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4,2

Based on 2.843 opinions finded in 3 websites

4.2Ambience4.7Cuisine4.2Price4.7Service
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Nº 759 in 1723 in Belfast

Nº 14 of 41 Italian in Belfast

CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH.. saladpastaporkchickencrabgnocchicookedcheesepizzapaybeautifulrisottogarlicmustmussels

comment_iconOpinions

Went for the first time with my friend. Staff friendly, but really pushy, will pop the head to check if we ready to go every 5mins. Made us really uncomfortable. Table for an hour and half, let us stay for an hour and half in peace!Got 2 mains, 2 coctails and bottle of wine. That come up to £92. Overpriced for what you get. Had to pay service charge, that we were not informed about.

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kristinas911 . 2021-09-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

My friend and I went for dinner here, and had a really great time. Make sure to book well in advance as we could only get a 9.15pm slot. The staff were so friendly and the decor was fab. I had carbonara, and my friend had lasagne. My carbonara was fine - nothing too special, but tasty nonetheless. My friend enjoyed her lasagne. The food is reasonably priced, I expected it to cost more to be quite honest! I had the ice cream selection (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry sorbet) for dessert and it was some of the nicest ice cream I've ever had! It was delicious. I will definitely be back!

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liamburke123 . 2021-09-05

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We booked our table in advance, paid a non refundable deposit, we were seated outside the restaurant on a main road, in the middle of Belfast, countless double decker buses, police sirens,cars whizzing right past us, groups of teenagers smoking and shouting at passer by, queues of people waiting to enter the restaurant right beside our table, so uncomfortable, dirty table,very poor hygiene overall, cigarette buts on the ground where we were seated, except for one waitress staff were not customer friendly, food was terrible, we ate and left as quickly as we could, never be back there, was an horrendous experience,iv attached the view from our dirty table.

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Odyssey704182 . 2021-08-28

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We attended the Chubby Cherub for my mums birthday. I paid £50 deposit for 5 people which I was happy enough to do as I understand the restaurant want to avoid no shows. From the minute we walked in my mum felt that staff were looking down on us, but I understand this can be subjective so we gave them the benefit of the doubt. We ordered a few pizzas to share along with a side of polenta fries. Pizzas were fine however the 'portion' of polenta fries was quite literally 5 fries sat on top of a bowl full of salad. More salad than fries which I thought was an absolute joke given the price. I rarely complain and I didn't want to make the waiters feel bad as their service was great, so we politely pulled the manager aside to explain the issue. In my opinion he attempted to make me feel stupid by saying that the portion is meant to be that size and isn't designed to be a' bowl of chips. After this nobody came near our table to check up on us and to top it off they didn't take it off the bill, it was only after we pointed out that they eventually took it off. After talking about this with our friends they have had similar experiences at this place also. Completely ruined our mums birthday. Wouldn't waste your time going here

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Fionnuala K . 2021-08-26

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Wife and friend had lunch here just over a week ago. Paid a £20 deposit which was fine given no shows. However, although caught up in meeting a friend after a long time, the following morning my wife realised she had been overcharged. At first it seemed the deposit had not been deducted but on checking the overcharge had been around £28. The restaurant have since refunded the £20 but have said they can't check the remainder as the bill was paid in cash. They said they would ask the waitress who served them but so far to no avail. It is really unacceptable not to have deducted the deposit as it also is not to have rectified the remainder of the overcharged amount. That is despite giving them the reference number, table and time.The food was actually good but well surpassed by the poor service during and after the visit.

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SINGITLOUDSO . 2021-08-22

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Chose this for the final night of our trip to Belfast having discovered it the evening before.Exceeded all expectations and all requests were accommodated. Special thanks to Jac and Gina for exceptional service, and the kitchen staff for the superb food.Full wheelchair access, will recommend and return.

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Der_Shn . 2021-08-19

MORE AT TripAdvisor

How this restaurant isn’t higher rated is beyond me. Met 2 friends here for lunch. All our food was gorgeous, I recommend the Pollo Italiano. Staff were all lovely, couldn’t be more helpful

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Pat E . 2021-08-19

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To start with, you need to pay a £10 deposit per head to book this place. I can understand if it is a top class restaurant but this is not! It does come off your bill but I found this just a bit unnecessary! Also, the starter was very poor bread. Really not nice and the pizzas and pasta dishes we ordered were just ok. Not really worth the price to be honest and there are definitely better Italian places to eat! Not good. Staff were nice and pleasant.

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treasad_13 . 2021-08-19

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Service was slow and they forgot one of the party’s meal entirely ! Although we asked if everything could come at once it didn’t. Eventually I got my meal ( all the others had finished) but was not worth waiting on . Food was just ok . Not up to a standard I would expect.

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italianpasta . 2021-08-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

The restaurant is gorgeous and the drinks are great. The food was okay, tasty but not amazing. The staff were very friendly but as the restaurant got busier we were forgotten about and after 3 or 4 staff members walked past our table with us clearly being finished our drinks and food, we had to call a waitress over to clear our table and order another drink. While this was disappointing, I understand that the restaurant was very busy and I would definitely give it another chance.

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Alex3451 . 2021-08-16

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Prebooked the day before which is recommended ad the restaurant was very busy. Restaurant is very glam with quirky decor. Very broad menu with several vegan options which is rare for an Italian. Service was very friendly and attentive (especially the younger waiter and waitress).Food was very tasty, I don't understand the negative reviews below, and the portions were very generous. Overall, lovely restaurant in a central location with delicious food. We would definitely recommend.

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Beachtaire . 2021-08-12

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We visited after it was recommended by our hotel. The place itself is lovely and the decor is fab.However if you dare comment on being unhappy with the food you will encounter the rudest manager on the planet. The Italian wine was from California, and all 3 mains were left over half full as they just werent great nothing “Authentic Italian” about it. Our waiter was lovely and service was good but I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone unless your only in it for a drink and Insta pics!

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SabCon88 . 2021-08-10

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For years this was our favourite Italian in Belfast but no more. From the starter to sponge ake covered in ganesh but on menu as tiramisu. Not an enjoyable experience and sadly our last.

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Allan M . 2021-08-04

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Amazing food. Amazing staff. Could not recommend enough. The staff were so friendly and attentive. The food was delicious and so fresh.

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helen19428 . 2021-07-30

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Left waiting well over an hour for our main course. When I asked where it was, it came within 10 minutes… clearly forgotten about. My boyfriend had ordered lasagne and was told they had run out so that’s what took so long. My main course on the other hand (meatballs and linguine) took another 5 minutes. Just to top the horrendous experience off when it did come the meatballs were uncooked!! The what appeared to be manager on duty tried to argue the point with me when it was clear as day they were uncooked! The pasta sheets in the lasagne were also still hard. The worst Italian restaurant I have ever been to by far! Would not recommend.

