Pinocchio's in Christchurch

Very good food. The cutlery could be of better quality. Friendly young staff. Restaurant feels a little cramped. Cafe like atmosphere.

We are local. Live in Bournemouth. Drink and eat in Christchurch regularly. We Love Italy and Italian food. We have always been put off by the shop front of Pinocchio, but thought we would try - because how can '41 years' be wrong? Well, this food was without a doubt the worst we have had in some time. As soon as it arrived, you could see the look of the 'jar sauce' on my 'Pennette All'arrabbiata "Quills of pasta, tossed in bacon, tomato and chilli." '- you know how that looks.... the slightly shiny, Aldi sheen. Don't get me wrong, i like Aldi - I use all their sauces - I just avoid this sauce at home. So, I just don't expect to be overcharged or served it. There was no bacon. The Pizza - a plain"Margherita Pizza (10") "because that's the test of a good restaurant right? - this was like - a cheap frozen pizza, soaked in olive oil, covered in dry herbs. We quietly called over the waitress. It was getting busy. It was 7am this evening (Friday April 5th). I said - " this food is awful. we don't want to make a scene - it's getting busy, so we'll pay- but it's really terrible quality" she said - " i'm sorry' let me speak to the manager. This is where my respect for this low par, crappy food establishment goes out the window. The manager didn't come over, ask us what thhe issue was etc - we were served with the full bill. Which we paid. This place is HORRID. My advice is to go down the road to The Boathouse - their pizza is just a couple of pounds more but AMAZING. I would advise booking ahead though, as they do get busy - also, the owners are way nicer and the view is better.

Pizza was very mediocre for price had a lot better and cheaper at local kebab shop and orange juice lemonade the most disgusting I have ever tried in. Smallest glass possible

Went here for the first time for a birthday meal and enjoyed. Would go again, lovely food and good service good prices.

Really rude services the waitress was not very nice at all giving my family a dirty look thinking its okay to back talk, my grandad wants something to eat but giving the wrong food. Never going there again as they are very VERY rude

Visited on a quiet Thursday lunchtime and the restaurant was mostly serving groups of elderly ladies. The food and service was very good and the lady owner particularly patient and kind - a table of old ladies next to us insisted on splitting the bill and paying separately 🤬 which the owner took perfectly in her stride.

The best pizzas we’ve had in a long time and the pasta was delicious too. Waitress very attentive and friendly. Great service and presentation. Beautiful authentic Italian restaurant and 100% better than the chains that are taking over the high streets. Highly recommended

Visited Pinocchios this evening for a family meal and was so impressed! Lovely food as well as super quick and polite service. A must visit when visiting Christchurch! Highly recommend.

Lovely lunch! Really authentic Italian, excellent service, gorgeous food, will definitely come again, thank you!!

Servers were cheerful and kind and quick to respond to requests. Food great always is. Lovely atmosphere.

Was a quiet evening but the staff were still amazing and full of energy!! I have been coming here for over 20 years. Never fails to impress.

Food was nice. I was unhappy that I had booked a table for my birthday and they firstly, sat our table of 6 in a cramped central area, where it was like being sat in a busy corridor where the waitress needed to keep asking you to get out of your seat to enable delivery of food to other tables. It was very busy Friday.. I finally got them to change our seating as some people had left at the back.

Visited last night for my uncle's 90 birthday. We fortunately booked and on arrival had to wait with other people, fair enough. Unfortunately for another couple, everyone was standing next to their table whilst eating. The manager showed no welcome at all and the place was heaving! It seemed chaotic. Seating far too close to each other, knocking people who are eating when trying to sit down. Staff with plates of food squeezing between tables trying to dodge customers. One instance finished plates were dropped and residue of food went down custumers jumper and coat. A disappointing start to our meal. We were hoping for this cosy Italian meal for our celebration. Starters were very meagre, shared a garlic bread, was informed it would be plenty for 2 to share, was basically slice of a bloomer loaf, so half each. Bruschetta likewise, one slice. Both tasty though. Our two main lasagne's didn't come up (only our side salad?!), mistake with written order so husband's main had to be taken back. Our lasagne's were so flat, hardly anything to it. Husband's tagliatelle was tasty but had been kept hot. Very small portions. Dessert chosen as still quite peckish ... two profiteroles and an abubdance of chocolate sauce. Husband asked which cheeses are used for cheese and biscuits, waitress didn't know and didn't offer to find out, so he didn't bother! The most expensive, smallest portions Italian meal we have had. It's more a fast food, churn out the food quickly and get people out. From a health and safety perspective, I really don't think all those people could have left their tables at the same time and escaped a fire. Interesting there is no feedback from the owners that I can see. We have been in plenty of Italian restaurants in Italy and UK, this is the worst. Some people are obviously happy with this 'restaurant' but it's pure greed. Avoid, spend your hard-earned money and go elsewhere.

