for the faint-hearted !

Booked a couple of hours before the visit, extremely accommodating. Lovely and welcoming upon visit and food arrived within 10-15 minutes of ordering. The food was absolutely lovely, I had a pizza and my partner had a carbonara which he stated was the best carbonara he’s ever had. Lively atmosphere and are offered an amaretto digestif with our bill.

Great food, great service, friendly staff. Would have given 5 stars, but wine a bit pricey for what you buy. Will return and recommend to others, but will choose cheaper drinks.

From the moment we got there we felt rushed we food wasn't great and they got our order wrong. To top thing off our table wasn't big enough for food. We won't be going there again.

We visited for lunch on Friday with our two fussy teenagers! We were welcomed with open arms by the super husband and wife team. We ate from the lunch menu and the food was excellent. We had pizzas, lemon chicken and a pasta dish- all beautiful. This is the place if you want a traditional, non- chain, family run restaurant. I hate giving my money tobig chain restaurants, preferring to opt for local independent places. We are locals and have eaten here on and off for the last 16 years. It’s just as we remembered and there is no doubt we will be back again soon.Thank you

Had a great time here, from the moment we walked through the door, we felt extremely welcome and service was fantatstic which matched the food.

Really weird to read the other reviews - almost feels like it was a different place we visited! Really unimpressed by the food. Fairly ok starters - not much flavour. But pizzas were shockingly bad. Literally a thin layer of dough that was burnt & tasteless. I asked for a vege pizza and literally all you could taste was onions.

This restaurant is further down the quay away from the crowds but well worth the short walk. The food is of a very good standard and the service is very good although if it ever got full I am not confident they have enough staff. Very friendly helpful staff.

Had an amazing family meal. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble.

Visited x2 on our weeks holiday to Poole. Really fantastic food. Staff very attentive and friendly. Would highly recommend a visit😀 Thank you La Lupa

We went to this restaurant a lot when Tony was the boss. Things have changed so much. The fillet steak was perfectly cooked but that was it.The service was poor and waiters agressive. We waited over half an hour after they had taken our main course plates and still hadn't received a dessert menu. Fed up of waiting we asked for the bill only to find they had charged us for two bottles of wine when we had only had one. No apologies. Won't be returning

This place is not taking social distancing measures seriously with tables very close together, no track and trace, no masks and the whole place looking like it urgently needs a very good deep clean. The place smeels musty and damp. The food was no authentic. It was average at best and arrived so fast it could not have been cooked fresh. The whole dining experience was rushed. The food tasted and looked like microwaved instant food rather than rustic Italian cooking. The service was ok, but one of the waiters had a real attitude and was distant and arrogant. The older (owner?) was friendly enough. The bill when it arrived was good value but then it should be because the whole experience was average in the extreme. Based on our experience I can't recommend this place. That's a pity as we love Itlian food.

We love food, especially Italian. La lupa used to be our favourite restaurant back in 2018. It blew our minds away with the the quality of the product and the family atmosphere.At the moment it is a far reminiscent of the quality formerly served. The menu has majorly changed (for the better as far as the choice is concerned), however the product has experienced a drastic decline in quality.We ordered arrancini and portobello mushroom. The latter was quite enjoyable whereas former rather dull and seemed almost supermarket quality.For main we ordered bolognese and swordfish, again it used to be out of this world, it was mediocre. Last but not least the tiramisu was an insult to this restaurant.Cleanliness as attached.Redec a must.We hope that the owners will take a step back make appropriate arrangements to improve the restaurant.

We found this little gem near the quay side and what a great find it was! The food was excellent, true authentic Italian food. The service was very good too. Would definitely recommend and come back again. Grazie!

We booked a table here for a night away from the campsite we were staying at.Tucked away this little restaurant was a realGem!My in laws live in Italy so we are lucky enough to have been a few times, La Lupa has an Authentic Italian feel, a warm welcome and genuinely the best pizza I have eaten outside of Italy.My only criticism was that the tomatoes in our caprese salad were straight out of the fridge so a little cold and lacking in flavour.

