Rugantino Restaurant in Mendip

A restaurant we’ve been wanting to visit for a while and I honestly do not know why we waited so long. The staff were very welcoming. The atmosphere was very cosy and warm. One of the best Italian restaurants I’ve visited. Such a nice experience which we will be doing again very soon.

Absolutely lovely setting, whether you can see the cathedral or not. The food was special, mixed starter of Italian meats olives and bread was good, Arancini the best! Mains were all good, 3 creamy dishes all good risotto and pasta dishes. Pizza good too. Staff were lovely, they added the 10% service charge but seemed almost apologetic and pointed it out to check I was ok with it, never had that honesty from a restaurant before! Will definitely come back if in the area .

Rugantinos is thebperfect spot for a relaxed meal. The atmosphere feels warm and welcoming, with a charming rustic vibe that fits the quaint town perfectly. The menu offers classic Italian dishes, with a focus on fresh, flavorful ingredients. Their pizzas are crispy and topped generously, and the pasta is always cooked to perfection. The staff are friendly and attentive without being overbearing, adding to the overall enjoyable dining experience.

Our dinner was wonderful starters and main course were delicious,hot. Service was excellent and dessert was amazing. We were not rushed and staff were very attentive. I would highly recommend this restaurant

Lovely Italian meal in the heart of Wells

Fabulous place, friendly staff and superb food. Only a light lunch, but perfect! Thanks.

I dined here with my family on 2 occasions as we were staying on the premises at the Ancient Gatehouse, which was a wonderful experience too. My Mum has mobility issues and the team at Rugantinos were absolutely amazing with her. Nothing was too much effort. Apart from that the food was lovely, great produce and a nice variety. The wine list was broad ranging and contained a fabulous Sicilian Cannonau red wine, which just made the meal even better. The team are young but very attentive and under the expert leadership of their delightful head waiter. The whole experience was lovely. If you are there at lunch time on a sunny day there is a lovely area behind the hotel which looks straight on to the the Cathedral green. Staying in the hotel also grants you amazing views of the Cathedral and the breakfast was delicious. Thank you everyone.

I visited Rugantinos with my family yesterday to celebrate my birthday....what a fantastic experience! Attentive staff, really cosy environment and fantastic service (never pushy, but served at exactly the right pace). The food was the real star though! We shared the arancini (best I've ever had) and some focaccia bread to start, and then I had steak for main, but the others went for pasta, all of it was exceptional, and the puddings were outstanding too. 10/10 guys, we had a fantastic time 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

We had the loveliest evening meal, delicious with lovely service.

Lunch at the restaurant was superb, fantastic quality & enjoyable. Highly recommended with great views.

Great, genuine Italian food. Good service from the younger members of the serving team - thank you

Food was excellent. Service was untrained, which prevents me giving a five star review. Reaching over guests to serve food is never acceptable unless there's no space to do it.

Oh so bland, incredibly small portions. Hugely over priced for what you’re getting. Won’t return.

We went to the restaurant to eat. Delicious and great variety of dishes, quite central in Wells. It has very good views of the city's Abbey, you can sit on the terrace that is in its courtyard. To make a point, the starter we ordered was very small for the price, but the main ones are good value for money. The waitress was very nice and attentive.

We booked an outside table for an evening meal in Wells & were delighted to have been given a table with an unobstructed view of the cathederal! Staff were all lovely & conversational, the service was speedy and the food was fantastic! Lots of choice and very high quality. It made for a perfect end to our trip!

Fabulous food. Lovely service. Managed a big group order really really well. Thank you from the Corsham Cycling Club, you fuelled us beautifully for our ride into a headwind!!

Lunch in the garden area overlooking the Cathedral Lovely location and good food

Absolutely lovely food, service and ambiance!

We went to Rugantinos for an evening meal when stopping in Wells. This place is delightful. Staff are friendly and happy to help. The food is incredible - it’s authentic Italian food served to perfection. Seriously, this place is a great place to eat - we would thoroughly recommend to anyone. A taste of Italy in Wells. Enjoy!

I think I just ate the best focaccia I've ever eaten. Very special restaurant!

We were arriving later than expected so phoned ahead. The staff were so accommodating, emailing is a menu to enable us to order food en route which was ready in the restaurant shortly after arrival. Way beyond our expectations in service. Delicious food too! Bedroom perfect. Quaint and met all our needs. Hearty breakfast. Will definitely return. Thank you!