Wouldn't recommend going when busy, not sure what it’s like when they’re quiet but I can see from some reviews it can be a great little place if you catch them at the right moment. Tables packed like sardines. To the point there are tables next to the door and you feel like you’re sitting on their lap while you wait to get a table. Pizza still doughy in middle my child wouldn’t eat it as it was soggy. Pasta not well presented and wasn’t anything special, just pasta and sauce and i found 3 tiny bits of chicken at the bottom? Staff are polite and attentive seem to not be communicating with each other as we ended up with 12 water glasses for a table of 6. Not sure why there’s a service charge, this should be optional. Don’t bother taking your child there as nothing offered to keep them busy. kids menu is only 4 options deep with only one of them being an Italian option. Pricing for mains are fair… Deserts however ridiculous 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream 6.50! I cannot justify spending that much on ice cream unless you milked the cow yourself and made the ice cream yourself! Prices go up to near £9 for mainly ice cream based deserts, quite literally daylight robbery! Not likely to return or recommend. Shame as was excited to be coming to a classic Italian.

A really lovely Italian restaurant not too far from the high street a few minutes walk. Lovely food and great service.

Wonderful fresh food, flawless service by a polite, delightful young lady, cute traditional decor, we felt transported to Italy. Highly recommend!

Fabulous atmosphere, very friendly staff and great food at a reasonable price. If we were local we would be frequent diners. Always a good sign when locals are packing the place out as they were tonight

Had a lovely meal here, waitress was very nice, well mannered and attentive. Food was lovely, had some pizza and a pasta dish. Lovely and hot and perfectly cooked. Do not believe the bad reviews this is a lovely independent restaurant, I highly recommend.

My wife and I, along with the in laws, had dinner at Pinocchios this evening, Tuesday, the 17th of October, (2023). The food was amazing. My father in law and I had the minestrone soup and it was delicious. For my main course I had the Monstro pizza and again it was delicious, the others had the Carbonara and they all enjoyed their meals. Our waitress, Rachel, was superb, very friendly, polite , well mannered and efficient exactly how a waitress/ waiter should be. I haven’t commented on the atmosphere of the restaurant as, when we arrived, we were the only ones there ( we were very early). The restaurant was warm and inviting and very Italian. Just a few points of criticism ( constructive criticism): 1) It would have been nice to have had some bread served with the soup. 2) The pizza was , as I have said, delicious, but needs to be bigger. 3) The desserts were far too expensive at over £8 ( for that reason we didn’t have any). But well done to everyone at Pinocchios, Christchurch.

Food & service from the young waitresses was good, but the whole experience was completely spoiled by that owner/manager of a woman. How the hell have they ever survived in business with her at the helm! Not only does she talk to her staff like a piece of sh*t but this is also not lost on the customers.

Homely frienfly lunch. Usual italian fare. Very nice in Christchurch high street.

Booked a table and then read the reviews and was concerned. We arrived to find Pinocchio items everywhere in the form of ornaments and paintings on the walls. It felt old-fashioned Italian. The menu had been reduced, but still standard items available. Food was good and portions a good size and tasty. Service was good. They have been in business for 41 years and clearly have their regulars.

My wife and I had a wonderful meal here. It was the first time I had been here since I was 6 so some 40 years ago. The staff were lovely and had time for a chat. I would highly recommend eating here.