We called the day restrictions were lifted with my family and had an absolutely stunning meal. ......

Terrific meal at cosy family run restaurant. Very welcoming to kids in traditional Italian style. Highly recommended.

Friendly service with lovely food. We had the garlic bread and Creswell both were lovely. Very clean restaurant and table cloths were changed after each guest.

The service was fantastic, very accommodating and the food delicious as was the wine. The portions were a good size, you won’t be disappointed if you choose to go here for a meal.

This restaurant is a very authentic Italian, varied menu on offer and the food was tasty. We shared the prawns - delicious. My partner had the fillet steak (on top of a crostini) & the steak was cooked perfectly, medium rare & obviously a really good quality steak. I had the veal saltinbocca & again very tasty in a really nice the sauce. Veggies/potatoes really tasty. My only criticism is that we felt quite rushed by them. There’s attentive which is fine and they were really nice guys but we did feel everything was rushed. Definitely worth a visit!

Glad we found this place - 4 waiters at a nearby Italian restaurant had ignored us standing in their doorway. Very good main courses, & they were quite happy for us to share a starter & a pud. Very reasonable prices.

Poor standards of hygiene. No option to do Track & Trace. The back room smells of mould and several customers had to ask for either the air con on or the door to be opened as it was hot and no air flow. Wrong food and drinks brought to our table several times and over an hour’s wait for food. Shame.

the restaurant is at the far end of Poole quay and you could walk by it without taking any notice but that would be a mistake. The restaurant is a delight,the staff are great and take time to explain any daily specials in detail. The food is excellent,the prices are reasonable. A great visit.

My brother and I treated our Mum to lunch for her 83rd birthday. It wasn't just a meal, it was a delightful dining experience. Not only was the food exceptional, the service was too. The owner was so attentive and despite being busy, gave us the time of day. He stopped and chatted with us and on hearing that it was Mum's birthday, gave her a complimentary drink! We all had such a lovely time, it was a little taste of Italy. We were made to feel like part of the family which was so nice. We will definitely be returning soon. I would highly recommend La Lupa as one of the best Italian Restaurants I have been to in a long time!

We came a few times during the eat out to help out weeks. The service was good and the food very well made. Did not disappoint!

Booked here for dinner on a Friday evening to wrap up a short break in PooleWell organised and laid out so that even with social distancing in place it still had a “cosy” and traditional feel.Very good selection on the main menu but also a few extra dishes on the blackboard. We chose the scallops and grilled sardines from the specials and were not disappointed. Main courses were equally as tasty and so we just had to try the deserts which made the meal complete Service was polite and efficient and would have no hesitation in returning

Was there in a group of 5 people. Had 2 daily specials, a pizza, pasta and a sort or lasagna and everything tasted excellent!!! I can definitely recommend this restaurant, the owner is very friendly and cares about the customers and the food is just perfect!

Stopped off in Poole on our way home from Cornwall and found this gem of an Italian. Service and food brilliant.

Four of us arrived by boat and booked dinner here. Service was professional and friendly. Tables were very close together. We shared Anti Pasti to start. I chose Crespella all a Ricotta e Spinaci which was delicious. Others had pizza and veal. We’ll happily return.

My husband and I went last weekend and had to leave. We were greeted nicely and promptly but that is all that I can say which is in anyway good about the place.We ordered carbonara and sea bass (off the specials board). The pasta was so dry and totally tasteless. My husband had the sea bass which just looked like a grey gloop and looked like it had just come out of the microwave. `The vegetables looked like they had also been microwaved and out of a packet.The food came out within minutes which is just obvious that it had not been freshly cooked. I wasn't even offered black pepper for my pasta!We rarely post on Tripadvisor but we just had to as it was probably the worst meal we have had in ten years. We paid the bill and explained to the waiter why we were leaving. He did offer to just charge for the drinks but we felt bad given the current situation with Covid and paid the full bill.There was zero socially distanced tables in the restaurant and we were all crammed in like sardines. I am shocked at the other good reviews for this place!

