Va Penne

A vibrant local Italian restaurant. It’s a cut above your normal Italian place. They have a nice menu and good specials. The gnocchi was very good and the pasta ravioli special with goats cheese was great too. Interesting wine list too. Our favourite wine was the house Pinot Grigio. Service was terrific throughout. Our only criticism is that the place is a bit noisy

First off, Staff were lovely! Super attentive, and genuinely nice people. However, food portions were very small for price point. I ordered the lobster pasta which was new on their menu, I found there to be an absence of lobster and an abundance of dill (dill is underrated in all honesty so I quite enjoyed that). The atmosphere was very nice although again for the price point it did not match. Again, staff were great.

My wife and I dinned here on Saturday 3 Jan as a last minute booking. We were delighted as we have been to Va Penne a couple times before and it never disappoints, the food, service and feel of the place makes for a comfortable experience. We had the pasta special which was very well cooked and flavoursome and a pizza as well that was a hit. The staff are friendly and attentive and nothing is too much trouble. I highly recommend Va Penne, we will be back, soon.

ORDERED (Dec 2023): Va Penne Summer Menu 🐟 Carpaccio di Tonno: Tuna, cucumber, dill & citrus vinaigrette ($20.00) 🍝 Rigatoni: Lamb shoulder Peroni based, black olives, rosemary & Pecorino ($27.00) 🍝 [Special] Fettucine with pancetta and artichokes ($27.00) It was $37.00pp between two people! REVIEW: 😴 It was quiet for Saturday lunch service, which made it perfect to have the staff's dedicated attention. They are lovely and personable, with banter (particularly the blonde gentleman with glasses) that kept the atmosphere light. 👍 Food portions are generous and as flavourful as I remember. Va Penne aren't shy with their ingredients, with the lamb incredibly soft and an absolute flavour bomb. The dish gave me the heartiness that I was looking for.🥩 🥬 My partner had cooked artichokes for the first time, and loved the way it was cooked. 'Similar to a potato' he thinks. 🍞 I really enjoyed the crispy flatbread that came as part of the bread basket. It was little snappy bites of salted happiness that was simple, but so good. Although it's a full proper restaurant, it has a beautiful home cooked touch that can't be ignored. Presentation matched the casual vibes as well! Va Penne still remains a place worth visiting. -------- ORDERED (2 years ago): Va Penne Winter Menu 🍝 Pappardelle Funghi: portobello, porcini, shallots & grana padano ($26.00) 🍕 Carciofi pizza: artichoke, fontina, black olive & rosemary ($20.00) REVIEW: Iconic red fluoro logo which can be seen miles away. It's a beckoning for you to come and experience the best Italian food you'll have that week. We had the vegetarian options, and although I was a doubter of artichoke in pizza... I've now been converted. The Pappardelle Funghi had the perfect amount of earthy, savoury mushrooms and al dente pasta. A match made in heaven. Incredibly worthwhile, visit Va Penne as soon as you can!!