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4,10

Based on 1.512 opinions finded in 2 websites

3.6Ambience4.1Cuisine3.6Price4.1Service
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comment_iconOpinions

Me and my mum came here in November and it was fantastic. The food was tasty and cooked to perfection. there was a lovely young lady who served us, she was very helpful. I defiantly recommend!

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Annie Clark . 2024-09-03

MORE AT Google

Staff were friendly and service was ok. Asked for some water but didn't get any. My husband really enjoyed his meal but I had the meatballs. They were over worked and the texture was like pate. The starters were ok but very expensive for what amounted to a piece of bread with some cheese and mushrooms. I think this was over £9! Drinks also very expensive.

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Jo S . 2024-07-28

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Overpriced and dreadful customer service, rude staff who don’t seem to care about their customers.far better Italian restaurants in Norwich than this one.

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john g . 2024-07-28

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Fantastic restaurant, fantastic building, grade two listed. Superb menu, I had the Bruschetta garibaldi. And the Risotto costa Smeralda, and my wife had Zucchini fritte and Penne Alfredo, and ruscany garlic bread with cheese and tomato sauce. Special thanks must go to our server Jasmine.

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Mike Todd . 2024-07-27

MORE AT Google

Fantastic restaurant, loved the late medieval/ tudor building. We came here for dinner, I had the Bruschetta garibaldi as a starter and followed this with a Risotto costa Smeralda. Fantastic quality, cannot fault the food, arrived hot and was delicious. My wife had the Zucchini fritte as a starter and the Penne Alfredo as a main. Cannot talk about the desserts as we were to full to have one. Throughly recommend. Fantastic evening will definitely go back.

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Mike T . 2024-07-26

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Food tasted great but the service was disappointing. The two younger servers were very polite and pleasant. We then were greeted by another server who took our order, but never asked about allergies! One part of our order included a cheese free pizza due to allergy. Very clearly explained. Then we were asked if we would like to add olives or bread. We very clearly said only olives please. They came over with olives and bread so we clarified that aside from the garlic bread we had ordered with the rest of our mains, there wasn’t any other bread ordered. The server returned with olives and garlic bread which tasted nice. We then got our mains and they brought out one additional portion of garlic bread which we then clarified that we ordered only 1, which had came already. I think the confusion came because we mentioned that we wanted the garlic bread with our mains at the same time however when it came with the olives we didn’t mind and thought oh they must have brought it out as a starter and it didn’t matter really, so all is ok. The server then gave us attitude about this which wasn’t very pleasant. They then served the wrong pizza (the cheese free one we ordered) which had cheese on it. We clarified which item we wanted and said again, this pizza that has no cheese. They returned with another pizza which had cheese on it yet again. Again, said this was wrong. The manager / owner (?) then came over and began loudly shouting at us about which pizza it was and was very confrontational - one of our guests then left the restaurant. Incredibly rude and unprofessional especially as this was to do with an order involving an allergy. The food that the rest of us ended up getting was lovely. They then put a large service charge on our bill, made us wait in the restaurant to count our money in case we hadn’t given enough, and offered us no change! Such a shame as I’ve been here a few times and it’s been great before. Won’t be coming back.

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Jade Lythgoe . 2024-07-15

MORE AT Google

Had the zucchini starter, too much balsamic vinegar, rather spoilt the dish, unfortunately that’s all I could taste. My main was good, the staff were ok, took a while to get food ordered and the restaurant wasn’t really busy. Had to ask for water on the table and there were no condiments on the table at all, and we weren’t asked if they were required. Pleasant enough atmosphere but I’d have liked the staff to look like they were enjoying themselves.

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JulieB . 2024-07-11

MORE AT TripAdvisor

The last time I ate here was when I lived in Norwich over 10 years ago. We recently visited and had to try it out again and it was as good as I remembered! We had 10 in our party on a Monday evening and was surprised at how busy it was for a Monday. Nevertheless, our order was taken and food arrived hot, well presented and well seasoned. Service was friendly and unobtrusive. Well done, glad we came again after all those years!

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TreeIL . 2024-07-08

MORE AT TripAdvisor

They serve really good Italian food.