Tried to get a meal at 8:45 could see chef in kitchen throwing a hissy fit and lady that couldn’t be bothered either way telling me kitchen was closed despite other diners in restaurant so no we cant have a table local business turning away money what a joke will never return ….

Very nice restaurant. Very smooth service. Food was excellent.

Another expensive Italian with limited portion sizes. Steak was nice but paid a fortune. Kids always enjoy it here.

In my own experience the food it's really bad , my husband and me ordered some pizza there and the food was wet . I think they leave the food prepared and only heat it when they order it, it is not made to order. Really bad experience

Good mains but Sweets expensive for bought in range

We were lucky to get a last minute booking here (booked the evening before), especially as people with no bookings were being turned away as the place was so busy. The service was very good considering how busy it was and the wait meant we felt we weren't being rushed. The food was excellent. I loved my pizza, just the right size for one person. The prosecco was very good too and the prices very reasonable.

Really good. Garlic bread with cheese so tasty, bruschetta lovely, lasagna, tortellini and pizza were all great. The waitress said everything is freshly cool and even the bread is made in the morning. The only thing I would say is make the pizzas slightly bigger. Thank you we’re be back.

We booked a table for 14 people, greeted with a smile and warm welcome, drinks order taken and water was also put out for us all. Staff were very attentive although restaurant was very busy. Food came out hot and tasty - everybody enjoyed their meals. Thank you to all staff for making our special night go well 😩

The most disappointing and disgraceful experience of an Italian restaurant i have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. The only authentic part of the restaurant was the Chefs disgusting behaviour and attitude towards my wife, true old school Italian male, vile. We had our first visit to Christchurch and were looking for a meal out for myself and wife and we regrettably went for Pinocchio's, what a mistake. The staff could not have been nicer and helpful in seating us and getting our drinks and taking our order. The starters came out and were fine, but when the mains came out my wife was very disappointed with her pizza. We both agreed it was extremely wet and the topping was actually slipping off the base whilst trying to eat the first slice. We expressed our concerns to the waitresses who was very apologetic. A fresh pizza was made and it was a slight improvement but still wet. This was also returned. A few minutes after rejecting the second pizza the cheif came storming out and wanted to know what was wrong with the pizza. My wife politely and calmly explained in Italian her expectations of a true authentic (Pinocchio sells itself as authentic) is a crisp base with a dry topping. She also expressed the need to speak in both English and Italian to avoid being rude to me. The chief could not have been more condescending or rude even if had tried. His attitude towards a female customer was appalling and belittling to a female as an old school male Italian would, absolutely disgusting attitude and behaviour. The final disappointing act was the bill and cost of drinks. The price of the drinks was astronomical, £4.80 for less than half a pint of cider was disgusting. This has to be the absolute worst restaurant we have ever had the displeasure of visiting. The attitude was vile and prices disgusting.

Always good food, very tasty, and friendly staff.

Gorgeous food and reasonably priced

A good venue to take children for pasta and pizza options.

Wish I'd read through the reviews before we came here Arribiatta was very bland , not a chilli insight . Pizza was 10" and tasted like a frozen Iceland pizza , actually that's an injustice to Icelands pizza. £9.50 for 7 frozen breaded mushrooms was poor value for money On the plus side we ordered a rare steak and it was cooked perfectly.

My new favourite Italian restaurant in my area, glad I found it, very responsible prices, good portions and lovely service and feel.

Disappointing quality of food. Pretty sure the pizza came out of the freezer. And spaghetti Bolognese was quiet dry and possible just microwaved. Looked like an authentic cute Italian, however on a second look it didn’t meet the expectations. All quiet dated. Sad as we were looking for a nice Italian dinner, wanting to support a local business.

We should’ve listened to the reviews - people are right about the pizzas, I’d have rather had a supermarket frozen one. Tiny and flavourless with weird oily base!

Excellent lunch. We had spaghetti carbonara and margarita pizza with ham. Both meals were lovely. Served piping hot. Would recommend.