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S8484AUzoel . 2021-07-28

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Booked a table, arrived bang on time and front of house looked around and said “ye it’ll be 10 mins” no apologies for the hold up. Waited and were sat after 15 mins. Decided on our drinks and after waiting for a waiter/waitress to notice we had been without drinks for a while, one began to take the order. We asked for a mojito, a g&t and a non alcoholic drink from the menu. Were told oh I’ll just have to check if we have the stuff to make a mojito and I’m not sure if we can do those non alcoholic drinks. He went to check, the mojito could be made and the promise of a “mocktail” for the non alcoholic which was great. The mocktail was some sort of juice, doubt it was tasted because if it was it wouldn’t have been served.Ordered starters and main course. Olive tapenade was ordered with the starter and sun dried tomato paste was brought instead. Only 1 toilet open for the whole restaurant so while I was in the queue my starter was on the table going cold. Starters were ok. The main courses were the worst 3 pasta dishes I have ever come across in my life. Salmon tagliatelle, chicken pasta and carbonara all seemed to be made from the same sauce. The carbonara had 2 pieces of bacon fat in the whole dish as well as some sort of tomato or pepper flakes?? In a carbonara?? When I tell you it literally didn’t have a taste.. a 3 year old could have made better.Instead of printing out notices for each table excusing slow service before it’s happened, maybe it might be an idea to print a revised drinks list or menu with ingredients that are in stock?? Customers understand that places are under pressure staff wise and things are more stressful than usual but customers are still PAYING their hard earned money for a meal (and high prices in this establishment at that) and at the end of the day the experience we had was inexcusable pandemic or not. Disappointed is not the word.

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leahw579 . 2021-07-20

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My friends and I went here for dinner the food was disgusting. I got the salmon penne which cost 17£ all you could taste was SALT the sauce was awful and the salmon was just scattered all over the plate with a few peas here and there for the price I was shocked at how bad it was could barley eat a few spoons of it A child could make a better dish. My friends got the carbonara was bland all you could taste was cream no seasoning had to cover it in pepper to make it taste some what acceptable. Crazy Over priced for terrible food. Must of spent all their time decorating the place rather then focusing on the food. Not Italian food at all absolute dirt food. And on top of all this we paid 50£ deposit for 5 people which was going to be deducted at the end, one friend was unable to come but instead of deducting that 10£ aswel they kept it when we asked why this was they said that it was because our friend didn’t show up. This is ridiculous as 4 of us showed up and has never happened to me in any other restaurant.

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456jemmag . 2021-07-16

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First of all, if I could rate it lower then one star I would. Had an awful Experience yesterday here. From service to food was honestly shocking. From the second we walked in the two waitress were not one bit welcoming or friendly. We ordered our food and it took 40 mins for food to arrive. While we waited we watched the waitress and chef talk, the waitress was eating food and licking her hands and we did not once see her wash her hands or even use sanitiser. We were right beside the pass so could see everything. It’s gross in normal times but absolutely horrific with COVID. We noticed while the waitress was eating and talking to the chef that she was ignoring other customers who didn’t even get to order and just sat there and eventually she went over. After the 40 min wait our food arrived, unhappy as the waitress carried the food over with the hands she was just licking but we were hungry and in a hurry. I ordered the vegan risotto from the lunch menu, no where did it say it had mushrooms and it came full of them. I have a mushroom intolerance so had to pick everything out but that was a waste of time as the risotto was not nice at all and I didn’t eat it. Lucky i noticed the mushrooms and didn’t bite into any as could give me bad side effects. Should be written on the menu if there is mushrooms in it! By far worst risotto I have ever had, not authentic Italian at all. When the other waitress came to check how everything was I responded not ok and she just said ok and walked off without asking what was wrong, or giving us a chance to explain. We had to ask three times for our bill. Was such a disappointing experience after being highly recommended from a friend. Probably the worst experience iv ever had in a restaurant. Staff need proper training, immediate hygiene training and apparently Covid training too.

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Allycw17 . 2021-07-12

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Absolutely brilliant customer service, such a wee jem served mine and my partners table the whole night, always a smile on her face and seen to any of our needs making sure everything was great, the food here is absolutely fantastic! Defiantly recommend x

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alextS3261BG . 2021-07-11

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I went here for a late lunch with my Dad and can honestly say the service was dire. I’ve since contacted them twice by email to ask if they want to address my concerns before I post this review, which has been ignored. We had to wait inordinate amounts of time for our first drink and for the second, I had to ask 3 different waitresses, none of whom did anything as it turned out the order hadn’t been placed. The food is mediocre at best and certainly doesn’t provide value for money. To have a 10% service charge added on top only added insult to injury. I would’ve asked for this to be removed had I not realised that a deposit had been paid for our meal beforehand and this is what had been deducted from the bill. Do not recommend!

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JennyBaileyBoo . 2021-07-02

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When we arrived, the woman who greeted us was extremely unfriendly, left us standing at the door for an unnecessary amount of time and made us feel like our business wasn’t wanted there. Once we finally got to order our food and drinks, our food arrives and was well below average. Two of my friends got pizzas and there were worse than a frozen one from Tesco. I got the Lasagne and it was not what I would call a lasagne - simply minced meat with one layer of pasta on top. Other friends got the carbonara and spaghetti and meatballs, and their meals were only average. Had the place been very busy, I would understand this level of service better, however it was late afternoon and only a handful of other tables were in the restaurant. Very disappointing and will not be returning.

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Katie T . 2021-06-30

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The restaurant was really busy, but I was lucky enough to get a table outside. The staff are great 😀

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GARY1964C . 2021-06-30

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I don’t know how but they did it, they made food worse than what you would find in a greggs.I was heavily hungover eating here

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Ryan N . 2021-06-30

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We really enjoyed our meal at the Chubby Cherub. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive, in particular our waitress Gina. The food was delicious and the cocktails were fantastic.

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laurenkelly1197 . 2021-06-24

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Booked a table for two a month in advance payed the £20 deposit, hoping that we would get a decent seat. Showed up right on time 19:45pm and had to sit outside in the rain and wind for a further 25 minutes because our table wasn’t ready. Once our table was ready we had the worst possible seat in the restaurant right beside the service station/bar tucked into a tiny spot. When asked could we wait for another table we were told that we had to take that table because there were others looking a table. Managers and staff very unapologetic and blatantly rude. Food was mediocre, not the quality you would expect for the high prices, most wines and drinks were unavailable also. Many other customers were also unsatisfied by the lack of decent customer service.I will not be back!

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Kate H . 2021-06-22

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Me and my wife booked a table here for our 10th anniversary, bit apprehensive as we looked at previous reviews. Upon arriving our table was waiting for us (inside) Covid control was very good, hand sanitizers on every other seat as you walk in. Staff were there to take your drinks order very promptly. From ordering our meal to it arriving was possibly 10/15 minutes. I ordered the Pollo Italiano with my wife having the Classic Carbonara with Chicken. The meals came out very hot, and plenty of it !. My dish had big lumps of pork in it, really tasty, a lot of a meal, but I loved it. My wife couldn't finish hers, but really enjoyed it. It was washed down with a portion of Tiramasu & Canoli - I loved it so much it was all over my face (didn't care). This restaurant is a great place to go, it might be expensive, but I don't mind paying for good service and excellent food - Thank you, I will most certainly be back *****

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mike1421 . 2021-06-21

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We were tempted to cancel the booking after seeing reviews about being left waiting for a table but went ahead. We were sitting outside waiting but only for a few minutes which was fine. The menu is different to the one online, and the wine we ordered wasn’t available. The mussels were good but bruschetta wasn’t great - it was very dry and there was more salad than tomatoes. My main course of linguine meatballs was the highlight, and my tiramisu was lovely as well, whereas my boyfriend’s tiramisu was clearly from a different batch (the chocolate sauce was hard and there were different toppings). Overall it was fine but not as good as expected. Service was also fine but servers seem disinterested.

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ChloeIE . 2021-06-18

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First time in the chubby cherub and was very disappointed. Poor and unprofessional service by some of the staff who appeared in experienced in hospitality. Asked 2 different waitresses for drinks and on both occasions drinks didn't arrive. The lighting is like sitting in a canteen and clientle was like being at freshers week. Food very mediocre. Not a good sign when customers leaving are complaining but unfortunately they were right.

