Reviews for Stuzzi
Thanks
Review by chachapuri (1), left on 22-08-2008 at 17:20
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Whilst surfing to find out about the restaurants listed in the James Squire Chef's Match and looking for Stuzzi, I came across these reviews.
Thank you. If a restaurant can get so many poor reviews (despite the good ones) then I would not bother wasting my time or money or palate going to a place that cannot acknowledge that perhaps their customers know more about food than their waiting staff.
In fact, one wonders why they were chosen to be part of the Chef's Match.
Thanks again, lets hope somebody sends them this URL. Actually, lets hope somebody sends it to James Squire as well.
Stuzzi Give it up!!
Review by Gordon (1), left on 30-05-2008 at 16:15
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I went to Stuzzi the other night as I am from Sydney and being a chef and writer and lover of food. I read some articles and tried out several cafe's on the Saturday. Can i just say the people that are writing positive reviews are either friends or were at the establishment when it was quiet.
I on the other hand was disgusted i ordered a fish dish which was cold and when i attempted to flag a waitress down she looked at me like she was doing me a favour.
Get over yourself Stuzzi, your melbounrne foodie crowd will shortly catch on, You need great chefs and passionate front of house staff to convey how great your establishment is and i am afraid you do none of these things.
Mind you getting up to leave, I witnessed the Manager telling a staff member off and saying " they are not getting their money back". Obviously I was not the only one with bad service and food.
Throw the towel in Stuzzi !!!
If you are wishing to discover great food and service ( as well that is what you paying for) then take a trip to Rathdowne st THE PARAGON cafe or LA LUNA or even TIAMO 2 have opened a 2nd restaurant and the pizzas are amazing. Yes they are Italian but the waiters are happy and attentive and know what they are doing.
I will be going back to Sydney and teaching my apprentices on what not do as per Stuzzi ethic.
Review is 1 as they had ok music on
Stuzzi and the truth
Review by critic101 (2), left on 26-02-2008 at 16:52
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i dine at stuzzi roughly three times a month, sometimes even more. But its time to talk about the food, they have a wide selection on the menu. And most of the items sound quite Intriguing. i have ordered and tried about 80% of the menu not including beverages. the quality of their dishes is fantastic (hinting why i go their so much). their meals are reasonably priced and to a higher quality then i had expected. their coffee and deserts are quite extraordinary, (especially the Churros Donuts). Their drink list is also quite long, and their Drinks are also to a Very High quality. i have recommended friends, family, and have even been invited to quite a few Big functions that they have had.
| Quote: |
| stuzzi Good work, keep it up |
nothing but the best
Review by anthony_D (1), left on 26-02-2008 at 16:50
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i have been an on going customer at stuzzi for the last 5 years. Every time i've been there i have recieved the best service food and drinks. i have recomended a number of friends to go there and they have all been extremly pleased with everything. The staff is friendly and welcoming and the food is sensational. they have also organized functions for my brother who was extremly pleased with their large range of set menus and there flexibility.
Impressed with Stuzzi!
Review by critic101 (2), left on 26-02-2008 at 16:34
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After reading recent negative reviews about Stuzzi, i was quite disappointed. I have been living in the area a long time and tried many of the surrounding cafes and restaurants. I would like to emphasise, i don't know what all the complaints are about. I have continually been very impressed with the sylish venue and the quality of food. The Stuzzi staff and management are all very helpful and well spoken.
I am not one to wonder around leaving reviews, i believe a restaurant that has been around as long as Stuzzi will do well upon it's own merit, but in this case i can see a restaurant that is an integral part of the High St. Northcote culture being given a bad reputation for no reason.
I have been to Stuzzi on many occasions (often at least once a week) and have not experienced any of the rude behaviour or long waiting times for any meal as claimed by other reviewers. On the contrary, i have been quite impressed with their efficiency and well presented meals, quite unlike "smorgy's" as claimed by another reviewer. Stuzzi has always catered to my allergy requirements quite willingly. Never failing to deliever great tasting, fresh, quality food and service.
I am a happy Stuzzi customer and also in the hospitality industry myself, and would just like to set the record straight, Stuzzi has lovely food, is great value and very accomodating!
Another bites the dust for Stuzzi..
Review by rendou (2), left on 25-02-2008 at 21:31
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It just so happens that i spoke with my chef buddies and they all went to check it out to see if it really was that bad and guess what.
It is.