Excellent pizzas, delivered in a reasonable time on a busy night, and a nice drop of homely red which was well-priced for the quality. A better experience than queuing outside Pizza Express....

Very disappointed with pinocchio's tonight. Food mediocre Staff felt like you were being rushed all the time and wasn't given chance for food to digest And expensive for what we had

Very disappointed tonight with pinocchio's!! Food not the best and no sooner we had finished main course pudding menu was given,ordered and on table.no time to digest. Felt like staff rushing you to hurry up as they wanted to go home!! We paid half card half cash and no change was given back!! Obviously realised we weren't giving a tip so just kept difference!!

The pizza from this restaurant is a long way from the Italian one. Definitely not recommended. I haven't eaten such a lousy pizza in a long time.

Tesco frozen pizza is better than this I don't normally knock restaurants because I know sometimes it can be only a few little things that make a restaurant bad however the food was really not very nice firstly garlic bread was just a piece of untoasted bread with melted cheese on top Coke was just cheap supermarket brand the pizza not cooked was actually really a rememberable disgusting meal. Plus we ask to see Pinocchio but apparently he did a runner out the back.

We frequently eat at Pinocchio at Bournemouth Triangle as the food is always very good and the staff are extremely pleasant and friendly but it is temporarily closed so thought we would try Pinocchio at Christchurch and hoped for a similar experience. What a disappointment! We booked for 4 adults and 1 child. We arrived and confirmed our booking and the young waitress with ginger hair walked off to prepare a table for us. No greeting - no hello or good evening. A second waitress gestured to us where to go. When our order arrived, my partner asked for chilli sauce and I asked if we could have some Parmesan. The other waitress - I can only describe her having a foreign accent - snapped back I’ve only got one pair of hands. When she returned to the table I explained I was trying to be helpful and by saving her a second trip to the table. She obviously didn’t see it that way and my comments fell on stony ground. We eventually asked for the bill and when I checked I noticed there was a 10 per cent surcharge I asked what that was for and she said a service charge. After the rude and unfriendly service I was not prepared to give them a tip. I explained the situation to the manageress and she apologised. We will definitely not be returning - there are plenty of pasta and pizza restaurants that serve good food and do not come hand in hand with rude waiting staff.

Got seated and the table next to us got sprayed clean putting all this spray on my father. Staff seamed tired. Went to the toilet got black mold on the ceiling and toilet roll handle falling of the wall. You'd think if someone cared about the place everything would be in order. Black mould in the toilet not sure how they have a five star hygiene sticker.

It’s been years and I loved it back then Popped in for lunch….so disappointed Sorry but one toast sized piece of cheesy garlic bread should not be £4.60 2 bowls of starter sized pasta £12.50 each, food was nice but not at all good value. Felt bad for the waitress as she was good but options on credit card machine were tips of 10%, 20% 25% or skip. With the thought of the one slice of garlic bread at £4.60, I skipped the tip. Shame really, I live Italian restaurants, usually good value, plenty of food but not here.

Very bad service and food aswell

We ventured to Pinocchio’s on a family holiday by the beach, and were delighted by the delicious authentic food that was presented. The staff were friendly and we were in awe with the great service. However, the portions were smaller than anticipated but they were full of ingredients of high quality. Would recommend.

Been visiting this restaurant for nearly 40 years, it's so lovely, keep up the good work, lovely to see it so busy tonight

Quite disappointing. Overpriced, bang average food. Main meals are small in portion size, have a shop-bought feel and cost between £12-15 each. Soft drinks are extortionately priced and come from large bottles so are flat. Having said that, the service was quick, the waitresses were polite and the house white wine was delicious.

Great find whilst out on a coach trip. Food and service 5 star nothing too much trouble, would highly recommend.

Haven't eaten here for many years and I really should have done. Lovely pizza, not too large just right. Nice staff and good service.

This place hasn't changed in 30 years or more. And that's good!! Great traditional Italian dishes as you would expect them to be. Well prepared food at very honest and decent prices. Well worth a visit if you are looking for a straightforward Italian that you rely on. Highly recommended, they always produced great food.