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W935CQclairem . 2021-06-16

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I’m over in Belfast on business quite a lot and always try out new spots in what I believe is one of the best culinary cities in Europe. The chubby cherub caught my eye so I thought I’ll try it next time. I wish I hadn’t bothered. Service was shocking, one rude waitress in particular. It’s only a small restaurant yet we waited nearly 10 minutes for drinks & when we reminded them we were getting dirty looks from this particular waitress. The starters were bang average from a limited menu & the lasagne was woeful, no taste, watery, with clumps of meat in it. When I complained about the lasagne to another waitress, we were approached by the rude one who addressed us with “our lasagne isn’t made with meatballs” out of the blue. Comical really we asked for the bill and it led to a confrontation whereby she wanted to kick us out so we politely said we will pay the bill, they never removed the lasagne. In short seems to me like the perfect spot for some Instagram pictures, as the restaurant is well decorated (albeit the gold chairs have seen better days) but if you want good food or good service look elsewhere!

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Jonnyafc . 2021-06-15

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Food top notch - mussels out of this world as was the prawn starter - rissotto excellent too. House wines good too and the staff well you couldn’t meet nicer people. I hope I get to enjoy and meet all of those lovely kind people again!

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MacDara101 . 2021-06-14

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Please avoid here if you want good service. Table booked a month in advance for 7PM. We sat in a waiting area and told they were just getting our table ready. 45 minutes later, we were sat down. No apology or communication in the meantime to apologise or explain the reason for the wait. Yes, the food was decent, but not enough to make up for the atrocious service.

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Ciaran B . 2021-05-30

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Arrived for booking at 7 o clock and was very dissapointed to be sat around the corner at what can only be described as a table down a lane with no guard and very open, asked several times to be seated inside but ignored. Across from a bar and around corner from another we had an evening of people drinking cans, smoking and shouting as they wandered by. We ordered food at 7.10 our starters arrived at 8.15 after being asked had we had our food. Starters were nice. Mains arrived 20 mins later and were really poor as if had been sitting out. Having to then walk back around the street to go in and pay all I can say if they are busy and understaffed don't stick three tables around the corner just to make a few quid while neglecting the quality of service.

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P4043BUanthonyo . 2021-05-29

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I hadn't been here before so was very excited but from the start the service was so disappointing. Our table was booked for 8pm and we arrived to loads of people standing outside the restaurant. They were told to wait outside, so we waited. After 20 mins a couple at a table outside were brought in and told us that you could sit at those tables while waiting. The staff didn't come and tell anyone this or give any update. We sat for another 20 mins before we were even offered drinks. We then got drinks but still no update about our table. We thought this was a bit ridiculous considering you were required to pay £20 to reserve your time. We were left waiting for a full hour with no update. If we hadn't paid the deposit we would have left. We were then seated and quickly told "sorry for the wait". Not very sincere. Thankfully the food came out really quickly, and it was really nice! But alongside our mains we had also ordered the Parmesan Roast Potatoes which never arrived!! We had enough food so wasn't too much of an issue but just not great.Then our bill came & it was wrong. They added 2 drinks we didn't have. One of the waitresses was actually so lovely & got it sorted for us. I didn't catch her name but she was so chatty & was trying to make the experience better. While she was taking our payment and we were all talking, the front of house host came and shouted at her to remove the card. It was so rude! Then she stood there until the girl left our table.Even just small details were annoying like they kept propping the door open even though it was letting in a cold breeze. A lady at another table had to ask for it to be closed as the front of the restaurant was so cold and breezey. And they had no toilet roll in the toilets. I had to tell the staff.I totally understand teething issues, but had the front of house came and explained to us there was a delay and apologised then we would have understood. But to basically be ignored is just not good enough. She had been looking out the window at everyone while we were out the front so it's not that they were too busy to explain to us. I have worked in hospitality so I understand that an explanation and apology makes people feel a bit better.It's such a shame as the food was beautiful and the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant is so lovely.

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Caitlin C . 2021-05-28

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The guest experience starts from the moment you book. Booked online no problems, and arrived a few mins before our dining Time. There was a queue which was fine, however this was unsheltered, and it began to rain, and we were left standing unacknowledged for approximately 15 mins. Eventually we got seated, however it was beside the main door and there was a cold breeze and cigarette stench accompanying us at our table. I asked to move but there was no room.Ordered drinks quickly, no problems and waitress was attentive. Ordered starters and had drink finished before they arrived. I was informed that my starter was not available so chose another. Around 20-25 mins after ordering, the starter's arrived. Mine was cold however my partner's was hot. Let the waitress know about this and plates were cleared. Mains took a long time to arrive after starters cleared and manager came to ask us if we had our starters yet. Told her we had the starter but waiting on main which she chased up. Got the main 1hr and 15 mins after our booking time unfortunately my main was cold yet again (and I'm generally not too fussy) however it was proper cold. My partner wasn't so unfortunate and her pasta was warm and tasty. When asked if everything was ok, I informed them about the main being cold and they said - oh, sorry. Asked for the bill after and was given a bill with additional drinks to the price of £60 extra. Had to get this removed.Got the bill, and got a sorry about the cold food comment. Not overly impressed for £45 spent on food not for it to be enjoyed.I managed restaurants for years and know these things happen, but feel it could have been dealt with a lot better. Don't think I'd be willing to give it a second chance which is a shame as my last experience in the previous premises was great

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somebodystuffsteve . 2021-05-28

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Food was tasty and enjoyed that they catered to a vegan diet as it's not always easy to find nice vegan Italian food.Service however was poor and very half hearted. On arrival we approached a waitress to make ourselves known for our booking and she proceeded to walk on past us to the outside area and just dander about, completely ignoring us when we spoke to her. Thankfully the second waitress we found cleared us a table and got us seated. Waitress taking our drinks and food order was clearly unfamiliar with the menu, asking the price of the wine we had chosen to ensure it was the right one and when asking for the vegan ravioli she was quite rude and abrupt about the fact she couldn't find it on the device she had to place the order on. She then came back down 5 minutes later to inform me the ravioli wasn't available and to choose something else from the menu, whilst she stood towering over me whilst I had to choose something else - felt quite intimidating. Our wine and glasses was just quickly put on the table and then the waitress was gone, no pouring the wine or do you want to taste. It was the same situation with the food, cutlery just thrown down roughly, just about on the napkin and then only half our dishes cleared away. We were at the edge of the terrace at the front where it would meet the street on the other side of the fence. Just on the other side of the fence was a table, with the fence the only thing differentiating our tables, so felt like we were having dinner with these guests too and not particularly covid compliant. When we received the bill there was a service charge already placed on it which we had noticed on the menu was only necessary for tables of 4 or more (we were a table of 2). We asked for this to be removed so we could leave our own tip we thought worthy - done with no issues thankfully.The great tasting food was a redeeming factor for the whole experience but service needs to be seriously looked at and improved as this was my first time visiting and I won't be back in a hurry after my experience

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joannagO2733FZ . 2021-05-24

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First and foremost the food was lovely. However the management could be improved. We had a table booked however when we arrived there was no table reserved so we waited and got out to a table of 4 which we were happy about, it was a comfortable space. However then a group of 4 arrived who had also booked ahead and we had to be asked to move in the middle of eating our main course because the staff had also not reserved a table for them. Our food and drinks both went to the wrong table. Also a cocktail at £11.90, ridiculous.