Had dinner in the restaurant, excellent food and great service.

Good food, friendly staff, very quick service. However, had to wait quite a long time for the bill, asked for it 3 times.

Food to make you weep, service to make you smile. I had the tagliatelle alfredo and if I could have licked the plate, I would have. Believe the reviews, the food is beautiful.

Rugantino is a great Italian restaurant in the Ancient Gatehouse hotel in Wells. The food is good but I did not stay in the hotel and can't comment on the rooms or services.

Fabulous graded building. Original beams giving fantastic character. Stayed in Room 7 with the best view of Wells Cathedral. Friendly greeting when arriving. Food was out of this world!

In the centre of the City of Wells, our room was lovely as was the excellent meal in the restaurant. Staff were unfailingly polite, helpful and friendly. We would gladly stay here again.

Forget all the other reviews. This is the best dining experience in Wells. Great food, great service and a great atmosphere in the restaurant. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Had the bonus of a window seat without even asking for it.

Going to a concert in the Cathedral, Rugantino was close by and recommended by the receptionist at our hotel. And what a good recommendation it was. We pushed the boat out somewhat as it was my birthday w/e and the meal came in at nearly £60 a head but the foot, drinks and the staff service were great. We enjoyed it so much we went back the next weekend (another concert in the Cathedral!) and had an equally enjoyable, though less lavish, meal. We ate from the specials menu the first time and their normal menu the second visit - all excellent but I have to give a special mention to the PENNE NORCINA TARTUFATO. A spicy Italian sausage, truffle cream, pecorino cheese on Penne pasta. Absolutely gorgeous.

We stopped here with no prior knowledge of the place but liked the look of the menu. Indeed the food for Sunday lunch was very good. The service was excellent and the choice of wines particularly good. highly recommended.

A warm welcome, amazing food, and friendly, attentive staff! Will definitely be making another visit to this fabulous, family run Italian restaurant! 5 ⭐️

Went here for dinner - best decision! The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming and really nice interior. The staff are all so friendly and welcoming and couldn’t have done more for us! The food was absolutely delicious - I had one of the specials which I thoroughly recommend (porcini tagliatelle) and the variety of food and drink was also great! This is a must!

Simply the most amazing food, our newest favorite. You will not be disappointed!!

We were on a short break in Wells and enjoyed dinner here so much that we returned on the following evening and had the pizza

Had food only in restaurant. was faultless, pizzas were fabulous, very proffessional waiters. Will definately be back soon, thanks

This is easily my favourite restaurant in Wells. Fantastic pizza, pasta and classic Italian dishes, served at a very high standard. Reasonably priced and served by really friendly knowledgeable staff. Will return again and again

Five of us went to Rugantino restaurant for dinner. Service was very good and the food was excellent.

Jo was so welcoming and kind especially when I messed up my booking she was quick to sort it without any issue. The staff are so kind and despite it being busy I did not feel rushed at all. The cocktails and wine were great and the menu extensive. I went for the carbonara and rocket salad and the home made chilli oil was out of this world. Cannot wait to return on my next visit to Wells ❤️

We popped in here for dinner without a reservation and mentioned that we were in a bit of a rush as had to be at the Cathedral. The staff were amazing and accommodated us and our time constraint! It was the quickest service we have ever experienced and the seafood linguine was fantastic. Thank you so much

Visited here with a friend for a quiet nice dinner! Location is decent. , food is amazing and service is solid. Special shout-out to Lucille Joanna and Mirko for demonstrating flawless and impeccable decorum throughout the endeavour. The two junior ladies should take note from them and try to attain the level of professionalism and hospitality that the former have in oozing abundance. Great place and certainly will recommend!

We had a nice meal here. Lots of pasta choices including veggie options and good size portions. Friendly staff team made us feel welcome.

