Pinocchio's in Canterbury

Delicious food, quick service and friendly staff ❤️

The restaurant has nice and warm atmosphere but the food we had was average. We had 2 starters, 2 mains and one desert to share. The calamari starter was a small portion and nothing special, no condiments either on the side salad that comes with them. The grilled prawns are served on a very buttery warm sauce which is almost a soup and overall it was okay but again nothing great about it - I would not re-order it. We then had the salsiccia risotto and the linguine mare. Both low in seasoning and the risotto felt as if it was microwaved.. The tiramisu however was nice. The Italian wine we had was nice. Price wise it’s a good choice but food overall is average - 6.5 if I could rate from 1 to 10. The service was great from start to finish, the staff is friendly, welcoming and nice.

We had the best pasta and cheesecake. Highly recommend.

The best Italian restaurant in town. Beautiful atmosphere and yummy food.

This the very first time I can leave such a review. Born and bred in Italy, travelled around the world for 15+ years and... Pinocchio's was the first place to make me enjoy Italian cuisine outside homeland. Italian take few things seriously, but be sure food is not only among those but reigning over all! I approached the restaurant with my skeptical toffee nosed attitude and, guess what: I pleased my buds more and better than many places back home. I had the swordfish and the fried squids, felt like eating it right off the boat for how fresh they were. Ruta and Salvatore beautifully guided my tour through the wine chart and the menu Giulia, the chef, prepares every day with religious care and devotion to the Italian standards. Be sure to try their fresh fish and home made pasta, you ( and your buds) will be amazed. Freshly baked pizza den bread were supreme. Damiano and his team have gained the rare prize of not only spreading the Italian taste and culture but also serve food that has few rivals even back home.

I love going abroad and enjoying the local culture, I also love finding some typical Italian places, really run by Italians and being proud of our culture exported abroad. This is the case of pinocchio's restaurant. A typical Italian restaurant where you can feel at home or, for those who have not yet been lucky enough to visit Italy, immerse yourself in a real and traditional culinary experience. Giulia and Damiano are excellent hosts, Giulia, the chef, takes obsessive care of the preparations with fresh and excellent quality ingredients, the olive oil is excellent and its cellar varies for all palates. Fresh clams as if you ate them in Amalfi and the aubergine parmigiana is just like grandma's. Salvatore and Ruta, the two maitres, will take care of you, expertly advising you on combinations and combinations. The best place to eat traditional Italian food, not just in Canterbury but in the whole of the UK. See you soon.

Restaurant recommended by our hotel. Super nice, cozy, great Italian atmosphere. Lovely, consistent dishes with good products. Friendly and fast service, fair prices.

We visited on a Friday evening and it was a nice, busy atmosphere. Service was friendly and efficient. The food was really good.

This is my third visit here, pure authentic Italian food which is amazing. Highly recommend if you love Italian food.

Amazing authentic food, great service in a lovely little restaurant. We'll be back!

An excellent dining experience. The staff are so friendly. Better make reservations, it's a popular restaurant.

Fabulous restaurant and Italian food. Great service

Amazing food great wine and a really nice atmosphere. Amazing for a romantic date.

If only one could afford it, one would surely be a regular customer. The only downside is the place always being full of Canterbury's wealthy geriatric folk, some of whom are more enlightened than others.

Excellent for a date night. Hearty food and nice wine.

Petit restaurant cosi, chaleureux service et tres bonne cuisine

Had a lovely meal, really good pasta. Highly recommend.

Excellent service. Food was hot and fresh. Don’t bother with the calamari. No flavor.

This is a great little restaurant a little off the beaten track which is great. The food is authentic and amazing quality. The team are very attentive and friendly. I have now found my new favourite Italian restaurant when I am not in Positano of course!

Booked a table there during a trip to Canterbury without knowing anything about the place. We had an absolutely delicious dinner. The gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnuts were amazing. The staff was very friendly. Overall would recommend.

Totally wonderful Italian family atmosphere ❤️ and food

Wow! What a hidden gem in Canterbury! If you want authentic fresh homemade pasta and pizza this is the place. The staff are amazing and super friendly, the atmosphere is in-line with a dining experience. I ordered a pizza margarita which is probably the best I ever tasted and my daughter order tagliatelle bolognese which was fantastic! Make the effort to bd this place and enjoy!

The BEST gluten free pizza and garlic bread I have EVER had. The non-gf people I was with said it was excellent too and thoroughly enjoyed it. My 16yo nephew (who is not gf), said it was the best garlic bread he’d ever had. I’ve been coming to this restaurant with my family since I was a tiny tot, and seen it change hand a few times. The new owners and their team are incredibly lovely and their food is great. There’s always a fish special and the seafood dishes do not scrimp on the portion size of seafood, like so many do. I can’t wait to go back. Just the thought of the garlic bread is making me drool.