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G7770LI . 2021-05-17

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Four of us came here on a rainy day for outdoor food and cocktails (outdoor dining is currently only permitted due to Covid restrictions). The staff made our visit really pleasant and tried to keep us as warm and dry as they physically could. Food came out quickly as did the cocktails. Well done on getting up and going again and can’t wait to have a date night indoors when we are allowed to again.

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Dgn1010 . 2021-05-10

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Food yummy and atmosphere is nice. The interior is stunning, however, cocktails and food slightly over priced for the quality but nice for a special event or date night!

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kristenshields . 2020-12-22

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This was our first time that I had eaten in the chubby cherub. Myself and my partner had dinner here on the first Friday that hospitality opened following the lock down. We were greeted quite quickly and were quickly brought to our table. It was clear that all social distancing and covid 19 safety measures were being adhered too; all staff were wearing masks and there were hand sanitisers available. Two members of staff were looking after us and both were extremely friendly and helpful. They were both a bit of craic and one told us he was loving being back to work following a period of being furloughed. For starter I got the mussels and my partner got the goats cheese bruschetta. Both of us really enjoyed our starters. They tasted fresh and were well thought out in terms of flavours. For mains I got the spaghetti carbonara with chicken and my partner got a goats cheese and caramelised onion pizza. Again, both of us really enjoyed our mains... the spaghetti was really really good and tasted great. In conclusion, we both really enjoyed our first visit here and can’t wait to go back. Thanks to the staff who made it even better!

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rcampbell2010 . 2020-12-22

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Have visited the chubby cherub a few times and it’s always been hit and miss however my visit tonight was absolutely awful. We had told them whilst booking it was our wedding anniversary and they thought the best place to seat us on this special occasion was at a table that may as well have been IN THE KITCHEN! My view for the whole evening was a bin which was overflowing with rubbish and a block of butter that was being used for the customers (please see photo) my risotto was bland and too al dente (I’ve visited Italy many times and never has the risotto been so crunchy it has stuck in my teeth). When I was asked if my dinner was ok and I told them it wasn’t good at all the girl said “well atleast you had your starter” when my husband questioned why the risotto was still on the bill (I had two mouthfuls of it) the waitress told us the manager said she couldn’t take it off the bill however she had taken off the bread which was £1.50. Will not be returning and I advise with the cleanliness of the restaurant (again please see photo) you will give it a steer too! Bad service bad food and bad over all!

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emmam621 . 2020-12-15

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Absolutely stunning decor and greeted by the lovely Matthew, funny and charming right from the minute we sat down. Cocktails where outstanding and the sharing board is enough for 4 people.Herb gnocchi was delightful and the pizzas looked top.In these times it was so refreshing to see people enjoy their job and it was a pleasure having a very busy looking Matthew check in with us throughout the evening.Definitely be back.

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Kenny78gilmour . 2020-10-18

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My friend and I visited this restaurant for the first time. I was over 1 hour late for the booking, and the staff couldn’t of been nicer about it. The staff went above and beyond for us and the food was incredible. Given these challenging times, it was refreshing to visit this venue as we were made feel comfortable and very welcome. Thank you.

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Beccacarson95 . 2020-10-15

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Had a reservation at 8pm one night recently. Table wasn’t ready so the manageress directed us to their shop/deli around the corner where we had a drink while we waited. We got seated about 15 mins later and the cocktails were divine, I was able to get a carafe of wine, our shared goats cheese starter was so tasty and def big enough for 2, pizza and pasta dish were gorgeous. The decor is stunning, you feel you are in some little restaurant on the Amalfi coast and despite our booking stating it was for 1.5 hours nobody rushed us to leave and this was a Saturday night.. Loved this place, would def come back if I was in Belfast again

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corkgirl40 . 2020-10-13

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We have been to the Chubby Cherub a few times before and we’re generally pretty happy. However, this times standards had slipped significantly! Firstly, our starters never arrived. Thankfully it was deducted from our bill but there was no apology or explaination as to why they didn’t arrive. The lasagne was worse than a cheap ready meal from service station. Bland, tasteless and watery. The carbonara was slightly better but not quite what you would expect from an Italian restaurant. With our lack of confidence in the food we had a cocktail for dessert....these were more expensive that the premium cocktail bars in Belfast but were no where near as good. Just as our extortionately expensive cocktails arrived (fifty five minutes into out 1 hour and 45 table reservation)we were told that our table would be needed in 5 minutes. As we were leaving we noticed most of the customers we were walking past on the way out were the same customers that we walked past on the way in yet it appeared they hadn’t been told to leave. The only saving grace was that some staff were very pleasant.....however others were not (namely the waitress who got our order wrong and told us to leave 45 minutes early, despite the fact we didn’t pull her up on her incompetence) Sadly, we will never step foot in The Chubby Cherub again

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cavothegreat . 2020-10-10

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Came here for a meal with friends. I am a coeliac and stated clearly that therefore the food would need to be GLUTEN FREE. I ordered meatballs and linguini - gluten free. After being reassured by the waitress that it was gluten free, I tucked in. Half an hour later - VIOLENTLY SICK. Being a coeliac all my life, I know the symptoms of when food is gluten contaminated. GF linguine pasta but didn't bother to check if the meatballs had breadcrumbs in it.Left sick and humiliated as out with friends. Waste of money and total disregard to allergens. All show no quality.

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JaneAine . 2020-10-07

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Beautiful interior, a real nice ambience about the restaurant. Nice, friendly staff. Cocktails were lovely. However, a disappointing meal. I ordered the classic bruschetta which was very poor, the meatball linguini which wasn’t bad and a very small, bland chocolate brownie with ice-cream which literally had lumps of ice through it. The mussels that my girlfriend ordered were extremely tasty, but her gnocchi - in simple terms - was nothing special. I felt that there was lack of passion in the cooking. It wasn’t unique, and didn’t stand out as I thought it would prior to visiting. Our meal was certainly not worth the price. To put it in context, despite the fact that we were availing of the UK Government’s “Eat Out to Help Out” Scheme, our meal, which included a starter and main each, a shared dessert and one cocktail each, came to £65. One thing that I really didn’t appreciate is that a 10% tip was already included on the bill. Although the waitress deserved it as she was very helpful, it can make it awkward for the customer to remove the tip if they didn’t enjoy their meal/service. Once again I see this as an example of Chubby Cherrub overpricing themselves. Overall, I do think that the restaurant owner(s) believe that their food is worth more than it really is. I see it as more of a place where people go to be seen as eating “classy”, as the decor is extremely fancy. However, the Chubby Cherub is a restaurant, and so it is a real shame that the food is not as special as one would expect. Put logically, if the prices were lower or the food was just simply worth the price it would make for a much better experience. The drinks are lovely, the staff are friendly and the decor is stunning, but the food just isn’t worth it.