Strange experience in a long standing Italian resturant. Nothing was more Italian than I can do at home. I heard that the pizzas are food but I had carbonara and it was really disappointing . . Just boring. Service less than I Teri tig and 3.50 for a HALF glass of lime and soda. . More expensive than The Ritz!! I won't be rushing back.

A lovely proper traditional italian restaurant with lovely tasty food and a friendly welcome

The waitress was lovely, the staff are great however the boss was rude and had no time for customers. Would rather have bought an oven pizza from Tesco than their oven pizzas which was supposedly fresh. I have never made a complaint at a restaurant or written a bad review, however I have never eaten in a restaurant as bad as Pinocchios in Christchurch. Again, the staff were great just the food and the manager need a change. I’ve worked in two Italian restaurants and I have never seen anything like that.

The waitress was lovely, the staff are great however the boss was rude and had no time for customers. Would rather have bought an oven pizza from Tesco than their oven pizzas which was supposedly fresh. I have never made a complaint at a restaurant...

The food is good but don't expect a modern Italian restaurant, it's homely & the menu is straight out of the 1980's. Portion sizes vary - Spaghetti Marinara (Seafood) was a good size but the Spaghetti Carbonara was short of being called a main meal size. The Garlic Bread with Cheese was good with large portions. The Cheesecake was a decent size & definitely satisfied a sugar/dessert craving, but it's more gelatine. Coffees were disappointing - drinkable but below average & not a good strong Italian brew which I was hoping for. The auburn haired waitress was awful, rude, short tempered & brash with all tables, however the other waitress was fantastic, good natured & left customers feeling happy.

Visited as a family of four in the evening. Main courses were very good and worth the money. However, £4.40 for a coke is extreme! Puddings over £8. The restaurant is dated but gives an authentic Italian vibe. Toilets didn't feel clean and certainly need...

Fun for all the family. Visited as a teenager, father and grandfather. Love the place, great menu and atmosphere and friendly staff. Whenever in Christchurch will pay a visit.

Great food lovely atmosphere well friendly help staff

Excellent service and excellent staff and excellent food

Have been to this restaurant many times over the last 40 years, this will be the last time! Myself, my wife and our 2 friends went to the restaurant at 8.50pm on Saturday night, we were shown to our table our drinks order was taken....

Absolute joke of a pizza to take away , 10 inch max not 12 , poor ingredients and awful base . Really not worth the money. I thought I’d try and help local Business etc but you’re really not helping yourself, pizza express although a chain is soooo much better value for money , disappointed

Had a really lovely meal here. Was really impressed with the service we received

Great meal, good service but added on a service charge of 10 percent - for carrying a plate of food less than 3 steps .. been coming for over 20 years - sadly left a bad taste and will not be coming back! Also if...

Very disappointing, pizza tasted like it was from a freezer and pasta dishes like someone had dropped a pepper grinder in them. When mentioning it to the waitress and owner nothing was done about it or even acknowledged. Avoid.

We have two young children and have always enjoyed a lovely family meal here until last night. The service was at best substandard, and sadly the food was worse. For an order of cheese topped garlic bread, we were presented with a slice of seeded,...

Good food but could be better quality. Service was incredibly quick for a Friday evening, in and out (starter & mains) with 30 minutes.

This is a step back in time. Nothing to enthuse about apart from the bazaar decoration.

Lovely Italian restaurant with incredible food and nice people. Highly recommended

Good things: Staff and service, frumpy old fashioned style in a good way - have actually wanted to come here for years, menu similarly old fashioned and not too expensive. Bad things: Lasagne tasted of nothing, v bland. tiramisu had a chewy skin under the...

Great choice of Italian dishes, friendly staff and starters/desserts available too. Handily situated in the High Street

Good little trattoria, with pasta and pizza. Nice themed paintings to bring back childhood memories. The carbonara was tasty and the cheesecake an indulgence.

Always a lovely meal out, friendly & welcoming with good home cooked food & great atmosphere. Great for families with reasonable prices. Makes such a welcome change from the many chain restaurants out there. I'd recommend anyday!

