New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Stefano’s Pizzeria

by Jay G.
19th November 2009

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

The best pizza in NZ! I’m a regular and always have great customer service with a smile. Steve the owner is awesome and a great entertainer, ask him to sing the dessert menu to you in an italian accent(you will be in stitches!). Lovely outdoor courtyard during summertime, cosy restaurant when its nippy. great place! you have to try!!

by Melissa W.
17th November 2012

Customer service was good friendly and helpful we got 2 takeaway pizzas to share between four and they were terrible, they were very tasteless overpriced half cold and didn’t seem like they were cooked properly. We were very disappointed and left feeling hungry won’t be going back there!

by rosie
9th September 2012

The pizzas here are some of the most delicious in the world…including Italy. The bases are really thin, savoury, and nicely blistered by the hot hot proper stone over. But more important, the toppings are generous with properly good ingredients. Expect things like artichoke hearts, lashings of smoked salmon, ricotta, unusually tasty fennel salami, feta, fresh seasonal herbs. It is quality food, made very affordable, and there’s something on that menu for everyone from gourmets to kids.
Oh, the gardens are rather beautifully lit, subtropical, and delightful in summer.
Waiheke is full of uptight vineyards or mediocre restaurants. This one stands out for authenticity and informality. I’ve been about ten times and it’s great.

by clubmanouche
18th January 2012

Have been to Stefanos a few times and know many others who go there for their great authentic pizzas and live music. A great summer spot

by Sam E.
14th January 2012

Visited for the third time now and was very disappointed with the latest menu.. It would seem every dish is now designed to be quick and easy, in order to turn tables.

Also you will find no meat based dishes, no chicken, beef, lamb.. No lasagna, cannelloni, bolognese or even prosciutto on any pizza.

It’s still a hit if you enjoy simple (basic, traditional) Italian style pizza.
Good quick service as always..

We shared a few pizzas and left hungry so had mains and desert at another restaurant.

Comment from Stephen H. of Stefano’s Pizzeria 23/01/2012    Hide »

Hi Sam it’s Stephen Hollins here owner of Stefano’s Pizzeria on…    More »

Hi Sam it’s Stephen Hollins here owner of Stefano’s Pizzeria on Waiheke.
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. We value feedback as it gives us an opportunity to develop and improve the business.

Sam I’m very concerned about your experience at Stefano’s in regard to the menu. I am hoping that the wait staff explained to you that it is recommended to have one main per person for dinner as when mains are shared it may not be enough to fill your appetite. Especially as we specialize in thin base pizza. As for the meat base mains we have 14 pizzas under the heading “Carne” the top of this list is the Prosciutto which is our biggest seller next to the Torinise ( Fennel sausage, hot salami, ham capsicum and onions). I’m thinking maybe you did not see this menu as we have two sides to the menu with 36 pizzas types on offer that cover meat, seafood and vegetarian.

It is true we do not have lasagna, cannelloni or Bolognese on our summer menu but we do have Bolognese and lasagna on our winter menu. But I am thinking with your feedback that it would be great idea to run Bolognese all year and introduce veal scaloppini with roasted potatoes and a white wine sauce.

Sam you are right when you say we are simple basic traditional Italian style we try to stay consistent with this as this is the style of the restaurant. But it would be good to branch out and do something different maybe we can incorporate this more into our specials board. We often ask our members of their opinions of things in our news letters and are presently designing a new brunch menu.

Stephen Hollins
Stefano’s

by Mitch P.
18th July 2011

What a great place- we only got take away pizza- but i scoped out the restaurant whilst there, great smells, great menu, awesome service- so much friendlier than anywhere i have been for some time.

Cheers.

by jeff.w
19th May 2011

This place is amazing! Such a nice casual place. We dined here over new years with around 25 of us for a birthday dinner an everything was perfect! Staff were amazing an food was just as good! When I go back to Waiheke I will most definitely go back Stefano’s! A+

by Alex F.
22nd January 2011

Agree with the other reviews here, lovely food, great place. And they deliver if you’re feeling particularly lazy

by Clare
10th January 2011

For a friends Birthday we arranged a BYO at Stefanos, as visitors to the island, none of us had been here. We were amazed to say the least! The effort the staff had gone to, to set up a beautiful marquet in the outside courtyard was exceptional and the service was alike throughout the evening. The food was absolutely delicious and very well priced with a range that catered to the vegetarians and gluten free among the group. We had a group of 22 people and everyone commented about the range of the menu, the best pizzas and pastas they have ever had and were most impressed by the service. The staff here are truly here to serve and ensure you have a great night out.

We will certainly return here and recommend to friends.

by georgie
18th May 2010

Stefanoes is a great family restaurant. Wonderful positive staff made a great atmosphere.
Colouring in and chalk board drawing kept the kids happy and the affordable and delicious meal made me even happier.
The most amazing pizza I have ever had.
I would Highly recommend dining here!!!

by peterc
24th September 2008

These guys are great. Just had a bit of a menu upgrade which is excellent. Great salad and pizza, super friendly owners. Nice people. Good service. Great value. We go probably once every 2 weeks on average, and I’ve visited a LOT of restaurants in my time so it’s not just a case of not having seen other options

by Hilary
12th June 2008

We went here for lunch recently and were so sorry we hadn’t also gone there for dinner the night before. We had divine garlic bread and a really delicious pizza. The pizza choices were really interesting (with heaps of vegetarian choices), and the pastas sounded very inviting. The service was excellent and friendly – I can’t wait to go back!

by anon
19th March 2008

Excellent food for excellent prices! Nice and friendly staff with a really relaxing environment. If you are ever on Waiheke Island i reccomend this small pizzeria in Surfdale.

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