New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Sal Rose Restaurant

by Sarah
13th May 2013

Went here for mothers day dinner. Food was great, all very happy with the meals and drinks. Waitress was friendly and even asked how mothers day was going. Suprisingly service didnt take too long even though the resturant appeared to be fully booked. Will be back again

by Rowena S.
11th May 2013

Very disappointing service!
We booked a table for 8:30 and all went well until the waitresses started leaving at 9pm. Once our entree was finished our entree plates and empty wine glass sat on our table for 45 minutes until I took them up to the bar myself and asked for a glass of wine.
No apology from the manager, no discount and no attempt to repair the situation.

by James W.
15th April 2013

Great atmosphere, Good layout, Friendly staff.

Dining for two, Ordered the Eye Fillet and the Spaghetti Ragu with a side of meatballs, Duck confit ravioli and special flat bread for starters with the platter for desert.

The eye fillet was what you expected i found the mushroom ragu lacked a little on the flavor and seasoning side however the steak was cooked perfectly.

The Spaghetti Ragu was the star. the short rib used was melt in the mouth and the flavors complimented each other perfectly and was a nice large serve.

The starter duck ravioli was quite confusing flavour wise having quite a high acidic value from the sauce which really over powered the duck which seemed a little over done i would recommend a lighter sauce to accompany the ravioli however the flat bread was cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and seasonal.

The desert platter was a nice way to be introduced to the deserts offered at Sal Rose, While i was not much of a fan of the Tiramisu being a little dry and flavorless the brownie was moist chocolatey with a good crunch and the creme brulee was one of the best i have had. perfect crack on the top rich and creamy on the inside.

The wait staff were a little … under busy as i see on the other reviews. They spent a lot of time walking back and forwards a tad aimlessly however they were very friendly and well mannered i think perhaps on quieter times they would be in need of something else to do.

My rating – 4/5 – Great good, Good wait staff, A couple strange executions however the flavors were there and the atmosphere with the pictures gives you a really nice homely feeling and it was quite enjoyable.

by Robert P.
6th February 2013

Really like this place – real hearty American-Italian style food. The vegetarian lasagne is to die for – thinking of it now is making me feel hungry!

Decor is fun but perhaps more privacy in the ‘booths’ would be nice? The desserts are pleasant enough, and the Italian language lessons in the bathroom are a nice touch.

by Ash R.
19th January 2013

LOVE it, this is my favourite place to eat. Been here plenty of times and every time has been really good. Definitely five stars. The beer selection is nice too, and all the meals I’ve tried have been delicious

by Debs
18th January 2013

Wow! Delicious pizza! They offer gluten free pizza bases which are up there with the best in Auckland. My husband who’s not gluten free had a regular pizza and was impressed also. Loved the atmosphere… casual dining set up with comfy booth seat option…I would definitely go back. Loved my Tuscan red wine too.

by Erin
10th January 2013

I was staying in Auckland for a few days with a friend who took me to Sal Rose for a late birthday dinner. I have been there with him a few times before and always found it ok, although often a bit rushed. This time, though, we were very disappointed with the whole evening. The wine arrived in a large glass with a small amount in the bottom – I’m sure less than the standard 150ml glass. The caramelised onion pizza bread was delicious. My pork belly was ok, a little stringy, but I ate it. My friend’s pollo alla capri had a sauce that tasted rotten oranges. He has often had the same meal and always enjoyed it, but this was not enjoyable at all. When we told the waiter about the horrible sauce he said he would speak to the manager and see if anything could be arranged and then pointedly ignored us for the rest of our meal! My friend eventually just ate the chicken, as the risotto was inedible with the horrible sauce all through it. We mentioned it again to the cashier who, after first of all trying to get us to pay the whole bill, then took the price of the drinks off. It was an altogether unenjoyable evening and I most definitely will not be going to Sal Rose again.

Comment from David M. of Sal Rose Restaurant 18/01/2013    Hide »

Hi, My name is David and I’m the owner of Sal Rose and thank you…    More »

Hi,
My name is David and I’m the owner of Sal Rose and thank you for sharing your feedback. We need to know when we aren’t doing things well and I’m deeply concerned that your experience at Sal Rose fell short of your expectations and also our usual high standards. It is very disappointing that both the quality of food and the standard of service were so poor on the night that you came to dine. Unfortunately it was our managers last week and although that it no excuse it did result in standards slipping to an unacceptable level. We now have a new restaurant manager and we have taken your concerns seriously and all our staff have been made aware that this sort of experience is not one we will tolerate again.

by Jamie S.
25th October 2012

I was going to delete this after they noticed it but then they emailed me basically telling me off for not talking to them on the night and requesting I come in and discuss it over a drink! . I HAD voiced my disappointment on the night – the bartender just laughed at me….

After coming to this restaurant often over the last five years we have decided this was our last time. The pizza we had (caprese) was bland, sparse and extremely overpriced. A token scattering of fresh basil on top of a heavy dose if dried herbs. Also a disappointing amount of fresh mozzarella. It was dry. Worst pizza ever. The best pizza I ever had was the same type so…
Service is fine and the wine is great. Decor is pretty dated and the selection of cheesy jazz is annoying. The extravagant kids packs don’t really compensate. Ciao Sal Rose!

by David B.
20th August 2012

We headed along on a Tuesday night and Sal Rose only had a few full table so there was no need to book.

Service was very good and the meals arrived quickly.