Absolutely fabulous meal. Great service. Very busy but still exceptional quality of food and service x highly recommend

This place is much bigger than it looks. Although it has a small frontage, it goes back a long way. Service is as good. Food was excellent. Great pizza!

Cosy authentic Italian setting, warm atmosphere, we were served by an Italian guy that may have been the owner. He was very attentive and accommodating, starting with giving us an accessible table as a I have mobility problems and carrying on with all sorts of little adjustments to our meals that made the experience just perfect. The food was up to the expectations (this place was recommended by some Italian guys that work for an Italian chain restaurant). We’ll definitely come back!

Horrendously noisy can’t have a conversation. Waited ages for main course. Then waiter asked had we had our main course. Not fine dining

We ate here during the ‘eat out to help out’ and it was such a shame the service ruined a nice meal. I don’t just write reviews without discussing the problems with staff but our waiter blamed the numerous issues we had with the restaurant being busy. If I am honest I didn’t think it was anywhere near full and i observed staff running around like headless chickens, lack of training and a dated ordering system. It took nearly an hour for our bread and olives to arrive, drinks were missed, the wrong food brought to our table at least 3 times and just generally chaotic service. The food itself was actually really tasty but there is no way we would return. As a family with young children service is really important and keeping 4 kids entertained for an hour waiting for food was no fun.

We were lucky enough to get a table during a very busy period and whilst ‘eat out help out’ was operating. The staff were really great fun, despite being busy. They were attentive and we had lots of positive interactions with them during our meal.The food was exceptional. We love Italy and have eaten in some amazing authentic Italian restaurants out of the main tourist areas of Rome, Florence, Sienna, Lake Garda and Como. This restaurant was ‘up there’ with the best we have eaten in. The portions were huge but as the food was so great we didn’t want to leave any. The sauces were so rich and tasty. The ingredients tasted fresh and the plate was bursting with colour. We really weren’t disappointed. We loved it. Have already recommended and will be revisiting when we return to the area. A big thumbs up!

Passed by this lovely little Italian restaurant at the quieter end of Poole Quay. They have a lunchtime menu with a good choice of food for under £10. Excellent value. We loved the prawn cocktail starters and both the chicken limone and my wife's pasta bolognaise were really tasty. It was SO good in fact that we went out of our way to go back there the next day. Very friendly server and owner who also talked to us. Will definiotely go back.

Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. The food was really good, and the portions were big! Really good value!

Great restaurant, food very nice and friendly staff. Good meal size, would recommend, and would come here again.

Growing up in Poole (a long time ago) I think La Lupa was one of the first places I ever had Italian food. It was a while since we’d visited but I was not disappointed. The service was perfectly timed, allowing us lots of time to chat and browse the menu. Between us we enjoyed pizza, pasta and two meaty dishes, all of which were hearty portions and perfectly cooked. The wine was fantastic (and very reasonably priced).

Tuesday we decided to go out for dinner and we chose the she-wolf, we thought in a quite evening but the restaurant was full, the owner suggested an appetizer to share and some paccheri with fish sauce and I can't say thanks for the goodness of that dish, we ended up with a superb homemade cheese cake.See you soon .

We stopped at La Lupa last night with my friend while were in Poole.We really enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant and the food was great.We shared a starter plate who comes with a focaccia bread and it was delicious followed by some Pasta with Pescatrice that was really tasty.Thanks for a great night and for an outstanding service.I’ll be back again surely.

Found myself looking for a good place to eat in Poole last evening and stumbled across La Lulpa who managed to accommodate us ............. had great food , large portions . Lovely environment and fun staff . Oh , definitely revisit soon

I ate at La Lupa last night with my husband and parents before going to see a show at the Lighthouse in Poole. We each had 3 courses, the food was delicious and well priced. I had the special seafood linguine followed by tiramisu, amazing!The staff are Italian and super welcoming, the service was great. It was so refreshing to go to an authentic Italian restaurant rather than a high street chain that we’re all so familiar with these days! We’ll definitely be back for plenty more visits.