A good friend of mine went for dinner and waited one hour and 45 minutes for the entree and when he asked the waiter about it the waiter advised soon it is coming soon.
In the end my friend did receive his meal after one hour and 45 minutes and guess what yep the meal was totally horrific and a waste of time... he said it reminded him of SMORGY's food not of a cool cafe restaurant or what stuzzi is trying to be.
He then advised that the reason the waiters couldn't care less was obviously the manager was happy with what he has. But then again what would my mate know he only started the restaurant fifteeen with Jamie Oliver 
Sorry stuzzi that's twice in a row for me I agree with the other people that wrote there are lots of more yummy restaurants opening up in North cote so just watch and make sure you open your purse to a retailer that actually serves you quality food and great service ..i mean in the end that is what you are paying for ...or else you may as well stay home and eat baked beans.
Overall ZERO from my mate
extremely happy
Review by dave (2), left on 25-02-2008 at 19:50
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I have seen the negative reviews of stuzzi and must say i disagree 100%.
I have been to stuzzi many times over the past 2 years since moving to the area. The venue is sylish and offers table seating and lounges. I have been with friends and family all of whom have been happy with service and food. I have also taken work colleagues for lunch meetings. The large wooden tables provide excellent group seating.
Over the years i have gotten to know the staff well, all have been polite and efficient from the first visit. The menu offers great choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, most of which i have tried, and have never had a problem. In fact, I have had nothing but pleasant experiences from Stuzzi. I have had plentiful great tasting food and well mannered staff.
Don't know what everyone else is talking about. Try it out for yourself, i'm sure you will enjoy it.
extremely happy
Review by dave (2), left on 25-02-2008 at 19:50
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I have seen the negative reviews of stuzzi and must say i disagree 100%.
I have been to stuzzi many times over the past 2 years since moving to the area. The venue is sylish and offers table seating and lounges. I have been with friends and family all of whom have been happy with service and food. I have also taken work colleagues for lunch meetings. The large wooden tables provide excellent group seating.
Over the years i have gotten to know the staff well, all have been polite and efficient from the first visit. The menu offers great choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, most of which i have tried, and have never had a problem. In fact, I have had nothing but pleasant experiences from Stuzzi. I have had plentiful great tasting food and well mannered staff.
Don't know what everyone else is talking about. Try it out for yourself, i'm sure you will enjoy it.
What the?
Review by rendou (2), left on 24-02-2008 at 16:44
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I went to Stuzzi on Sunday morning for a spot of breakfast and a cup of coffee.
Browsed the menu and so far so good ordered poached eggs and bacon which the waiter (who spoke broken english) came back and asked me how i wanted my eggs?
Then within 5 minutes i am not joking 5 minutes my girlfriend and my meal arrived. My girlfriend ordered an omelette and i ordered the poached eggs and bacon on toast.
To my horror i looked at the plate and the bacon was black and looked like it had been cooked and sat there waiting for an order.
I contemplated eating it (i hate sending things back).
I am a chef and have been for over 15 years and i knew what bacon cooked should look like and this was not it.
I then proceeded to cut my egg and thought i would just leave the bacon and eat my eggs to my horror again the egg was raw that's right raw!!! Now i know how to poach an egg i was taught at the age of 22 for 3 weeks on poaching eggs not that hard really but if you take the egg out of the water one minute too soon well then you have a raw poached egg. But the unknown foody this looks cooked and yummy. Not so!
The white albumen which encases the yolk should be white with a hint of clear albumen but my eggs were clear runny and disgusting.
I then proceeded to advise my waiter who replied "i dont know what you want me to do"? I advised him to " Get the manger".
He then came back and advised 'you will need to pay for the plate".
He proceeded to tell a young girl working behind the bar and i couldnt sit still i got up and proceed to advise that the eggs were raw and the bacon was burnt. I advised that i am not one to complain or create a fuss but i could not eat this.
This young lady proceeded to advise me in an arrogant manner that there was 2 ways to poach an egg. 'oh really is there as i thought there was only one which there only one way"
I proceeded to advise the lady that she was thinking about a boiled egg and poached was a little different.
She then advised there was nothing wrong with the food and that it was fine.
Not only was she rude and interrupting when i spoke but hello i know food.
I then proceeded to advised i want to help you not make your day hell.
I walked back to my seat and my girlfriend was put off her omelette and we got up to pay and the girl was there again.
She ended our horrific experience with i saw your eggs and they were fine and so was the bacon.