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Ionel Capraru . 2024-07-05

MORE AT Google

Food was pretty good. Very pleasant service from the young team. Clean environment and buzzy with lots of customers. The carafe red wine we had was great. I asked for a 125ml glass of white wine and reiterated the order for clarity as it’s often problematic in restaurants as they don’t put it on the menu as want to upsell you to a larger one. (I have no issue about that but it is a legal requirement under the Licensing Act. Restaurants are not permitted to refuse to sell 125ml of wine) but the waiter bought a 175ml and then insisted they did not sell that size. I advised him the restaurant is required to sell that size by law. He went away and (the owner?) grumpily came over and said he’d do a 125ml but it had to be in a champagne glass. I’m not sure if it was ‘punishment’ for daring to ask for something they are obligated to offer, or they didn’t have a measure! Either way was all rather uncomfortable and unnecessary if they had trained the staff. I advised a young woman that there was no water in the taps in ladies loo, she told the same guy who shouted at her! Not what I really wanted to go out and pay to see. He did come over and explain why the taps were off. Perhaps he was just having a bad day which we all do, but do keep it away from the rest of us paying customers! Update - the restaurant simply needs to have a 125ml wine measure and they can use any wine glass! It's a LEGAL REQUIREMENT. but the white wine ( Fairno?) was really good.

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Not So Many Beans . 2024-06-22

MORE AT Google

It feels that it's resting on an old reputation. The food was average. The service disorganized. Cream in spaghetti carbonara? Never in Italy. Saltimbocca unrecognisable from the real thing. To summarise, overpriced average food. You can cook more authentic Italian food at home. Your reply is not for our table as it was £40 each, both male and we didn't have desserts.

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Kevin Murfitt . 2024-06-19

MORE AT Google

Been here many times, excellent food and service.

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John Bull . 2024-05-21

MORE AT Google

The venue is lovely. That's the best I can say. £4.95 for 330ml coke. £4.95?!?! Very expensive for VERY average food. My food was warm and I guess been sat aside waiting for my partners as hers was piping hot. I want to support independents but head over to Zizzi just across the way. Edit for restaurant: to be clear, a dish containing chicken shouldn't be Luke warm when it comes out to the customer. Especially when the other one is hot. Sugar tax does not apply to diet drinks yet you still charge the same? Your excuses are terrible. I wish you luck with your business but we will definitely not be returning and I hope other customers pay attention to this review. Unless you like playing russian roulette with your food?

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Adam . 2024-05-07

MORE AT Google

this is the only restaurant I can say I am a "regular":amazing food, helpful and friendly staff, great atmosphere.

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José Martins . 2024-04-06

MORE AT Google

Easter weekend so booked a table via online. We were shown to our table and after waiting 20 minutes had to ask for service though our food came very quickly. The place was bigger than we expected and the tables are crammed in much too close. We had to keep moving to allow staff to squeeze past which became irritating. I had gnocchi which was okay though slightly overcooked. Staff were very friendly but seemed very rushed. Not really the cosy Italian experience we expected from a ‘family run’ restaurant, but I guess it was Easter.

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Mike Taylor . 2024-03-31

MORE AT Google

Had a date night here last month. Had a great time everything was wonderful. Can't wait to go back!

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Blair Brantley . 2024-03-30

MORE AT Google

My first date in Norwich and this lovely guy recommended this place for my first taste of lasagne but they left us standing at the entrance for more than 10 minutes. I understand they might have been soo busy but there's a young man"waiter" who kept on passing near us without getting concerned to ask if we had any reservations or what we actually was looking for, all he was doing at that time was clearing up another table unbothered.Another attendant comes to us and say she's going to get us a place then come back to say all tables are booked.I do appreciate the fact that she approached us to help but why did we have to wait all that long standing there like we were lost,I felt the first guy should have said something early enough as it left me feel it might be because I'm not British as my date said he's never faced this kind of treatment before. I really felt bad,standing there for almost 10 minutes only to be turned away.

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mary scholar . 2024-03-16

MORE AT Google

Nothing out of the ordinary, food was lovely and hot, but the mussels were not fresh and were dry inside.

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Marion . 2024-03-06

MORE AT Google

The food was okay. Nothing particularly special. Service charge had automatically been added which I hate, particularly as the service had been slow. It's always awkward to have to ask for it to be removed. My policy in such circumstances is simply never to go back.

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Martin Davies . 2024-02-25

MORE AT Google

Good food good atmosphere and authentic welcome. Very busy so glad that we had booked.