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roryfb13 . 2020-10-05

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I called in for a swift libation and a bite to eat on an agitated and unrestrained Saturday evening, having recently broken up with my partner of 7 months. Facetiously I was directed to (what I later found out was) table 7 and was pleasantly surprised by the wit and conversation of the very affable gentleman that seated me. (I think his name was Matt?)My food order was promptly taken by the vertically limited but extremely friendly manageress Emma Jane, who spoke to me with great fluency of the menu options and painted a picture for my taste buds that was almost as a exquisite as the pair of oxblood oxford brogues she wore with great aplomb. As we chatted briefly about the rigorous safety measures The Chubby Cherub has been implementing and the trying nature of the current economic climate, I had the distinct feeling that I'd met this young(-ish) woman before, perhaps at another restaurant in town or else opportunistically at the arcades one spring. But I digress, my dear reader!After promising that I would only stay for one cocktail after my (delicious) Carbonara, I ended up staying for another, and another, and as the light from the arabesque of bulbs that ordained the indoor lemon trees touched the face of the bartender making my drinks, I caught my breathe and my hands began to tremble. I had stumbled across my doppelganger! Not just in looks but also in bravado and macabre whimsy. His perfections and imperfections reflected my very own character and facial features. He was broader of brow and with a slightly more mature hairline, but the likeness was uncanny still. Its lack of cause and object filled me with a bizarre awe, and his heavily tattooed forearms spoke to me of a troubled soul - one that might leave the stage in the middle of a song. I quickly finished my drink, paid, and dazed by a combination of mystery and alcohol hurried out of the restaurant.Will I dip my head once again into this eatery on the next occasion that I dance across the plains of north eastern Hibernia? The die is already cast. I must. Not least to treat my tastebuds to another flavourful repast, but also to try and decipher the tangle of thorns that has been placed on my thinning crown by the sight of my sullen twin! Perhaps the valiant Emma Jane and her resplendent footwear will once again be my companions for the evening. One can hope. FIN

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Humbert_Felix . 2020-10-04

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We came across The Chubby Cherub when we were looking for a lunch spot, visiting Belfast from Glasgow. It looked so cute from the outside so went in & wow the interior is stunning! The food was so tasty & the staff couldn’t have been nicer! The restaurant has a great atmosphere, we loved the Italian music & the cocktails were outstanding. Would highly recommend this lovely Italian spot!

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katiecochrane . 2020-09-29

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We had a booking and when we arrived the waitress said our table would be 2 minutes. 10 minutes later a couple enter and are seated at a 4 person table (we were a group of 4). So we ask how long it will be... 2 mins again. We did get sorted shortly after. We ordered water along with our drinks. It never came. When our food came we ordered water again. It never came. We also ordered wine at the same time. It never came. Finally we left without water or wine. The pizzas were good but nothing special. I wouldn’t really recommend this place.

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bmeg123 . 2020-09-28

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I diened here last night for my friends birthday as we were on a weekend away and had heard really good reviews about the place however I was absolutely disgusted with firstly the smell of mould in the place , then they forgot my friends starter and we were all finished ours by the time it came out after this they brought me out the wrong dish then the right one came and the chicken was raw it was disgusting, after that I was turned off my food and felt sick then we had asked the waiter at the start to bring out a cocktail at the end and sing happy birthday to our friend they ruined the birthday surprise by coming down asking who’s birthday is it again? In front of her I mean how stupid, I would never ever eat here again there’s no communication with the staff it’s a joke and the place is an absolute kip. Terrible terrible restaurant don’t dine here and waste your money also the restaurant was so cold it was warmer outside

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Roisin C . 2020-09-28

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We enjoyed a lovely dinner the other evening where we were served by the most friendly and accommodating staff and a special thank you to jack who was very helpful and can make a mean cocktail too!!

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karenhogan111 . 2020-09-27

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We arrived at our booking at 8 pm. Greeted by the manager who said our table shouldn’t be too long. We were ushered to stand “out of the way” by the bar, which ironically was in the way of waiter getting by. We felt very uncomfortable considering there is a Global pandemic and everyone was brushing shoulders with ours. 25 minutes after our booking, we started to get frustrated. Two other groups that came in after us were seated. Couldn’t catch any of the waiters attention. Eventually we were seated by the door at a temporary table that that was blowing in freezing cold air every time someone entered or left the restaurant. Then a waiter approached us we asked how long our table would be and she said “but aren’t you so lucky to be sitting at this table with the cold wind I would love to be in your position.” Because she said she she was hot working on her feet all night. 35 minutes after our initial booking we were finally seated, another smart comment was made by the manager herself isn’t it worth the wait ladies and began to smart and laugh. 55 minutes after entering we finally got something to eat, we were quite ravenous and had a reservation after this one which we were then made late for. Food was adequate. We were offered no further apology for the wait or anything taken off the bill. As we had a further reservation to attend we asked for the bill, it took 20 minutes for the bill to be presented to us the manager then proceeded to say there was a problem with the machine and started laughing again and no apologies announced. At this stage we felt it was all a bit of a joke. Would not recommend this place.

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Jennydunne1 . 2020-09-25

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The food was amazing ! The vegan options are really good, and you can see it's homemade. The staff was nice and the place is beautiful. We really enjoyed everything !

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Mimelia . 2020-09-25

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Really enjoyed the restaurant decor, staff were friendly and cocktails were tasty (although abit pricey). The food itself was average. Granted we cleaned the plates having starved ourselves for dinner but the standard of the meal does not align with the price. Would visit again for the ambience and cocktails but not dinner.

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Jamie G . 2020-09-24

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My husband and I had dinner here last Sunday night. The restaurant itself is really pretty. I loved the decor! We enjoyed a nice bottle of a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The service was a bit slow but it was busy so we didn't mind. It is good to see places busy these days. The staff were really friendly. We had a nice Carbonara, Herb Gnocchi and Cannoli for dessert.

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michellelee9 . 2020-09-23

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Visited here last night with my girlfriend.Starters of Mussels & Meatballs were great, first star. Red Wine - Negroamaro was great, second star. Bathrooms were very clean, third star. Ambiance and decor was lovely, fourth star. Serving staff were friendly, fifth star. But then........ Waited an hour for main courses, back to four stars. Not one member of the initially friendly staff even glanced at us for the first 45 mins of our wait between starters and mains, and then when we finally did get someone's attention, it was a case of "oh your food will be here in 2 mins", not even an explanation, back to three stars. Managed to finish off the bottle of wine before our pizzas came and when they did the bases were frozen, back to two stars. Only looked at the bill this morning to realise that they hadn't deducted the €10 deposit we paid when we booked the table, back to one star. I know that it may be my own fault that I didn't go through the bill when I was paying it, but we just wanted to get out of there! If you're into taking pictures that will look good on instagram, this is the place for you. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague.

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pandc2019 . 2020-09-15

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My fiancée brought me here for my birthday and it did not disappoint. Authentic and flavourful Italian food. Nice cocktails and amazing food. Olives & bruschetta, wild herb gnocchi & mushroom risotto.

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Ashdaferian . 2020-09-14

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Visited this restaurant whilst on weekend trip to Belfast with a friend. Despite having pre booked, we were seated in a poky corner behind the coat stand and by the door, making it very cold and lacking any atmosphere. The menu was also lacking as being gluten intolerant, this limits my options. There was no gluten free pasta available which is normally an option in Italian restaurants. On discussing and explaining to the waitress, who was not helpful, I selected a starter dish and asked for a main portion. The dish that arrived was not what was ordered, it was a pasta dish substituting potatoes for pasta. By this time I’d given up! Service was poor and the cost I felt was unreasonable considering I pretty much had a plate of potatoes as main course. I would not return to this restaurant.