I said excuse me but would you eat the bacon, she then fooled herself and said ok the bacon was a little burnt.
Make your mind up idiot, i thought.
The thing that bugs me is that these people have a licence to run a business and sell food and these people are not creating an enviroment where you would want to go back.
Stuzzi while you can close the shop or better still get your chefs to speak to my mate Adrian Richardson of La Luna in Carlton i am sure he will teach you a million things and one of them being how to poach an egg.
Never going back but upset that my feedback was taken on board si rudely and not acknowdleged.
Overall is below a 1..
agree with all above totally
Review by debo (1), left on 23-02-2008 at 12:49
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Having been to Stuzzi once or twice for a coffee with friends and finding it a reasonable meeting place, thought it would be nice to go there for a meal one night with friends.
Big mistake, the waitress that seated us was pleasant and we ordered drinks and they arrived fairly promptly. We studied the menu for a while and then gave the waiter our order, what he did with that order we dont know, other ppl came in after us, ordered, and ate. we asked one of the waitressess which it is not easy to get their attention or get them to come and check to see if you require anything, where our meal were, we had ordered nearly an hour ago. Unless they were going out to freshly catch the fish,, maybe that was the reason for having to wait.
She went and checked the computer and our order was not even on there, she quickly reordered for us. and after an hour and half of waiting our meal arrived.
They were good meal.. not the greatest.. our original waiter could hardly speak english and i am sure doing his best, but not good enough.
Wont be going back, better service , better food over the road in northcote,,and yummy chocolate.[b]
the rudest staff ever!
Review by ella-belle (1), left on 20-10-2007 at 19:09
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I have been to stuzzis many times now, as they are the closest to my home. I have always found the service to be very slow, and the cocktails dreadful, but found that if you keep going and finding a waitress, and order beer or wine, that its OK because the food was decent and plentiful. I have dietary restrictions, and today my favourite dish (the Goats Cheese Salad) was brought out with the Goats cheese spread on a piece of toast sitting on top of a much smaller Salad than normal. I explained that I am gluten free, and often order this dish. The waitress very nicely offered for me to order something else instead. Then the manager came out, and started telling me off (loud enough for the rest of the customers to turn and stare) for not reading the menu properly - and telling me I am LYING that the dish has ALWAYS been served like that, and NEVER been served any other way. I said he shouldnt tell me I'm lying, and appealed to 2 other people at the table, who each confirmed that they had been there with me and watched me eat this dish before - its usually a large leafy salad in a bowl! So the manager ordered us out of the restaurant! I got kicked out! He said he would rather kick us all out without paying than put up with customers who cant read "encrouton" on the menu!
I have never had such an experience in my life! And all because I am physicaly allergic to gluten!
Warning - this place has the worst attitude to "hospitality" I have ever come across!
Better value elsewhere
Review by jmbau (21), left on 29-09-2007 at 12:39
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I've had similar experiences to the previous reviewer. Staff don't appear to be interested in you at all, they rarely come near you & practically have to be pounced on. And the food is nothing special - in fact reasonably ordinary. I wouldn't bother again. It looks stylish... but looks are deceiving.
Let down
Review by annette72 (2), left on 27-02-2007 at 14:23
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Went to Stuzzi on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday with my partner, and we were both extremely disappointed. We had previously been to Stuzzi for breakfast during the week, the food was nice, without being anything special, as was the service. However when looking for a reasonably priced local venue to have a meal on a Saturday night, we thought Stuzzi would be a good option.
When we first were seated, the restaurant was not too busy, the waitress took our drinks order fairly prompltly and then our orders were taken. The choices on the menu were very good, and all sounded very appetising. By the time we got our meals, the place was quite busy; we sat through our whole meal without any sign of waiting staff asking us if we wanted any more drinks or even if our food was ok. The food was again, quite lovely without being spectacular. Quite a while after we finished eating our plates were taken, we had to ask for more drinks; which were quickly deposited on our table without a word from the waitress. We then made several attempts to get the attention of waiting staff, as we were wanting to order coffee and dessert. Yet it appeared as we were only a table of two, that all the larger tables were much more important. After 15/20 minutes of being ignored, we went to the counter to pay, not one member of staff asked us how the meal was, or even greeted us at the counter! I stated as we paid that we would not be returning again.
Stuzzi has a very stylish look to it, but the food is like most other good cafes/restaurants, and the service is appalling. Very disappointing, thank God Northcote has plenty of other great venues to dine at.
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