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Nick Morton . 2024-02-25

MORE AT Google

First time coming here. Food was fine, but the service was not good at all. The head waitress serving us seemed quite blunt, nor friendly or welcoming; leaving both my Husband and I feeling quite uncomfortable and wanting to leave. Also took a good twenty minutes trying to get somebody’s attention so we could finally pay the bill. A disappointing experience, and with all the choice in Norwich of places to eat, I would NOT recommend this place.

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Ellie Lince . 2024-02-17

MORE AT Google

Lovely valentines evening with my partner. Lovely greeting from the owner, made us feel very welcome. Staff were great

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Emma Copeman . 2024-02-15

MORE AT Google

Took my family here for a Saturday meal out, the restaurant was busy and had a good atmosphere however it took an hour for three pizza's to be made. The pizza's themselves were bland and tasted like a cheap pizza from Wetherspoons not a £16 one! Drinks were over priced, service was slow and staff seemed visibly stressed. I won't be returning.

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Bradley Carlton . 2024-02-11

MORE AT Google

Unfortunately the food wasn’t up to standard and it was very overpriced despite being a nice venue. The seafood was very chewy, and my partners food came out nearly 10 minutes after mine had.

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Amber G . 2024-02-10

MORE AT Google

Excellent food. Ordered carbonara and tiramasu. Slow but polite service. Crampt and packed dining area.

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Lewis . 2024-01-28

MORE AT Google

We love this little gem of a restaurant. We’ve returned a few times now and love it here. The cosy and traditional aesthetic combined with really authentic great food. My husband loves eating here and seeing somewhere display their culture so proudly with such a focus on simple, homemade food! He is French and all his family are in France so I think visiting somewhere like Trattoria reminds him of his family dinners. Very ‘come as you are’ where you don’t check the time, just eat good food, drink good wine and enjoy the company. I love the service here too, each course is cleared away promptly and food arrives quickly - but we are never rushed to finish or get the bill. Once we ask for dessert or an espresso we are almost always left to our own devices to finish in our own time and head to the bar to pay. There was a new server the last time we visited and, though very sweet, would excel with a bit of help with training. She seemed really perplexed that we wanted to taste the wine, and I explained that sometimes the wine can be corked/tainted and it’s just something that happens every now and then, though I got the feeling she thought I was trying to insult Trattoria by tasting the wine. For some reason I then tried to defend my reasoning by explaining we had a corked bottle just the night before at a pub nearby 🤣 we have all been there and she will do well with a bit of experience and some mentoring. We will happily continue coming to Trattoria!

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Lauren Pinard . 2024-01-27

MORE AT Google

Nice food, pleasant surroundings, and good service

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Lindsey Bishop . 2024-01-13

MORE AT Google

Beautiful decoration and amazing food.

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viera Obsasnikova . 2023-12-18

MORE AT Google

Superb food, excellent service, and great atmosphere. One of our favourite restaurants in Norwich.

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Luças Parado Férreira-Nettleford . 2023-12-17

MORE AT Google

Great venue. Authentic food. Great tasting.

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Jon Treby . 2023-12-14

MORE AT Google

First time visiting Trattoria Rustica this evening and it was lovely! A warm welcome on entering the restaurant. The food was really delicious and speedy service! We had the bruschetta garibaldi to begin, that was so tasty! The mains were penne Alfredo and the spaghetti Bella Napoli with a side of garlic bread, which was all really really and filling! For dessert, tiramisu, it was so creamy and not too strong! If I had one thing I wasn’t 100% sure of it would have been the garlic bread. My preference I’d like it to be a bit more crispy. But overall such a wonderful experience!

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Ellen . 2023-12-01

MORE AT Google

Great food last night. A must go for any Norwich based foodie or those that want authentic Italian home cooking

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Andrew Bushell . 2023-11-26

MORE AT Google

Fantastic food and service and price is spot on

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Philip Miller . 2023-11-25

MORE AT Google

Lovely experience in a gorgeous venue, decided we fancied pizzas and they were good but I am certain their pastas would have been nicer. The drinks were super expensive for soft drinks but overall lovely pizza and nice desert.