Oscar … recently went to this restaurant for the first time. And only live just around the corner.. had the olives and the mozerlla salad for starters.. chicken in ham and mushroom sauce for mains.. and tiramisu and crème brûlée for dessert.. finished off with decaf coffee.. food exceptional and service was efficient.. my only criticism was that the apple juice was from concentrate.. but am probably being a bit to picky.. will definitely see my custom again.. thank you and well done

A fantastic, genuine, Italian restaurant, with great food

Best Italian in Canterbury. The decor and menu is a little dated and that's what I love. Always an interesting special and old school favourites. Doesn't try too hard and delivers perfectly what you want. We really enjoy it here and it's my go to Italian outside of Italy

A delightful Italian restaurant. Traditional food. Crisp, linen tablecloths. This is food that comforts the soul. Reasonably priced. A must if you live or visit Canterbury. We’ll most definitely be back!

Ate here for evening meal start of Summer holidays. I had clams, husband had pizza, daughter had gnocchi. Fabulous very tasty. Lovely atmosphere, great quality. So very glad we ate here as beautiful independent Italian restaurant. Friendly fast service.

Excellent food and service. Great drinks and very good prices. Highly recommend you stop by for a delicious meal!

I'm often in Canterbury for one reason or another but this is the first time I have been to this restaurant. The food and service are excellent, and I shall be returning as soon as I can.

Diese Pizzeria besuchen wir seit vielen Jahren wenn wir nach Canterbury kommen. Jedesmal sind wir aufs Neue begeistert.

Cibo prelibatissimo e personale molto accogliente! Eccellente cucina italiana!

Beautiful little Italian, with lots of character. Staff were so helpful and food was absolutely delicious. Would 100% go back and recommend to others.

Tasty food in great location ... after exploring adjacent historic buildings and beautiful riverside gardens

This was a great Italian restaurant! The food was in big portions. Tasted great! Easy walk from where we stayed. Service was excellent!

Incredible service, wonderful dining experience

Very cosy restaurant with prompt and friendly service. The ravioli was fresh and extremely tasty!

Really lovely neighborhood Italian. Super friendly serving staff. We enjoyed the food. Highly recommended.

Nice little restaurant serving quality food

Sehr gemütliches Ambiente, extrem freundliches Personal und das Essen war sehr lecker. Nur frische Zutaten. Klare Empfehlung.

Excellent atmosphere, outstanding food and great service.

Had a nice evening at Pinocchio's, food was very good and the staff were very friendly. Was not rushed in any way despite the place being busy and was made aware when booking that your table is available for 2 hours. Would happily recommend and will be returning.

My husband and I felt like Italian food as we've had plenty of fish and chips over the past few days. What a treat to find this quaint, Italian restaurant. Like others have shared, it's tucked away outside the business of the center. I had the tagliatelle Bolognese and my husband has the had the Ribeye tagliata. Superb is the best way to describe our meal. We each had dessert...mine was the pistachio cheesecake and hubby's was the creme brulee. The staff couldn't have been more attentive to us. Would definitely visit this restaurant again 💓

I N vEN T I v E Menu. AL DENTE Pasta. VERY FRE SH fish. Tomato sauce seemed a bit ketchupy, honestly. I live in Philly usa and been to Itally many times. I know my gravy! It did have some subtle flavors so maybe I don't get it. Try the pistachio cheesecake.

Prima Italiaans restaurant. Lekker eten. Goeie wijn.

Exceptional food..very Italian traditional food to the best quality . Service very good also . Actually felt I was in Italy . Certainly will be coming back and also highly recommend to others .

Never been there before but glad we did. Food was delicious and pretty good value for money. Lovely atmosphere too.

Our favourite Canterbury restaurant! Amazing food, fantastic service and a lovely atmosphere whenever we visit.

Nice setting, superb food...friendly & attentive staff...highly recommended

Always book here when we visit Canterbury from London. Great quality food, service and value.

Lovely Italian restaurant in Canterbury. Helpful staff. I have mobility issues and use a mobility scooter, which they made sure was safely parked before we went in to enjoy a lovely meal. They are not really able to cater for people with disabilities as space is rather limited. They were friendly and helpful, food was lovely and the atmosphere was perfect.

This little place has got to be one of the best Italian restaurant we have been to in a very long time. From the moment we walked in it was as if we were being warmly welcomed into their home. When the food came out, it looked amazing and tasted delightful. They even had an incredible pistachio cheesecake that is a must-try dessert!!

Happened upon soon great Italian food here, reasonably priced. This is a lovely family run place, with friendly staff. Kids size portions also available.

don’t go - pasta had no seasoning at all and left us very disappointed Ruined our trip

First visit here lovely lunch Cod Loin & mussels was delicious 😋

It was a rushed visit. We arrived at 8.40pm on a Tuesday night and were told to order quickly as the kitchen closed at 9. We only had time for a main course and a drink. It was ok.

An excellent restaurant serving superb food in a lovely atmosphere with excellent sevice. A lovely place to spend an evening.

Family-owned vibes, good meal all round.

We had a lovely meal, great service, good selection of dishes. The risotto potrtion size was a bit on the small side.

I think this may be the best Italian food I've had in England. The restaurant is quite small (in a good way) and has a lovely atmosphere. And the staff are lovely.