My gorgeous son and daughter and their partners took my husband and I here for a meal for my 60th birthday and it was a pure delight.The service was impeccable,so friendly and staff all happy and smiling and the food was delicious and lovely and hot due to the warmed crockery.This restaurant ( and we have been many times over the years) always has a great atmosphere,so cosy and welcoming.Thankyou to you all and for your lovely singing that accompanied my cake.

This is a lovely run family business. Not been here before. All the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Menu was not too big but lovely dishes. Then the specials Menu came out local caught seafood. We had the scallops to start. Not the best butOk. We all had the Halibut steaks for main. Really lovely.For desert we had the homemade Tiramisu which was really nice. Over all a pleasantExperience and prices were reasonable too.

Visited La Lupa on a work trip to Poole. I visited by myself but the waiters made me feel very welcome. Everything I ordered came swiftly, was piping hot and you could tell was traditionally made. The food was aboslutely delicious. I can highly recommend the lasagne and profiteroles! Even on a Monday night this place was busy!I did think the wine and desserts were quite expensive (£6 for icecream!) but as work was paying I chose to indulge!I would definitely return if I am ever back in Poole.

Good service, delicious food freshly cooked. Desserts good but expensive and £4 for a bottle of sparkling water bit steep

I love Italian food so thought would check this place out. Food was not great did not Taste fresh tasted heated from frozen. Service was very slow probably will not be trying this place again and everyone was saying such nice things about this place just can’t see it.

This is a traditional proper Italian restaurant. Sadly a rarity these days. Delicious Friturra Mista , joint sharing platter of fresh calamari, prawns & whitebait to start. My pasta with aubergine was too big to eat it all. And the puddings were delicious too. All washed down with a bottle of Italian Sauvignon Blanc. Attentively served. Thank you. Alessandro, Daniele and the picture hangers! We look forward to a return visit soon to enjoy the food and the new pictures on the walls!

Went in for a meal on Saturday night with friends and as we sat down the waiter asked what we’d like to drink. I said a small medium white wine which was very pleasant. The meal was lovely although the waiters were not particularly friendly.

After finding that a well known Italian restaurant in the high street did not serve Campari or alcohol free beer, we walked out. We decided to renew our acquaintance with La Lula, a proper Italian restaurant. Alexandro the young man serving was more than helpful and served us exactly what we wanted. He made our lunch time visit well worth while, it’s a pity we are going back home tomorrow and won’t be back for some time. Well worth a visit.

I regularly visit la Lupa with my wife, it has been on the quay for years and the quality of Italian food is second to none.

Found this place by chance one rainy August weekday evening while on holiday with our 12 and 14 year olds in the area. We were lucky to find that they had tables available. Other people there were a large family group celebrating something, and a few couples who also seemed to be regulars, and according to their website the restaurant seems to have been there for around 40 years now.

We had a fabulous meal in La Lupa.

Hadent been fo an Italian meal for a few years so thought we would travel out to Poole to try a new place

Looked on TA for recommendations for an Italian restaurant as my 2 daughters wanted a family treat while on a break in Sandbanks.

Had a really enjoyable evening here. There was a great atmosphere, and the food was super tasty. The waiters were attentive without being overbearing, and really added to what was a nice experience.

Picked on the strength of generally excellent TA reviews for a Thursday night dinner for the Squeeze and I. I chose Tagliata with scallops and king prawns (£23.95) which was good while the Squeeze went for a La Lupa salad which was generous on the chicken and well received. With a small bottle of Prosecco (£7.95) and a 250ml glass of an undistinguished house white (£7.95) and one cappuccino (£2.60) the bill was £56.44 plus tip.