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Ben . 2023-11-25

MORE AT Google

Came for dinner and I would say it was overall enjoyable, however it sadly just isnt as good as it used to be. I had the Bruschetta Ai Funghi to start which was actually super nice and a good size portion. We also shared the Snails Alla Rustica, which was honestly the worst snails I have ever had. They were extremely tough and chewy, and not enjoyable at all - I normally LOVE snails. We left this and it wasn't eaten. For my main I had the Penne Michelangelo which was fairly decent, however I would say it massively lacked flavour. The chicken in it kind of felt like it may have been frozen strips? I could be wrong on that though. I had a side of garlic bread which I loved! It was very garlic-y, and I love garlic so much so that was great. We also shared a side of Patate Al Gratin, which to be honest wasnt very good sadly. Lacking a lot of flavour. The servers are absolutely lovely and very friendly. Over all I would say I enjoyed it, however I may not be in a rush to return

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Alice . 2023-11-22

MORE AT Google

The best Italian meal I've ever had at a restaurant, and I've had a lot. I have been meaning to come here for a long time and I'm so annoyed at myself for not going sooner. I've missed out of years of incredible food. The staff are lovely and there was a good atmosphere for a Monday evening. Highly recommended, especially if you like carbonara!

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Ellie Penn . 2023-11-20

MORE AT Google

A must visit food is outstanding 👌 Proper vibsey place my favourite in Norwich 10/10

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Adam Lown . 2023-11-11

MORE AT Google

Good food and friendly service.

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Nitradi Savage . 2023-11-04

MORE AT Google

Good food, good service, good ambience. Lots of menu choice for myself as an omnivore and.my pescatarian wife.

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David King . 2023-11-01

MORE AT Google

Looks a little different inside to some of the photos on here but still plenty of charm and a much nicer atmosphere than a lot of the more modern restaurants. Was greeted by a friendly gentleman by who I presume was the owner who remembered my booking name which was a nice touch. Had a nice bottle of pinot grigio. The star of the evening for me was the bruschetta starter. Really tasty, we were a group of 4 and had a variety of mains and everyone’s plates were left empty. Good portion sizes as well, was a bit disappointed in myself as I didn’t have room for a desert, as I really wanted to try the tiramisu, have to wait for next time. Service was prompt, polite and efficient. Yes there is a 10% optional automatic tip added as other reviewers have pointed out but this is really becoming the norm now (it is in London anyway) and shame on those who don’t tip the hardworking kitchen/service staff anyway. Will come back to try some other dishes and the tiramisu.

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Ben Wilson . 2023-10-22

MORE AT Google

The staff were very pleasant, the food was good but our meal felt a bit rushed and it was just a bit too noisy for me.

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Julia Blanchflower . 2023-10-04

MORE AT Google

Bland disgusting food, Really slow service, waited well over 90 minutes for our starters, a basic focaccia bread with a tiny portion of oil, looks like I’m not the first person to mention this, and for £60 a head I’d expected more! Did mention this to the staff when asked but all we were offered was a free shot lol! Unfortunately won’t return.

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John . 2023-09-30

MORE AT Google

Food was great. Service was also good

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D Schonfeldt . 2023-09-14

MORE AT Google

Excellent! Good food wine service and ambience. Top drawer!

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Brian Feltham-Daniels . 2023-09-02

MORE AT Google

Delightfully place Delicious food

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Phil Caira . 2023-08-31

MORE AT Google

Lovely restaurant. Brilliant food, great atmosphere!

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Jon Smith . 2023-08-27

MORE AT Google

Lovely friendly family run place. Wine good, but pricey. Friend had a risotto, lacked flavour. I had a vegan pasta dish and again, no depth of taste. The pea side dish was lovely though and that brought extra flavour to my main. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals, so maybe we just made bad choices.

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Tania M . 2023-08-27

MORE AT Google

Should have somebody at the door as you enter as it was totally disorganized.Over charged for drinks and one of tbe deserts was awful .

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Sue Johnson . 2023-08-26

MORE AT Google

The food was delicious so I thank the chefs. However, the service was not great and I had to ask for them to take our food order after about 30-40 minutes since arrival. As a customer I felt very forgotten about by the waiters which made the atmosphere feel somewhat unwelcoming. However one waiter, a gentleman, was very happy and cheerful which lightened the atmosphere a bit. Definitely worth a trip for the tasty food, but the service must improve as dining should be a whole package.

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Bella Esposito . 2023-07-09

MORE AT Google

Food was delicious however the service would have been better in a weatherspoons. Apart from the initial food and drink order we never saw our waiter again, not even walking around the tables so God knows where he hid. Also, they add a 10% service charge to the bill but in small print at the bottom it states it optional but you need to ask for it to be removed.