I really liked the restaurant, the service was nice, atmosphere was good and the food and drinks was great. I really enjoyed my steak tagliate and the bread was so fresh and flavoursome from the starters. The only thing that was a little disappointing was the desserts, my tiramisu was a bit dry and my partner and his mum found their affogatto's coffee to be luke warm. A good selection of wines too here. I will come back when I'm in Canterbury.

An excellent meal with friends. Great food, great service and a lovely atmosphere as always. Well worth booking a table for.

Superb Tiramisu. Relaxed and authentic feel

Lovely restaurant tucked away in one of Canterburys historic side streets. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Great food at reasonable prices. The staff are so welcoming and attentive too. Would definitely recommend and can't wait to go again 😁

Excellently prepared food. Fresh and authentic. Highly recommended.

Cute little restaurant, nice atmosphere although a little bit of background might be nice. Staff were very nice and friendly. The food was very nice but portions were a bit small. We had the tagliatelle bolognese which was nice but not enough of it. We went straight to Taco Bell after where my friend bought himself something as he was still hungry. Overall, a nice place to eat.

Absolutely wonderful food and lovely staff. Me and my boyfriend both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and bottle of Pinot Grigio. Was a quiet restaurant but was a good atmosphere when wanting a more intimate meal with your partner or family members. The food arrived quickly and was cooked to perfection with lots of flavour and great portion size. Would definitely recommend!

This cute little restaurant is just tucked away outside the city centre. Very nice ambience inside. Pizza was great and had unique toppings, the seafood pasta could use more flavour. The environment could definitely be improved with a bit of background music because it was very very quiet inside and you’re able to hear everyone else’s conversations.

Great food and very friendly staff

Lovely local restaurant - delicious food and great service!

The food we had was good (fish specials), and there is a quiet romantic atmosphere. The starter (fresh olives and bread dipped in olive oil) was delicious, and so we're the desserts. The staff are quick, efficient, friendly and relaxed. A good place!

Fantastic service in a warm and cosy environment. Food beautifully presented and delicious, linguine Mare especially. Tiramisu to die for!!! Was surprised when our bill came to less than £80 for 3 courses and bottle of wine, thought it was going to be more expensive because of the quality. We will return

This is a beautiful restaurant serving delicious authentic Italian food. The service was excellent, really warm and helpful. I had one the best pasta dishes I've eaten in a long time. I would definitely recommend Pinocchio's and would like to go back.

Had not been since before Covid so was not sure what I would find. Very very pleased it remains one of the best restaurants in Canterbury. Lovely Italian food, lovely cosy atmosphere and attentive staff. Thank you!

Perfectly done spinach. Very good aged steak.

Atmosphere a bit lacking as there were not many people there. Otherwise excellent

Great little restaurant - superb food!

Actually very good. It’s a decent independent. We enjoyed it.

Been hear a few times now food is very tasty with a special board and menu. Very good value for money and helpful staff

My new favourite restaurant, the food is amazing, best clams and mussels I've ever eaten. The staff are so friendly and the atmosphere is so inviting I can't wait to go back

Locale accogliente,si avverte subito grande attenzione ai dettagli,tavoli ben apparecchiati,servizio attento al cliente,il menù è ricco di portate, create con prodotti rigorosamente italiani,

Booking is essential! Wonderful cosy, intimate venue! Extensive Italian menu. Excellent food! Cheerful, helpful staff! Was last there 25 years ago - will not wait so long to go again!

Very nice and cozy Italian restaurant. The server was very friendly and energetic. However, the food arrived 40 mins after ordering and wasn’t the best. Good food, but for the price and authentic style advertised, I expected better . Reserve in advance. Would still recommend for date night or cozy night out with friends

Very quaint Italian restaurant. Food was excellent

Always a lovely family style vibe when you go in. All the food is delicious and very well priced! Make sure to book!

Bit pricey for what it is - nice staff and atmosphere

Splendid food and service. Lovely atmosphere. Will be returning soon.

Fantastic food and service to match,a highly recommended restaurant.

Excellent restaurant. Great service. Great food. Bit expensive but then quality costs. Loved it.

Excellent, l’un des meilleurs Calzone que j’ai pu manger. Très bon accueil et super musique

Fantastic experience! The food was delicious, the staff very attentive and the price fair. Definitely going back to try other dishes.

Fantastic food lovely atmosphere service was excellent

Muy rico todo y la atención estupenda. Sirven muy rápido

Highly recommended! Amazing Italian food, very kind staff

Very good Italian food and service

Had a short stay in Canterbury, walked from the hotel and was struck by the vibe passing by. Stopped, went in and enjoyed very good food, so nice staff. Lovely atmosphere, delicous food. Higly recommended. You will not be dissapointed.

A delicious lunch with helpful and friendly service. Not the cheapest but worth every penny.

Exceptional Service and Fresh Food!

Nice intimate restaurant, food is good quality, staff very friendly and attentive, great for a first date. Totally recommend eating here.

The restaurant was empty but they do not allow solo diners ! - don’t go here !!!!!