Lovely little spot in Poole quay , met with a smile , friendly, had spaghetti carbonara washed down with a cider , great food , great service/staff , worth a visit

Visited sat 6th July for my birthday. The small part of the restaurant was practically full and they didn't appear to have the larger back area open. We were given a seat in a corner right next to the toilets which was separated from us by a curtain. It was a very warm evening and it was stifling in there, but the smell coming from the toilets was unbearable, so we asked to be moved because of it, which they did to a small table near the front door. There were two small tables there, one was empty and one became empty as we asked to be moved. It was much better as there was a though draft which kept us cool. And we could no longer smell the toilets. We had booked this restaurant so why when there was a better table free did they put us in the most awful space in the restaurant??

This is the third time eating here always been fantastic , great menu , great staff , felt a bit ripped off with the suggestion of a leave it up to us on the starters ended up putting nearly £11 per head on the bill ,

Visited this restaurant whilst away with family in Poole. We chose La Lupa purely by chance and so pleased that we did. Seven of us had an excellent meal with great service. I have a garlic intolerance, which in many places causes great debate, even at some of the top restaurants, but here the food is prepared as ordered so it was not a problem. My food; starter of scallops, main chicken carbonara and finish off with tiramisu - delicious.

looks ok from outside but once you go in just like being in italy great welcome good atmosphere and proper italian food was a great find as lots of italian restaurants to chose from will be back when next in poole another great tripadvisor find

What a wonderful little find!! Excellent menu with such a range of choices, far more than an average Italian.

Ladies night out on Friday... Whenever we visit LaLupa we get a fantastic friendly service, the staff are always very welcoming. We love the meals which are perfect in portion size and the food is always very well presented, due to my food allergies they always accommodate to any meal. My daughter loves the lasagna. I’ve had the steak this time, which was cooked to perfection. We find this place great for lunch, an evening out or a birthday party. Massive thumbs up!

Well worth a visit. Good food,wine and a great atmosphere. Service was top draw as well. Real Italian cuisine cooked how it should be. The staff could not do enough and all treated you like you were local. Excellent

Daniele is a astonishing chef. Italian style with a down to earth flavour. Try this recipe and you'll come back!!! Fabulous!!!

The atmosphere in this restaurant was awful; the service even worse with long waits for drinks and poor value for over cooked pasta. When our group was unprepared to pay the £40+ service charge the waiter did not accept this at all and demanded full payment!!! I will never return to this place.

Popped in after a little walk around the quay. Had the best seabass caught fresh locally this morning. Traditional Italian vanilla cheesecake was to die for. We were served by the owner himself. My dining companion made the faux pas of tipping the owner. This was sooo embarrassing!!! What an idiot.

Me and my two friends came to la lupa for some dinner as a member of my family recommended this place, I had the Calabrese it was delicious! The service was excellent! And the atmosphere was lovely, the member of staff make you feel welcome and are quick at service even when it was busy. The best italian restaurant I have been to by far! I would highly recommend and will definitely be back again!

Thank you to la lupa and all staff had a great birthday ever , we were 12 of us food and service were perfect had the best pizza , my wife had a fresh sea bass , and the other guests had pasta and fillet steak very tender

I came to Poole to visit my family and friends and went for lunch at la lupa on the quay the food was amazing, service was very attentive we had a really nice bottle of wine which was very tasty I had a spicy chicken with fresh vegetables the roast potatoes were very tasty, my parents they had fresh fish of the day scallops was amazing and the sea bass was oven baked which was really good. I will be returning and highly recommend this restaurant.

Went for the first time in la lupa

The following letter was sent to La Lupa a week ago. I have not had the courtesy of a reply, explanation or apology.

It was fantastic the food was phenomenal. I ate everything I got and the plate was empty when I finished.

The resturant yesterday is very busy... I had dinner whit my Friends,It's not the first time I've eaten in this restaurant...the food is very good,very italian food. the atmosphere is very warm,very welcoming and friendly staff. I recommend it!!! we'll see you very soon👌