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Phil Davies . 2023-07-04

MORE AT Google

Really nice food and well taken care of by the staff. Finally a place in the uk where they serve a pizza carbonara.

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Tom Craven . 2023-06-30

MORE AT Google

Best Italian restaurant in the area - highly recommended. Had the seafood pasta and my partner the pizza - everything was great. Very popular and it shows whenever we come. A must for anyone who wants to have authentic Italian food which is hard to find even in Italy!

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Alex Ioannou . 2023-06-30

MORE AT Google

Very authentic Italian restaurant!

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Matt Blain . 2023-06-29

MORE AT Google

Food was super, the staff were very friendly and a nice relaxing Atmosphere

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jason pask . 2023-06-28

MORE AT Google

For anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience in Norwich, this is the best of the best.... Food is ridiculously good, everything is so fresh and takes me back to holidays as a child on the med. The menu is the real deal with some fantastic options for all palettes – there is also opportunity to try something a bit different If you wish, given that snails and frogs legs are on the menu! Could have been a little more attentive on drinks this time, but was happy to see you with a full house which says enough really! Smiley, happy and upbeat staff. Will forever return!

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Mitchell Park . 2023-06-26

MORE AT Google

Love this place. Authentic Italian food, be mindful that some dishes require a separate order of sides otherwise you may go hungry. Overall though one of my faves in Norwich.

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Chris Faraday . 2023-06-19

MORE AT Google

Very nice food at this Italian restaurant tucked out the way near the cathedral. Had the gnocchi, very tasty as was the tirimisu. Would certainly visit again next time we are in Norwich.

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VJ B . 2023-06-17

MORE AT Google

The best restaurant I’ve ever been to, from the food to the atmosphere, amazing.

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millie . 2023-06-17

MORE AT Google

Italian restaurant on Princes Street in Norwich City centre Gorgeous food and great atmosphere and service Only a few feet away from Norwich cathedral Within 10 mins walk from castle and Norwich Market And also a few pay and display car parks and large multi storey car park

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Samantha . 2023-05-30

MORE AT Google

Very tasty fresh food, friendly family run restaurant. Busy atmosphere.

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Sue Rowland . 2023-05-27

MORE AT Google

Staff and atmosphere very good. However, the food was a massive disappointment. The focaccia was more like a brioche loaf with a tiny dish of oil and balsamic. The olives were mushy. I went for penne Alfredo. It was not a cheese sauce it was too thick and had melted stringy cheese running through it. It also had a strange curry flavour running through it. My partner was initially brought the wrong dish, which the staff corrected very quickly. He had fusilli Botticelli which was bland with no hint of wine or garlic and contained very little chicken. The service charge was automatically added and when we said we were disappointed with the food we were offered a free shot by way of compensation.

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Samantha Smith . 2023-05-21

MORE AT Google

The food is quite good but very salty. Portions generous and a lot of the more expensive ingredients are used in most dishes. Lovely old building and good service. It was incredibly noisy on our visit, to the extent that conversation was almost impossible.

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Tim Smith . 2023-05-11

MORE AT Google

Very good food and service. Pleasant atmosphere. Recommended if you are staying in Norwich.

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Ian Draper . 2023-04-26

MORE AT Google

We have been coming to Trattoria Rustica since we were young and it doesn't change, traditional food in rustic surroundings. So why not 5stars? The Pollo Michelangelo was lovely but the asparagus was in large peices which was a disparity to the other ingredients, the electric blue cocktail was over sweet and not nice and the Affogatto was more a coffee sundae, sorry guys, but we will always return here.

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Tony Parkins . 2023-04-14

MORE AT Google

Food was not up to my standard. Dishes were not Italian. Food poisoning from the prawns pasta dish. Will not recommend this place to friends

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Tas Ahmad . 2023-04-11

MORE AT Google

Excellent location, food and service, a great food experience

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Stephen Robson . 2023-04-11

MORE AT Google

Had to chase the bill 3 times, at which the proprieter had am argument over the service being rubbish. Did good, service deteriorated through the night to the point of being ignored.

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Ian Scott . 2023-04-08

MORE AT Google

Great meal, service and atmosphere. Very busy and vibrant.

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Patrick Draper . 2023-03-26

MORE AT Google

Excellent food, really enjoyed the meal I had here. It is a little on the expensive side, but portions are ample and it all seems super fresh. Fully recommend.

