Isabella's: Randwick

NOTE: This review is made by a person who has been to Isabella's on many occasions......and I start with a WARNING!

If you require or expect good service do NOT go to this restaurant.  Isabella's is run by amateurs who have no idea and that includes the owner/manager. Only the gourmet chef is worthy of any praise.

Happy hour before 7pm is the best time to go. Great pastas and pizzas for just $8.50 (July 2011).

But expect any or all of the following to occur:

-kitchen running out of potatoes (mash) and serving chips instead without first checking if this was acceptable to you or offering an apology

-being told by the owner/manager that you are WRONG when he is nowhere to be found when you want to complain about the unrequested alteration to your meal

-pizzas running out before 7pm (unbelievable)

-forgetting to come back to get the alternative order for the pizza that was not available

-subsequently being charged for the pizza they couldn't  provide

-coming around 3 times with meals that are not yours

-serving food without bringing cutlery

-serving a pizza with garnishes when it was specifically ordered with none!

-asking for a larger portion of pasta and your partner getting it instead

-not being offered Parmesan cheese with your pasta and instead having to ask for it

-forgetting to bring the water to the table

-not refilling the obvious empty water bottle

-charging $2.50pp for corkage but not opening your bottle or pouring any wine for you

-having a bottle of wine on the table but not given any wine glasses

-seeing completely different waiters every time you go there

-No matter how many times you return, don't expect the owner/manager to remember, greet or acknowledge you for your patronage

Despite all of the above complaints the food is quite good and cheap during happy hour but that is the ONLY reason we go back there. Its a bit like Faulty Towers.

Your could say nice and cheap but definitely not cheerful.