Delicious food - salmon tagliatelle is amazing! Food is well priced except for dessert - £8 for small portions. Would defintely recommend though - kind staff and homely atmosphere

Nice staff, but soggy dough burned however on the outside and poor quality toppings. Shame as I would often give a chance to the independent rather than franchised but this time around they really have to improve on what they serve to their clients

What a dreadful meal. Six of us went for a meal last week. Waited ages for drinks service and then ages to order food, in a restaurant with only a handful of other tables. I am not eating fried food at the moment but noticed...

Very disappointing quality, you could find better quality pizzas in Iceland. My friend said the pasta was good. My prawn starter was similar to something you’d find in a pack in a supermarket. The garlic bread is a joke. Slice of bread from the super market with cheese on top. I’d suggest listening to these bad reviews and review where your food is being sourced from and how it is being prepared.

Food was ok. Staff just didn't seem very happy though.

Lovely food ,staff very friendly, the food was very tasty , the only thing would say is the prices are a bit high for portions ,

Love Pinocchio. A proper trattoria. Cosy and welcoming.

Very disappointed, the food was average and the service from the young waitress was incredibly slow even though it was not very busy. And slow even just getting us desert menus and water. I don't think she wanted to be working.

Owner was horrible!! So rude and put her hands in our face. Spat in my food when she talked. Never come here again if you wanna be disappointed, overcharged and over priced. At least one of the employees had the decency to apologise. Otherwise… food...

Fantastic resturant full of charm. Our second visit here now. The food was amazing and the staff were very helpful. :-)

Excellent bruschetta and Pizza! Charming.

Quite an average meal, have had better

Love it, a bit twee, but grateful food

Was out with my brother's family and they took me for lunch here (practically queued up waiting for them to open at 12noon!) I'd never been here before so was taken in by all the Pinocchio pictures etc. The menu was extensive (loads of pizza variants, 10 inches). I enjoyed my Figaro pizza and it was clean plates all round! It is like stepping back in time but I think that adds to its charm!

Very nice atmoshere and good pizza. Great service Thank you👍

Great traditional Italian fare and atmosphere. Thank you. Can you please add zero alcohol beer to your list of drinks.

The food nice and the people where friendly but it can get norsy at busy times with a lot of people talking.

It’s an unassailable fact that there are Only two types of people on this planet - those who “like” their Canneloni with boring old spinach - and those who insist on a “proper” Italian recipe, with mince beef & tomato In a Bolognase-Type filling. Obviously, and as one of the latter group, when the urge for a couple of piping-hot tubes of loveliness, smothered In bechamel sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan & Black pepper Calls, then there is Only one place to go - Pinocchio’s. As if it isn’t hard enough, battling with all the other excellent eateries In Christchurch, then to be awarded the “Best Italian Restaraunt In The Country” award from yours truly, is a step UP the ladder of culinary accomplishments - and the (traditional Italian style - with No tomatoes) Minestrone soup is marvellous too. If you have any room remaining for pud, it has to be their home-made Tiramisu - yum. Pick your times to park carefully and you can leave the horseless carriage In Wick Lane, on the High Street, or even In the Council car park - then walk off the worst of your feast around the Priory or down to the Quay. Enjoy..!

Takeaway pizza and a starter- Hoped for an authentic Italian special experience. Very small pizza offered, about 8”/9” only Average taste but very expensive considering. “Butterfly king prawns” were like the £1 party pack ones from Asda or Tesco, in breadcrumbs. Very disappointed. Poor experience. Will not ever go back. I’ll go to pizza express next time !

Very disappointing meal, breaded garlic mushrooms and breaded whitebait tasted overcooked. Penne pasta dish had hardly any flavour, and the toralini stuffed with ham you needed a magnifer to find the ham. Sorry for the serving staff who were very good, but their chef let...

So we all decided to go have lunch in Christchurch. My family have been here before a hand full of times, and have never had any issues. BUT it was my first time here today and I’ve got to say that it was a let...

Great food with excellent service

If you love Italian food you will love this place. The food is excellent and very reasonably priced. Staff are very friendly, polite and helpful. It is a very relaxing place to eat and enjoy company. I would definately recommend.