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Emily . 2023-03-24

MORE AT Google

Great authentic Italian food and lovely staff.

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Emily Sharratt-Woodrow . 2023-03-23

MORE AT Google

Unfortunately went yesterday as a group of 8 with high expectations. We had to pre order food due to a larger group and then had to wait over 1.5 hours for our starts which we even had to request to come out. They forgot one starter also, so one person was eating late. The main then took a very long time to come out and the waiters and waitresses didn’t even know the names of the meals which was very unprofessional, one waiter said “salmon pasta” that we hadn’t ordered and made a joke saying oh he must of got all your prawns? It was just so unprofessional. Very let down

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Lucy Gladd . 2023-03-19

MORE AT Google

Delicious authentic Italian food. Great atmosphere. Would visit each night if I could.

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William Thompson . 2023-03-19

MORE AT Google

Food was absolutely delicious, staff were really friendly. (only got photos of the desserts!)

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Jonathan Baker . 2023-03-11

MORE AT Google

Love this place. A friendly, family run restaurant. It's always busy and the food and people are great 👍.

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IanRower . 2023-03-04

MORE AT Google

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and the food was even better than expected.

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Nick Boulton . 2023-03-04

MORE AT Google

Lovely meals and excellent service . Great atmosphere and would highly recommend.

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Rachel Driver . 2023-02-26

MORE AT Google

Wow authenticity, lovely food, excellent service. Would definitely recommend and have recommended.

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Eric Wilson . 2023-02-25

MORE AT Google

The restaurant is very nice and spacious. We found the food to be disappointing. My wife's pizza base was slightly undercooked but flavorsome, and my pork dish was just OK. The Pea, ham and cheese side dish was overflowing with cheese, which overpowered the peas and ham. The restaurant had no front of house causing two potential customers to walk out after a wait of about 5mins plus, as they were not greeted nor spoken to.

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paul duncan . 2023-02-21

MORE AT Google

VERY DISAPPOINTING AVOID- Just had the most disgusting experience in this restaurant. My partner booked a table for a Valentine’s Day meal, which was a set menu. We arrived at 08:30pm and were shown to our table. We ordered some drinks and I asked if we could have some olives on the table while we await ordering our starters, the waitress explained this wasn’t possible as it wasn’t part of the set menu - which I found weird, considering if I visited the restaurant tomorrow I would be able to order olives. Anyway! Whilst waiting we heard a lady at the table next to us tell a waiter that if her starter didn’t arrive soon she would ‘start eating the table’. Meanwhile another table asked when their starters would arriving as they had been waiting so long.. they decided to leave straight after their starters were served, they left without paying and seemed very angry. The atmosphere in the restaurant was intense and unenjoyable. We were asked if we were ready to order at around 9:00pm to which we agreed, the waiter then explained that he would go and find someone to take our order (why he couldn’t take it there and then.. I don’t know!). We got to 09:25 pm and quite honestly we were starving (still hadn’t ordered)…we had to ask a waiter AGAIN to order. We then finally were allowed to ordered. The service throughout was appalling. Waiters pacing between the front door and the back of the restaurant. No waiter assigned to our table. Waiters would make eye contact with you and smile then just pace back and fourth. Everyone seemed like they didn’t know what they were doing. Our starters arrived at 09:35 after over an hour of being at the restaurant.. The food in general was OK - definitely not worth the money or the wait. Quite honestly we were disappointed and wanted to go home. Considering it was a set menu, you’d think it would be easy to offer a quicker service. We were then asked if we were ready for our main meal ( STUPID QUESTION - YESSS). I had stomach cramps as I had reached that over hungry stage. Our main meal was brought to us at 10pm. No apology from the waiters. On taking away our main meal they asked if we were ready for dessert. At this point I was in no way prepared to wait for a dessert. I explained this to the waiter, who said ‘You will still have to pay for your desserts’. I stated how I wouldn’t be paying for the desserts. He apologised for the poor service but expressed how busy the restaurant had been, and stated ‘it is Valentine’s Day after all’. I was taken aback by this comment, the restaurant should not be catering for more tables, if they cannot offer a decent level of service. The waiter offered for us to speak to the manager. When my boyfriend spoke to the manager he made excuses such as ‘we don’t want to rush people to order, we prefer our customers to approach us’. Some communication wouldn’t have gone a miss. Overall he was unapologetic, rude and very abrupt- expressing that they were very busy. He denied that people were leaving tables and stated that ‘they are my friends, I know them’. Seemed coincidental to me. Our evening was already ruined we didn’t have the energy to argue any further. When I paid the bill, the manager agreed to take off the desserts - a measly £5.95 per person. The meal still cost just over £80. This was extremely disappointing and really tarnished our valentines evening. Last week we ate out at a Michelin awarded restaurant and the bill cost a similar price and the service, food and experience was 100x better. Trattoria Rustica do better.