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Seaside292306 . 2020-09-13

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The Chubby Cherub was a world apart. Having booked online I arrived at this establishment on a tempestuous Friday night and I was seated quickly near the bar where I was mesmerised as I looked upon the heroic barmen who were tortured with drinks orders running into the billions, while (in a robust atmosphere of contrived merriment) villainous patrons chased each other through sewers of wine and cocktails with little heed paid to these mixologists' artistry.During my sojourn on the shores of this elegant Island in the ocean of mire that is Belfast city centre, my provider of vino was a young(-ish) Belfast native by the name of Ryan.I warmed to him instantly as I found his familiar brogue a jocular juxtaposition to the sturdy (but very friendly) Eastern European manageress who met me at the door.I knew I had found a kindred spirit in this young fellow as I looked past his thick-lensed spectacles and lumbering frame to see the plethora of pain behind his eyes - enough to have hospitalised a Hercules. It was almost of the same intensity and omniscience as mine own. Almost.As Delphian as Ryan (or was it Raymond?) appeared to me, my attention was torn away from him by the waitressing seraphs; those infinite, jewel bright, noble-winged seraphs, gliding orders to glutenous customers who were more often too concerned with inhaling their order of Herb Gnocchi or Mushroom Risotto, to notice the beauty of the beings that brought them their meal.I haled one down (under the pretence of ordering the Bruschetta Funghi al Parma) just to be able to hear this divine messenger speak. I must confess dear reader that I remember next to nothing of our verbal exchange (I think she said her name was Emer and was in fact a manager herself), so mesmerised was I by her grace and elegance and the virtuosity with which her countenance was made. For fear of losing my mind remembering her resplendent form I'll keep it brief - she is wonderful and I miss her.Well fed and imbibed but overcome with emotion, I paid and swiftly made my exit, but I long to return, braver, to sample the Meatball Linguini.Until we meet again dear Cherub, carpe noctem.

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Humbert_Felix . 2020-09-11

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Beautiful @ charming little restraunt.nice atmosphere ❤ cherub muirals on the walls/ceiling. @ Chandeliers Nice Lunch but waited around 20-30min for Linch. Nice if you are not in a rush. Booked again following day

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SandraB9933 . 2020-09-10

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Absolutely amazing! My partner and I visited Belfast last week and my mum was meeting us for Lunch. We walked around for a while looking for where to eat and stumbled upon the Chubby Cherub and I’m so glad we did! No reservation but we were seated quickly. All staff were wearing masks and all super friendly, hand sanitiser everywhere, I saw staff sanitising the table and chairs after each sitting too. It made us feel very comfortable. We were seated in a booth so we were not too close to anyone else. The food was amazing! The prawn, goats cheese and aubergine bruschettas were amazing and the sea bass main was out of this world. So tasty! I’m extremely picky about where I eat as I have a food blog too and this was a definite plus. It’s also super important to me that places are COVID secure and this was! Thank you for an amazing meal. We will hopefully be back next time we visit Belfast! I’m sorry to see all the negative reviews as I don’t feel they truly represent this place at all. Everywhere will fall short during these times we are in so we need to really allow for that.

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StefySutch . 2020-09-10

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After visiting with friends a few weeks ago and having a great experience/meal I was keen to return to the chubby cherub and booked in for my fiances birthday. I had also recommended to a few friends that they should visit.Unfortunately my second visit last week was terrible in comparison and has completely changed my opinions, and I am unsure if I want to return.When we arrived (booked online) we had to wait outside in the cold for a further 10 minutes as our table wasn't ready. When we did get in we were shown to a small table which was not in the nice main part of the restaurant but is one of two tables which are squeezed in between the toilet door and the bar. This along with very slow service (had to twice go to the bar as no one came to take our drink or food order) made our experience very poor and unfortunately I felt very annoyed that a special night out I had planned was an all round bad experience. The location of our table meant that every time someone came to the toilet they were walking up and down past us (on a slippy floor so two people fell into our table) paired with the smell and view of the toilet corridor every couple of minutes. Definitely not a romantic dinner out. This along with the fact that every waiter who came in an out of the bar kept hitting into my partner's chair every time they had to squeeze past. I really am not someone who has ever written such a review as I have 10+ years working in restaurants so know the difficulties and will happily excuse a few errors, but unfortunately these are not small errors but problems needing addressed. It's not the experience one would expect from a pricey enough venue..The temperature was also so cold that both of us had to put our coats back on, which wasnt helped but the draught from the front door. I did ask the waitress if this could be closed which she did but it was opened again a few minutes later. The food was prompt to arrive but was average (my first visit was lovely so don't know why it was so much worse) I ordered a salad which had wilted leaves and very little dressing.Again the replies I can see that are being written my the management seem very cheeky which isn't attractive. Using caps to state that you won awards doesn't negate these people's negative experience. I know it can be a great restaurant given the right staff and seating location etc. However in my experience it is an absolute gamble as to which you will receive on any visit. Hopefully this is read and improved upon rather than mocked by the management as there is great potential there.

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Lauren N . 2020-09-08

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This place is BEAUTIFUL. The lasagne was top class - I haven’t had a lasagne this good since I was in France at the start of this year - so I was very happy and very impressed. I had bruschetta for starter & it was a little disappointing - small portion & a tad flavourless. My friends had pizza (which apparently was only ok) & salmon linguine (which was incredible - as I did taste some). The decor of the Chubby Cherub is beautiful. The staff are super friendly. Drinks are fab. This is on the pricey side but definitely worth it - recommend going :)

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jessicak633 . 2020-09-05

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Decided to try here for a family lunch.It was busy but everyone was well Spaced.And it never felt too crowded.The Service was casual and friendly.And the food was good.The Sea Bass was lovely.A couple of us didn’t finish our risotto.So they boxed it up for us to take.When we opened it for our supper.They had grated lots of lovely cheese over it.Nice touch.Will go back.

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TimMunich01 . 2020-09-04

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The restaurant was empty but we were not allowed in. Fully booked said the lady (while wasn't quite true as we checked the booking later on). Well sad and disappointing.

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960marcins . 2020-09-02

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Booked well in advance and were seated behind the coat rack by the door. Food was nice but too expensive for what it was. When you go here you’re really paying for the atmosphere/aesthetic, neither of which we got as we were sat in a corner barely able to see anything past the door and were forgotten about as we waited half an hour before our drinks order was even taken. Had to ask for my dessert three times as they kept forgetting to bring it after they brought over my boyfriends.

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Kflydog . 2020-09-01

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Had a lovely meal here, excellently set up to facilitate social distancing/hand sanitiser etc. Excellent service from all staff and a great variety on the drinks and food menus!

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ellen7996 . 2020-08-23

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I dined here with my husband on Tuesday night. We were in Belfast in a midweek break. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The menu is extensive. It was hard to choose because I wanted everything! Our food was very tasty and reasonably priced. All staff were super friendly. I wasn’t crazy about the location of our table which was beside the bar and loo so it was a bit noisy. I would love to sit in the main body of the restaurant next time. But we still totally enjoyed our night and look forward to coming back on our next visit to Belfast. Thank you , sharon maguire.

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Lisdoolovely . 2020-08-23

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Normally when in Belfast I go for fast, cheap and filling, in Subway, so with the 50% discount off I decided on a change of scene and opted for the sea bass dish. As the restaurant was fully booked on a Wednesday afternoon I was offered a table outdoors and after a twenty minute wait the meal arrived, so well presented but so small. It was o/k for the price but if it was full priced I would not have been happy even though all the food is freshly prepared.

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tonyfitzsimons . 2020-08-22

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This restaurant was recommended to me . I decided to call to the restaurant today to book a table for an evening meal , due to Covid restrictions you cannot just arrive without having booked . On arriving I was met by a young lady I asked her if I could book a table for 4 for 8pm , she was so rude and dismissive said no tables and walked away, with staff like that i certainly won't be returning even though it was recommended. To the manager maybe have a word with your staff on how the greet customers.