We have just had the most amazing short break staying at this gorgeous hotel. Our room was excellent with a separate bathroom which has a fantastic bath tub! The dinner we enjoyed in the restaurant was cooked and presented to a really high standard and the breakfast the following morning was just WOW…. Freshly cooked, served on warm plates and the toast was hot…. I don’t know how many times when we have stayed away that we have sent the cold toast back, but not here and nothing was too much trouble. Excellent customer service and all this made our very much needed break away truly memorable. Also just need to add the view of Wells Cathedral from the hotel and bedroom was an added gem 👌😊

An early evening meal on a short break in the city. The restaurant was quiet and the atmosphere and setting certainly pleasant, but didn't feel that the 'fine dining' label was really justified. The question, 'everything all right with your meal?' can be irritating ,but would have been welcome in this case. My son found his truffle-infused pasta dish 'nice enough' and the house wine was good, but my main dish was seriously over-priced (£21). A risotto with Cornish crab and lobster - but served in far too small a portion to detect either ingredient. Wouldn't recommend.

Outstanding Restaurant. Service exceptional. Food to match. If you visit Wells then you have to eat here. Enough said

Very nice ambience and attentive, friendly staff. Food superb.

Recommend by a local person and we were very impressed with food and welcome. Authentic and freshly cooked, very busy on a Monday night. We hadn’t booked but got a table

Worst experience ever. The manager, Nick if I remember correctly, was the rudest person I've ever seen. He was bullying the staff all the time, making them feeling uneasy and looking at the client's tables like a mafia guy, walking furiously through the dining. Food was terrible, cheap quality, funny flavor and extremely overpriced (458£ for 3 people, 1 bottle of VERY low quality wine, really??), just a tourist trap. Toilets were a joke, tiny space and full of dirt. Wells deserve better places, this one is embarrassing. Ignominious to say the least.

Reallynice meal and great overnight.

My husband and I are reasonably local, and as I had an appointment at the dentist we thought we’d have lunch first. Never been to Rugantino and it was a beautiful day so we requested an outside table. We were welcomed and shown outside, given a menu, and someone came to take the order very quickly. Stunning view to the Cathedral. To us that’s where it ended. Our starter, a tiny peace of bruchetta, was served 10 minutes before the drinks, and thou I politely asked for the drinks, I was told they would be with us in a minute, it was not. When it arrived, with an apology for the late service, my white wine was tepid. For the main meal I had the crab and lobster risotto, my husband the chicken penne, At a cost of £19 and being told it was a special dish, I can’t use another word to describe it then to say it was an unappealing beige porridge. It was over cooked, grainy and watery, nor was it hot. My husbands penne was also served very wet, so wet he had to ask for a spoon to eat with, it was ok, but nothing more. We both left half our lunch. We complained to the manager, and to be fair he apologised and gave us some refund for our meal, with a request of not leaving a bad review. I hope this is not a bad review but a truthful one of a disappointing visit. Will we go again, don’t think so.

a table for 7 golf buddies was booked at the restaurant we had 2 waitresses serving us they were super friendly and good fun made our rowdy night thank you

Great location opposite the cathedral. The welcome was warm and the atmosphere lovely even though it was quite early. The service was casual but attentive . Good menu with some unusual dishes, the cooking was superb. Good value for money, highly recommended for a night out.

Lovely view, really nice food and service. :)

Excellent pasta dishes the sauces were delicious. Great choice of wines. Friendly staff. Good atmosphere. Great value.

Despite there being 5 staff standing in the reception area we were not greeted by any of them. When we said we had a reservation they just looked at a screen, one person shouted out a table number and we were begrudgingly shown our table. The menu is limited, no fish or meat courses. There was antipasti, primi, but no secondi. The tricolor starter had no avocado, the green element being made up of basil leaves, the mozzarella was the right temperature but the tomatoes too cold, like they had just come out of the fridge. The spicy sausage penne and cream pasta tasted nice but there was too much sauce. The chilli linguine with added king prawns was good but the linguine was slightly over cooked. The service wasn't attentive and there were no pleasantries or engagement between staff and diner. The wine was ok. The toilets, male and female are very, very small, almost cupboard like.

Great table with a view of the cathedral. Sadly, a raucous hen party ruined the atmosphere for the other couples & us sitting close by. Having eaten our main which was really nice, it was obvious the staff had simply forgotten to offer us desserts or coffee. After 40 mins we decided to settle up & declined to pay the 10% service charge! When customers tell you why they are unhappy, it would be decent of the management to acknowledge their mistake instead of a pitiful ‘sorry’ - how about £10 refund as a goodwill gesture?! I guess us spending £75 as a couple didn’t compete with the larger table who DID get their full meal!