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Ella Jennings . 2023-02-15

MORE AT Google

Excellent food and service. Very friendly.

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Colin Southward . 2023-02-15

MORE AT Google

Lovely meal, nice atmosphere, kids enjoyed their pizzas, I had a nice starter and meal too. So all positive until the bill had automatic service charge added. I’d highly recommend that you adopt a more transparent policy with your “service charges” it’s embarrassing to have to ask for this to be removed and is very awkward for family’s that are already feeling the pinch. Not how I wanted to end a nice meal out with my family. Thanks for the lovely meal though just sort that automatic additional charge out and it’s 5 star from us.

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matt clayton . 2023-02-04

MORE AT Google

The best Italian place in Norwich. Tasty food and reasonable prices. Suggest booking a table as it can be quite busy at the weekends.

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Anastasiia Lomaka . 2023-01-29

MORE AT Google

We visited mid-week so not many other diners. A lovely welcome, great menu choices and warm friendly staff. 😊

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Tara Welsh . 2023-01-20

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I guess it was all round pretty good here - it's cosy, the menu was good, the service was friendly and they were happy to switch pastas in the meals. But I dunno, a couple things just rubbed me up the wrong way and left me looking at this place with probably a less than deserved low opinion, and I think 4/5 is likely more warranted that the 2-3 impression I walked away with. Upon arrival, there is no greeting service or indication of where to go / wait to be directed to a table. Then, when one chappy was leaving early and wanted to square up, they insisted the table (of six) not split the bill but pay all together, also including an obligatory service charge, neither of which had we been forewarned about. Simple things.

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Jeremiah Tidey . 2022-12-26

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Had a fantastic meal. 😊 I struggle to understand the negative reviews about this place but I guess everyone has different experiences. Everything we had was wonderful, from the Snails and Zucchini to start to the beautifully light Tiramisu and the delicious Sebadas. Can't fault a thing about this place. Will definitely be back on our next visit to Norwich!!

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D R . 2022-12-24

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Awful food. Linguine Al Salmone tasted like an ash tray! I actually had to ask another party member to taste it because I was so shocked. Sides and mains arrived seperately and half the table served later than others (with other tables being served in between). When we complained, the waiter blamed the kitchen and got permission to deduct one side from the bill... which benefited one member of the party only. Used to go here often but really not worth the money now. Highly disappointed. Unfortunately, the following morning after posting this review, the restaurant emailed the party member who had booked the table to "ban" me from the restaurant for writing this review, which clearly shows that they intimidate customers who speak freely about their experience. The email to that family member (who had posted no review themselves and whose birthday it was) experienced great distress as a result. The restaurant states that I am a liar for saying I was overcharged and that I don't know what salmon tastes like. I struggle to understand how a professional business operates when treating its customers this way - to respond to an honest review with threats and insults is shocking. However, in fairness to the restaurant, they did allow me to remove my portion of the "optional" service charge, though other members of the party who felt too embarrassed to challenge staff still paid theirs. Fortunately the restaurant's poorly written response below gives some insight into the gist of the email. Apparently entering into a public slanging match is how they handle things. For clarity, the pasta and potatoes were ordered by different guests and the complaint about service was raised at the point the food was brought over. Based on their attitude alone, I would recommend this place is avoided. There are so many lovely restaurants in Norwich so please select another!

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Hazel Alicia . 2022-12-22

MORE AT Google

Food is excellent, service was non existent

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Keith . 2022-12-13

MORE AT Google

Lovely meal. Good value, lovely service. Would go again.