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tracy b . 2020-08-19

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Visited on recommendation of friends. Warm welcome and good table near open kitchen, but that's where the good part ends! Starters of dough balls and Classic Itslian Bruschettas were decidedly average and lacking in overall taste - certainly not authentic in terms of taste. Both had pizza and whilst presentation was good taste was average mainly as bases were clearly (from observation of preparation) commercially sourced and not made on site - disappointing because it decreases authenticity of product. Resulted in both if us leaving a substantial (half) amount uneaten. No query from staff. Food is average at best and if you're looking for an authentic Italian this is not it. Had table booked for 2-hours - 8-10pm (advised at time of booking and OK with that), however at 9.40pm when we still had drinks in front of us and were going to order again staff chased us to get bill and exit so we didn't. If I wanted fast food I'd go to McD's! Disappointing experience overall on the food/service front. And finally wearing of masks in kitchen was decidedly hit and miss and those that wore them were only half doing do as noses were uncovered!!! In a time of a pandemic such a lax approach is not good enough.

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Mark14Apr . 2020-08-19

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Myself and close family made our first post lockdown visit to a restaurant and made sure we chose carefully as we didn't want to be disappointed as there is an 'element of risk' still involved with public places at the moment. We settled upon the chubby cherub as a few of us have been before and have always left Happy and we all left happy again this time. You could see the precautions being taken and all staff were wearing protective masks and visors, food service and cocktails excellent as always!!

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yacannnyplzthemall . 2020-08-13

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Pros : Price was ok, wine a little expensive for the quality.Service was good & friendly and fixed the issues we had.Location is good.Pasta main was good.Cons: One of the starters was wrong. They swapped the cheese type ( ordered mozzarella and got goats!) Then tried to convince us that it was Mozzarella. They replaced the stater but this wasn’t great and much too big.( we had to eat our starters at separate times unfortunately)Pizza base was more like “dried biscuit” and too much basil pesto.Our bill at the end was for the wrong table but was fixed.Overall average food experience but nice and efficient staff.

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J1665XUrichardp . 2020-08-10

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We had to wait for our table as they could not find our reservation. Our drinks order came mixed up after waiting 10 mins for it. We then ordered our meal and then brought the wrong risotto did for my daughter. So she had to wait another 10minutes to eat. Atmosphere was good just a pity about the service. Level of hygiene wasn’t great considering the times we are in with COVID.

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Louise S . 2020-08-08

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I did not want to air my grievances over Trip Advisor but after seeing the childish response by either manager or owner to a review and the amount of negative reviews that followed suit I feel I must.After booking a two top for 20:30 via google I called in the afternoon to confirm the reservation and was told it was reserved. Upon arrival the restaurant was full with multiple tables in extremely close proximity. We were told we would need to step outside for 5 minutes while the table was cleared. We were offered drinks by one of the servers who was ran off her feet and incredibly apologetic. After 20 minutes of waiting I returned inside and was told that they were sorry and said it wouldn’t be much longer. After over 35 minutes wait I told the girl that we would be going elsewhere. The fact that there was no management on hand willing to tackle the issue was ridiculous. The only saving grace was the server as she was genuinly upset at the state of affairs too. Now I understand that there are complications during peak service times in restaurants. With that said if you are going to take a booking for a certain time you are obliged to have a table free for that time. It is the only thing you need to to. It is really that simple. To fire back to another review on trip advisor deflecting blame from yourself is childish and embarrassing on your part. It’s quite clear that this restaurant is not adhearing to any of the post covid measures put in place to protect staff and customers so I would suggest a wide berth for some time.

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ShaneQM . 2020-08-05

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My parents, my partner and I visited the Chubby Cherub last night for the first time as part of the 'Eat out to help out scheme'. I was really looking forward to trying out the restaurant as the decor always looked great from the outside but unfortunately this was the only highlight of the evening. We were placed at a table beside the coffee machine and when I looked under the table there was pieces of peperoni and a bird feather on a very dirty floor which did not give me confidence regarding the hygiene of the establishment. The food was nice but overpriced for what you were getting (£8 for a small portion of bruschetta and £16 for a bowl of pasta) but was accepting of the price due to the eat out to help out offer. We had to pay a £20 deposit which did not come off our bill at the end without me asking. We were also charged extra for the wine which I had to point out to the manager. The main reason for writing this review is to make reference to the service charge. After our meal we were presented with a bill inclusive of a £7.80 service charge. Firstly I do not agree one bit that this restaurant should be charging a service charge for a party of 4 on a Tuesday evening in Belfast. Secondly, and most importantly, I was not made aware of the service charge prior to my booking of the restaurant. The manager stated that the service charge was stated on the menu and when I asked her to show me where on the menu this was shown, she could not as it was not stated and argued that the menus were newly printed. I appreciate that Covid-19 has presented a difficult time for the restaurant industry but I feel that dishonesty of service charge to customers is unacceptable in principle as customers should be made aware of this beforehand. I also think they added an extra £1 onto the wine deliberately thinking people would not notice but I do not have proof of that. Overall, I was extremely disappointed in the hygiene, service and dishonesty (referencing service charge) of the restaurant and I will not be back again.

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Go178135 . 2020-08-05

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Can't judge the food as we never got to try it due to ridiculous reservation mixup. We made a booking to have a breakfast at 11am the next morning. Not only were we able to make a reservation, we also paid £5 per person and received a confirmation email. Upon arriving in the restaurant were met with strange looks and notified restaurant is not opening until noon and is also not serving breakfast (they have a whole breakfast menu on website?????). We were also questioned as if it was us who made the mistake, but thankfully we had confirmation email to prove the reservation. In the end we had the deposit refunded and decided not to return at noon. They need to sort their reservations software as well as google info stating restaurant is open from 8am.

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lk694 . 2020-08-03

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I had booked a table for my husband and I, arriving at 12.30 pm. The restaurant was quiet and I looked forward to food and drinks, having eaten here before.People arrived and were sat in very close proximity to us, rather than being spread out in the booths. At one point we were surrounded by 5 x families and couples. We asked to be moved to the front of the restaurant which, was not as densely populated. Staff let us do this.As I watched people arrive nobody used hand santaizer. There was a bottle at the front of the restaurant but easily missed and without prompting. I am a vegetarian and had gnocchi but there was a piece of ham in it. The manager dealt with this well, apologising and taking it off the bill. I ordered blueberry pannacotta but it did not arrive. On this basis, my husband and I did not eat our mains or desserts together.I am an NHS member of staff and can empathise with how difficult the current Covid situation if for front facing staff. They were working hard and were friendly. However, the dining experience did not feel enjoyable or safe, the latter of which is imperative at these times.The cheeky cherub has beautiful surroundings and high quality food. However, without improvements in safety and organisation, the dining experience is unlikely be satisfactory. Although the manager dealt with my difficulty well, it is completely unacceptable for meat to be in a vegetarian dish.

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483kirstyq . 2020-08-01

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Booked a table for my wifes birthday, was seated promptly by the barman and said someone would be right with us.After 15 mins I had to flag a member of staff down to order a drink bearing in mind we only had the table for 1 hour. We ordered drinks and food together. The food quality felt a lot less then before but was ok just about. They then sat a table next to us...RIGHT next to us, which I was so surprised as there is ment to be a 1 metre distance between tables or at least customers. No check back on food or second drink offered. Decided just to get the bill and get out asap. We paid a £10 deposit on first booking the table which you get off your final bill when you pay. Paid and left and 5 mins later realised they never took the £10 deposit off our bill so called up and asked to speak to a manager to recover the deposit. Surprise surprise no manager around and they said a manager would call us right back. A day later still no call so called again and nope..no manager around and said someone would call us again. 5 days we waited to get a simple deposit back which was added stress to a pretty crappy birthday lunch.