My Tortellini ripieni ai carciofi was ok but I found the lemon within the sauce to be too strong. The Parmigiana di melanzane which my partner had was fine.

There is parking at the door, however I would not travel too far to find this place.

by Helle
7th May 2012

The best pizza in Auckland !
Okay I am biased as its also our “local” but the pizza’s are the best I have ever had.
Don’t get to dine in as often as we like, but the takeaway pizza is a hit ! Hot and delicious and so full of flavor.
Top marks

by Neil D.
24th April 2012

What can I say the food was wonderful. Breads to start. There specialty bread was awesome. I can’t remember what it was called but it was like a small pizza. Lovely. Unfortunately we had a new waiter who was just learning (nice guy though) and mucked up my starter so it arrived after my main and I was full then so I didn’t get to try. However the 2 pizzas and the 2 pastas we ordered were delicious. In fact I would say the pizza I had was up there with the best I have had. Will definitely be going back.

by Sarah
21st April 2012

We have to been to Sal Rose a few times now. I’m gluten intolerant, and went to this place after hearing they offered gluten free pizza and pasta. It’s really nice having a place I can eat at

Went there last night, the food was amazing as always. I had one of their gluten free pastas, it was so really really good. The stand out thing about this place is the service. There is one waiter in particular that has remembered us from the beggining and he is exceptionally welcoming, accomodating and friendly. We dine out every friday and I would hands down say he is the best waiter I have met in Auckland.

We will definitely be back again and again and again.

by Sam D.
24th October 2011

I’ve eaten here about haf a dozen times, great atmosphere, good service, nice wine list.
Pasts and pizzas are fantastic, highly recommended.
The mains however are a little so so, otherwise would definitely be a 5/5.

by Sarah
21st September 2011

I went there with a good sized group last week and we all loved our food. I have been there a few times before and recommended Sal Rose to friends because of the great experiences in the past. My favourite item is the beef rib- delicious! But pasta, pizza and other mains are all good too. Good sized meals and the staff will even put the rest of your pizza etc in container for you to take home. The meals are a bit pricey for a suburban restaurant but offer reasonable value. Service on this occasion was not as polished as other times; for example, a number of drinks orders were brought out incorrectly.

by Richard W.
1st July 2011

Love the food and the atomsphere there.
Service is quite good. Price is reasonable too.
Really love their pizza. But the steak was a bit disappointing

by Whitney2011
16th May 2011

Food – very tasty. Good wine. I have yet to taste a better fettuccine pollo dish in Auckland.

Service – Good. A bit too fast perhaps?

Atmosphere – OK. Could have been better. Seating arrangements are not ideal for privacy.

by Siobhan F.
17th September 2010

Quaint little place in Mt Albert. We enjoyed their pizzas and the pumpkin ravioli

by Alix M.
17th November 2009

Went there on a sunday night after it has been recommended to me by many of my friends. It’s so good to have a local restaurant that is so top notch! The food is great: I thoroughly enjoyed the pane (bread) entree and my pasta. Wines are very decent, the only thing that disappointed was the dessert – I think it could be brought up to a higher standard. The waiter was friendly and helpful but could have chatted a bit more, given that we were casual diners. All in all, I would recommend it and will be returning!

by Sandy
23rd August 2009

I normally love Sal Rose and have been going for many years, however Sunday nights is not the best night. My Hapuka was overcooked and the risotto was so salty that it was inedible. Our waiter for the night didnt do much at all besides clean up behind the counter, I had to call for service, we werent asked how our meals were either. We were given the dessert menus – we were ready and waitng to order but our waiter never came, he was busy cleaning behind the counter, so we left dissapointed. On the up side the menu and the wine menu is wonderful, maybe just dont go on Sundays.

by Sara
19th April 2009

This was my second visit to the place, the food as great again and although we didn’t book they still found us a seat after a drink at the bar. The only prob was… although the business had died out by the time we were eating, we still felt a bit rushed by the waitress. The side we sat on looked a bit tacky too and it was a tad cold even though we were dressed appropriately. All in all great food so can’t complaint.

by Jack T
9th March 2009

Dined there last night after finding out owner was tv host, the kitchen job. Was top notch. Worth a try if you are in the vicinity. Was very impressed. Class A service!

by Tsau
14th October 2008

All best memories of mine would be left here, with its nice owner, Mr. Palino. A place worthy of you coming…

by Tim Page
21st August 2008

Pleasant staff, responsive service, great food – especially the Pizzas! Good for kids, and a reasonable price too. Our choice of restaurant. Thanks for setting up a decent restaurant in our neighbourhood.

by sarah
12th August 2008

Love this place! The staff are always courteous and helpful even when the place is packed. The food is excellent, tasty pasta dishes, awesome pizza and lovely wine and the vegetarian options are quite nice as well. Unlike the above reviewer (were they at the right restaurant?) I find the desserts to always be a slight let down, but everything else is so delicious how can I complain?
The atmosphere is wonderful, too; a nice place for a date.

by Justin
11th June 2008

Nice busy atmosphere, pleasant staff, rushed service and terrible food. We had a three course meal and were in there for less than 50 minutes; it kind of felt like fast food.

My date and I had pasta and it was bland and unappealing, we had trouble forcing it down. Dessert however was excellent, so overall it’s a nice place to grab some Tiramisu and a drink if you’re in a rush. Don’t bother if you’re after decent Italian, you won’t find it here.

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