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Stuart Stebbens . 2022-12-09

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This just goes to show why you cannot trust reviews. How has this place received 4-5 stars?! 😂. I was stunned at the bad quality of the food here, especially for the price as well. Not authentic whatsoever. My pizza was tasteless, made with cheap reformed ham and frozen chicken pieces, with watery mushrooms. My friend had the liver dish. Totally overcooked and not fresh. The sharing antipasti for 2 was clearly out of a packet of meats, with gross pieces of slimly vegetables out of jars on the side. Oh, and the 'cheese' in the middle was just like a bought cream cheese from a tub. Have the owners even been to Italy? It really was bad. The quality of the wine they sell is also very bad...... charging customers £26 for a bottle of the cheapest Pinot Grigio which you can buy for just £6.25. if you want authentic Italian food, do not go here. It really is not good. Service and staff were ok though.

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H Bull . 2022-11-27

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Starters were questionable but the main course was good. Pricing-wise it feels a bit expensive for Norwich. The atmosphere was pleasant (if you discount the noise, as there appeared to be a large gathering on my visit) and the decor was superb. However, the menu design did give me a “chain restaurant” vibe. I had the calamari and unfortunately it felt like it was of low quality or frozen (it was kind of mushy/doughy and didn’t taste of much). I then opted for the gnocchi which was better and I enjoyed it. A strange observation is that they serve you a spoon of grated parmesan rather than grate it over for you fresh (maybe it is a remnant of Covid procedures?). It wasn’t enough for me so I had to ask for more. Service was okay. We were served by a gentleman and a lady. The lady was much friendlier and attentive than the gentleman (who seemed to forget my request for more parmesan). Having been to this restaurant in the past, it feels like a shell of its former self and it’s not a place that stands out (it might as well have been a Bella Italia).

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Johnny NV . 2022-11-26

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As I arrived at this establishment I was greeted by the owner in a very distasteful way. This in itself made me feel hesitant but I still sat down, I then ordered the gnocchi but it tasted as if it was from Asda or Sainsburys. I would much rather eat at Zizzi

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firat caner . 2022-11-21

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Booked a table for Saturday night to celebrate my 21st birthday, loved everything about the restaurant. Our food was fantastic quality and very generous portion sizes. Had three courses and each one was just as amazing as the last. Service was excellent, all the waiters were friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend eating here and am very likely to come back.

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Daniel De'ath . 2022-11-21

MORE AT Google

Quality Italian food. Perfectly presented, tasted lovely. Huge variety of menu. Excellent service. Restaurant very busy sign of a good restaurant. Best Italian in Norwich...

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barry newman . 2022-11-20

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Lovely vibe and busy reflects how good this Italian is. Family owned, food amazing, cooked how Italian food should be with flavours, top quality natural ingredients. Menu choice a plenty for starters and mains and desert. Presentation similar to Michelin chefs. Best Italian in Norwich if not in Norfolk for me. You pay a bit more than high St Italian chain but well worth it and sevice is excellent.

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Barry Newman . 2022-11-19

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A hand full of pasta, some sauce about 6 pieces of chicken and a beer for £25 . Not cheap, and certainly won't be back anytime this century. 😅

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garry day . 2022-11-06

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Insult to Italians. Nice surroundings but Very expensive for the area and what you get. Processed meat in the least authentic sauces you can imagine. If you don’t like traditional pasta head here or save your money and head to Zizzi or get a Pasta n’ sauce as both are more authentic. £28 for the worst Carbonara and a glass of house wine. Waitress and music were good.

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reesyo100 . 2022-11-02

MORE AT Google

Brilliant atmosphere and food is great. Very traditional. Drinks are a little overpriced

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William Hamilton . 2022-10-29

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We were part of a group of 8 for a surprise birthday meal. We all had to pre order our food apart from the birthday girl, (not sure why a party of 8 had to pre order!) it had been agreed that they could choose their meal on the night. Despite all the party being on time, the starters came out before birthday girl had ordered or theirs, also drinks had not been served. Yes they took the starters away, but was a disappointing start. Food was ok, nothing special really, portion size was fine, service did get better. Nice and lively atmosphere. They have a birthday cake charge of £3.50 for each member of the party, so would have been £28 for them to bring a cake out, needless to say -- no birthday cake! I kind of get it, as a birthday cake often means customers don't order desserts All in all, was OK.

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Chris Davis . 2022-10-25

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The food was bang average and the staff shot daggers at us everytime we requested anything. Wouldn't recommend

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Jack Lewis . 2022-10-18

MORE AT Google

Grosse déception dans ce restaurant que l'on nous avait recommandé. Des linguines à la vongole épicées ! Des spaghettis fruti di mare quelconques... Un accueil assez froid.

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Franck MESLIN . 2022-10-14

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