The restaurant is lovely looking and was busy so we thought great and it smelt amazing. Food portion was small.I had pasta and my partner pizza can't go wrong with a pizza ......both meals were as salty as hell and we couldn't finish them.so disappointed as I love Italian food.they were apologetic and gave us money off but we were left hungry after a very long day

We hadn't booked in advance, but the restaurant fitted us in on a busy Sunday evening (when many other restaurants in Wells were shut), and did us proud. All the dishes we chose were excellent. Would definitely go back if we were in the area.

Delightful meal with courteous and helpful staff

We chose seafood pasta for main course and the flavour was amazing. The staff very attentive and wine good value. Would recommend

We all literally ate everything on our plate!! We had three happy with pizza, three loved the special risotto arogosta, and two enjoyed their pasta. Second time here and so pleased ;-)

The manager set up a table for us outside, overlooking the cathedral green. Delicious pasta and pizza. Profiteroles are pretty good, too!

Stunning experience. The owners here know there food. Bruschetta for starters was lovely and my sirloin was cooked to perfection. This is by a Mile the best local run Italian outside of London. Can’t wait to visit again.

Wonderful place - spectacular location.

Really friendly attentive staff and beautiful food.

The food is fantastic and the service really friendly and helpful. It’s rather noisy inside though

We were so disappointed with our visit, especially as we had seen the good reviews it had. However, the food was average at best, and the staff not very welcoming. One of our party has hearing difficulties, and because of a party of young loud diners adjacent to us, it was impossible to hold a conversation. Seeing there were empty tables in an adjoining room we asked to be moved. This was refused, although all the time we were there the tables were not used. Also the little touches such as no slice of lime and ice in one drink, and an elderflower presse came in its bottle, which we struggled to open. We certainly would not visit or recommend Rugantino.

This place is amazing. We called in by chance. Very welcoming and the building is incredible. The view out of the back is stunning of the cathedral. We both had pizzas and I think the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.

We had previously had a good meal here so returned. Sadly this time the two waitresses present were very surly. Our meals and drinks were slammed on the table, and they appeared to not want to be there. We had to ask for water twice and they virtually ignored us. The meals were mediocre and we only paid a service charge because it was already added onto the bill. Disappointing as it was a birthday treat.

Good food with a nice view of the Cathedral green🤌

Whether out on the terrace overlooking the cathedral, or in the comfortable dining room, this is one of the best places to eat in Wells. Limited Italian menu, with excllent ingredients, and a substantial wine list make dinner a memorable experience. Highly recommend.

The Pollo Pizza was bland -although my wife thought it was adequate. The wait staff seemed to be in a trance. They walked past our table several times when our menus were closed and it was obvious that we were ready to order. We noticed...

Service was quick and efficient. Carbonara was nice although not the most authentic tasting, made with cream. When they offer you cheese, they don’t ask how much you want they just put it on.

We hired a room at Rugatino’s for our wedding reception. We were provided with a room overlooking the cathedral across the lawn. As ever, the food, wines and service were faultless. Rugatino’s always provides a memorable experience.

We popped in here during a trip to Wells after some research . Great view onto the Cathedral from the side room we were in. Fabulous fresh food and good service, worth booking in advance for the buzz of the main room. Pasta dishes were...

Having had several good meals here, we found the post renovation visit rather awful. The starter, olives and bread, arrived after 30 long minutes. Our pasta arrived a further 30 minutes later. My penne was virtually uncooked and my companions only fractionally more edible. We spoke to the member of staff who assured us it was cooked properly. We had had the same meal here before and the difference was very noticeable. The food was taken away with assurance that it would be cooked again. I was offered and accepted a different type of pasta but my original meal returned after 15 minutes. Chewy was the only word I could find to describe it. We spoke to the staff again- the waiter remarked that my friend wanted her pasta overcooked- realised he had been rude and tried to cover his words- he said that all pasta was made freshly but then said that the packet told them to cook for 5 minutes and that they had boiled it for 10! Still uncooked and by this time, cold. A very memorable experience but for all the wrong reasons. No apologies for anything along the way and certainly no return visit from us. Did the renovations cost so much they needed to buy supermarket packet pasta??

Stopped by for an early evening supper. It was our first visit to this well positioned family run Italian restaurant right in the heart of Wells. Views across cathedral green. Good and service good.