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Foodie2kk . 2020-07-20

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Had a lovely lunch here with the girls for our first day out post lockdown. Didn’t notice any difference other than hand sanitiser and visors for staff. Very chilled. Lovely surroundings and beautiful food. Waiting staff were very friendly.

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Chefswifebelfast . 2020-07-19

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My husband and I visited here for our first night out after lockdown. We'd been here before and the food was lovely. Prepared for things to be different we got to the door to find the hand sanitiser empty. Inside the first option for tables was right at the door about 6 inches from the table of 6 beside it. Not keen we declined and were offered another behind a screen. Feeling slightly better we expected to see an option for menu by app but no; usual card menus which when we were given the drinks menu were not seen to be wipes at all when transferred between tables. Staff were wearing visors but a few had these pushed far enough up to be mistaken for sun hats so not much use at all. Black pepper grinders and parmesan bowls were very obivousky shared between tables with no wiping down. We felt very unsafe all night. I don't have unrealistic expectations that a restaurant will be sterile but I did expect that at least a half hearted attempt would be made to keep customers safe. Not one safety measure was even followed half way.

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Inspiration105777 . 2020-07-17

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Stumbled upon this little gem. Beautiful decor, amazing food, attentive staff. We had a tapas style meal of a few different small plates. Just delightful. Woke up the next morning and it was the first thing we talked about. Will definitely be back!

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fitzollie . 2020-07-10

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We had a fantastic meal here. The starters, mains and desserts were all top class. It felt a safe environment and the staff were friendly and helpful

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Heidi_Graham . 2020-07-07

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Today I took my first tentative steps ‘out out’ after lockdown and was really looking forward to sitting in a restaurant being served a meal that wasn’t cooked by me and a drink which wasn’t poured by me! Chubby Cherub did not disappoint. The food and service were both amazing. Staff couldn’t have been more attentive or pleasant. All still smiling even though they are kitted out in full PPE! There was a sanitiser station at the door on arrival and the restaurant itself was pristine including the toilets. Very reassuring. The food was divine and so fresh. Highly recommend.

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Mcasteering1 . 2020-07-05

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Finally getting the chance to review what was an excellent meal. My partner and I stayed on some of the more traditional items on the menu, but we were very presently surprised at the quality of both the food and service, even on a very busy saturday evening. While its not exactly cheap, the experience was very good value for money!Would go back.

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timothymW5294KZ . 2020-06-15

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Great food, reasonable price and speedy service. We ordered online and contact with staff was minimal upon collection so we were comfortable having kept to social distancing regulation. We love this restaurant and the staff are always lovely so hope to be back for a proper sit in dinner as soon as we can.

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Sarah H . 2020-05-08

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This place looks great. The food was great. The problem was the service. I think we must have arrived at a bad time. We were left sitting for a long time before getting a menu, then again to have the order taken. We found the server quite abrupt. Forgotten stuff.

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Headismaximus . 2020-04-27

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With good reviews and winning food awards you’d expect this place to be safe bet for an enjoyable meal. Sadly, the duck was incredibly dry, flavourless...and the risotto was bland..I couldn’t eat it and unfortunately had to send it back. Not cooked to a standard that reflects the price. Although the meals were disappointing, one of the waitresses was very helpful, apologetic and offered free alternatives. The decor is lovely and charming, service was good...but the food let it down hugely. Such a shame.

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MJam09 . 2020-03-09

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The restaurant has lovely decor and was pretty quiet when we went for dinner after work at 5 so didn’t have to book ahead! We got lasagne, gnocchi and pizza! The feedback on gnocchi was that it was lovely, lasagne was nice enough, but the pizza was excessively oily :( Cocktails were great though!

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DMagz89 . 2020-03-08

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i was taken to chubby for a special birtday and it didn't disapooint as iit never does. food and servicece excellent. a big undertaken from management but ppaid off . well done. highly recommended.

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J9484AKwilliamm . 2020-03-07

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Had a great lunch here today, place was very busy and the staff could not have been more efficient. Pizzas where amazing. My son enjoyed his pasta and his yellow cake the most. ❤ Cant wait to return again.

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lauraw3 . 2020-03-07

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We chose here for our anniversary, stumbling upon it by chance. The decor drew me in, but the food and the staff made me want to return. Highly recommend this restaurant for good quality Italian food with pretty decor and friendly staff.

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Sarah W . 2020-03-05

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An enjoyable late lunch at this beautiful restaurant. Food was tasty and well present. Setting was idyllic. Staff was attentive. Worth visit. Will look forward to returning in the near future.

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122waifunw . 2020-03-05

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We were visiting family in ireland and came across this eatery what a fabulous find alto it was a very busy Saturday night we were able to get a table. the food, service and over all experience was fab I couldn't fault anything, will definitely be returning

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seaneen f . 2020-02-28

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We had been dying to try Chubby Cherub for a while as our friends go and they love it , in saying that they haven't been to the new one. Booked a table for 9pm, warm greeting by girl behind the bar and shown to our table. First impressions were how bright the place was, like too bright. The old chubby cherub was known for it being romantic and intimate but this was like Blackpool tower all lit up. The Italian music would of been nice if it wasnt up so high, it was really annoying. Our server was pleasant enough but looked like all she wanted to do was go home. Ordered Bruschetta to start, it was lovely. For Main we ordered the lasagne and the chicken salad as we were sharing our mains. I think I was expecting to get that WOW when I was eating it, but I didn't. It was nice and hot but just ok taste wise. The salad was nice but could of done with more chicken. We then had the canollis for dessert and they were really good. I'm not saying I would never go back, but I definitely wouldn't hurry back. I feel its overpriced for what you get. We were really disappointed at the whole ambiance of the restaurant as that's one of the reasons that we wanted to try it.

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Steviemcd81 . 2020-02-25

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We shared the pizza. Asked for no peppers , it came with peppers anyway. Pizza was dripping with grease although it tasted OK. We also the sharing platter of breads. Was OK. A better selection of bread would of been better and at 6 quid it wasn't worth it. Staff were nice but very inattentive.

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alij256 . 2020-02-23

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Such terrible poor service. Table was booked at 8.45pm for a family reunion. We were left standing outside in the freezing cold for 30 mins, no-one at front of house to speak to and eventually left 45 mins later with no food and nowhere left to eat elsewhere as it was so late.

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jodoc77 . 2020-02-23

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I was given a voucher for the Date Night Experience as a treat because I had just finished cancer treatment. Being a disabled person it’s important for me to have easy access to restaurants with no stairs so Chubby Cherub is perfect.

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julls . 2020-02-18

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Booked and went for lunch on Saturday 15th. Out of 4 starter orders two were wrong (dough balls arrived instead of meatballs). Then one main course was wrong again, prawn risotto instead of mushroom. One staff member walked off when asking for something for one of the children. When the bill came the £30 deposit which had been paid to reserve the table online had not been deducted and if we hadn’t noticed then it would have been paid twice. A service charge had also been added which considering the various issues above seemed a bit off. Disappointed as we brought guests with us and have always had good visits before.

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sarahhC6136YC . 2020-02-16

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You could pass here very easily... DON’T!!!

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V4609VVrichardm . 2020-02-16

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