Mega pepperoni pizza. Really fab. Had dinner with the family. Three young children and we had to hand the table back promptly but the team were super good despite the slight rush.

Tasty food good view and amazing atmosphere

We went with friends while staying in Wells and all 4 of us had a first class experience. It was busy but the staff were on it. The food was an excellent standard, very tasty, well presented. We shared some squid and olives then we...

Lovely ambience, amazing food, reasonably priced and great, attentive service. Perfect for relaxed dinners with friends. We hope to be back one day.

If you are a coeliac person I strongly advice not to come here for lunch or dinner. I was very ill after my meal here, despite the waiter reassuring me during lunch that all the dishes I was served were gluten free. When my husband...

Super friendly and the food was great. Is a great location, you can have a lovely walk after dinner.

Although our booking email went AWOL the charming team found us a table. Brilliant service, incredible food. Would definitely recommend -

Had Spaghetti Bolognese and another dish both were very good. The spag bol they added extra garlic, chilli and basil to suit my partner's taste.

A relaxed and typical Italian restaurant with as you'd expect tasty pasta as well as a choice of fish and meat dishes and pizza. Good location near to the Cathedral and efficient service.

Had high expectations of this restaurant based on the feedback from others. But was very disappointed with our experience. We were served by three waitresses during the evening. Two were fine, but the other was surly for no reason I could see. She was the...

A great place to eat! Excellent food & friendly service.

We visited for lunch on Mothering Sunday and both opted for steak. It was fantastic - perfectly cooked and great flavour. The service as always was outstanding. Thanks Nick, Jon and all the staff for such a wonderful lunch.

Visited Wells for the day and popped in here for lunch. Very nice. Good service, well laid out and the food was very good. Would certainly visit again.

Lovely place, lovely staff, lovely food and great service. I ordered two dishes that weren't even on the menu, not a problem. The best arrabiata in Wells👍

My friend treats me to lunch as a birthday present & yesterday we chose Rugatinos as our treat. Although not very busy (weather was soggy wet) we were welcomed straight away & presented with menus when we sat down. The choices looked delicious and when...

We visited one Saturday lunchtime without booking. The welcome was friendly and they were very accommodating for our 'fussy' eater. The service was swift and the starters came out quickly. The calamari was delicious. The mains were very tasty too. We were all too full...

On a visit to Wells, Cathedral City with a friend, we chose to eat at Rugantino because she had eaten there years ago, and enjoyed the experience. We were far from disappointed. It was a late lunch, so the restaurant was quiet. The staff were...

I visited with my daughter and 7 year old grandson. The restaurant opened early for us at just after 6.00 although their official opening time was 6.30 The food was really nice and they made a real fuss of my grandson who loved the whole...

We recently hired Rugantinos as a venue for our son’s christening. Nick and John put together a spectacular 10 mini course tasting meal for all of our 70 guests, they catered to everyone’s needs flawlessly creating dishes for the gluten free and vegetarian guests. They...

Celebrated the new year with a delicious dinner at Rugantinos. The atmosphere was fantastic, we had a stunning view of the cathedral. Although it was a busy evening the service was consistent and the food was cooked perfectly. We both had pasta and both were...

Wow- What can I say from the time you walked in and walked out was utterly divine. Went New Years Eve and exceeded my expectations massively. I was seriously impressed with the dedication and care everyone took. I know being vegan is difficult to be catered for and I am extremely impressed. The chef did a fantastic job and the staff was brilliant. Georgina- Well done- You are very good at your job. Thank you to your team. A splendid visit. X

Terrible place to dine at. Food was sub-par for the price. Had to flag down a waiter/waitress several times, and the toilet is in a cupboard. Went down hill since we last at there 2 years ago.

Inattentive staff- so missed much of socialising trying to attract attention for drinks etc, whilst other tables seemed to be "favourites " with lots of TLC. No-one came to check food was ok, and paying the £300 bill was done whilst the guy chatted to his friends at the bar. Toilets are pathetic. One toilet wih a badly fitting door at top of uncarpeted stairs may look "authentic" but if the place was for sale you'd discount the price to pay for an upgrade/refurb. Food mediocre; next time...SOMEWHERE ELSE!

this little italian was very good food and service.