Vini

Posted by: timrie | 2 June 2010, 10.16am

I took my partner here for his birthday dinner last night and it was fantastic, we had such a great time. I will definitely be back!

It was great value - we had the 4 course Veneto special for $45, and the 'wine flight' for $33. I would definitely recommend getting the wine flight. They matched a different glass of wine with every course. I'm so glad we chose that instead of just getting a bottle. They chose wines that we would not normally have ordered ourselves, but they were absolutely amazing and matched the dishes perfectly. They have an extensive Italian wine list, so if you are into wine, this is the place for you.

The waiters were faultless as well. They were friendly, approachable and attentive, and told us all about the wines and courses, how and where it was made and why it was that colour etc. It was very interesting and something different that made it a cut above your average restaurant. The chef also came out and told us all about the Veneto region (the theme for that night - I understand the menu changes daily) and explained the various dishes.

I thought the chef was very considerate and flexible as my partner does not like seafood, and when I asked him a few days before our booking whether the menu would include seafood or not, he offered to alter the menu for my partner and substitute the seafood for something else.

We had the tiramisu, homemade pasta and various seafood entrees and salads which were all delicious and simple with fresh ingredients - just the way I like Italian food. A really great variety of flavours.

Highly recommended, probably one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney.

Food:			Visit: Tue 1 June 2010 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: JB11 | 4 October 2009, 1.04pm

My partner and I had read some good things about Vini so we went last night but were disappointed.
When we arrived, we were told there would be a half hour wait for a table. We had no problem with this. The waiter said that they have a bar where we can have a drink. We walked through to this "Bar" only to find that it is a small room at the back of the restaurant with absolutely no atmosphere. My partner commented that it was like sitting in a caravan!
After a couple of drinks, we were seated at our table. The waitress was unimpressive - did not seem knowledgeable, no personality or interpersonal skills. There was another waiter there who was much better and had previously advised us on drinks, so we asked for him when we wanted some recommendations on the wine.

We were not impressed with the food either. It looked as though it had been slapped on the plate with no effort going into the presentation. I had the eggplant lasagne which was tasteless. We could prepare much nicer food at home.

We told our waitress that we are not happy with our food and asked for the bill. We got absolutely no response from her and she simply walked away. A few minutes later, another waiter came over with the bill and he took the time to understand why we were not happy.

In short, we felt that the food was ordinary and the service even worse and we will not be going back. There are many other restauarnts that do great Italian food and provide much better service.

Food:			Visit: Sat 3 October 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: MaestroSid | 9 May 2009, 2.03pm

Since its renovations, which have doubled the restaurant's size, Vini has quickly become one of the nicest dining rooms in Sydney - largely because of its very un-Sydney feel. It's still a cosy space, but the expansion means it's no longer impossible to snag a table. The cuisine is first-rate Italian comfort food, and the wine list has a really superb range of reds and whites from most Italian regions. A real gem.

Food:			Visit: Sat 9 May 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: drinksandfood | 8 January 2009, 3.01pm

Delicious food and wine!! Friendly staff. Pretty small so better for a smaller group. Overall a great experience :-)

Food:			Visit: Thu 8 January 2009
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Posted by: Evil C | 26 July 2008, 1.53pm

Ate at Vini on the recommendation of one of my good friends who frequents Vini's like it's a school cafe. Food was suburb - wines outstanding (and allow to taste first before committing to the bottle). The service was excellent and helpful (no attitude here). The atmosphere while small didn't feel claustrophobic. Will definitely return. Love it. N.B. Lunch finished at 5pm.

Food:			Visit: Fri 25 July 2008 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Merrilee | 9 March 2008, 8.50pm

Last night we were singularly disappointed with Vini's. It had been one of our favourites since they opened and we have taken many friends there. Already this year we have been four times. Last night we took another couple of friends and we were very disappointed.We had to wait for an hour and 3/4 for a table even though they had said about an hour.

When they eventually got us a table it was squashed into a corner and they promised my husband a seat with a back when one became available but they never offered it.

The food.....was just not up to scratch. The lamb shanks were boring and the menu is becoming tired. They always have the same things. They had run out of the fennel salad and only had the boring rocket and parmesan. The desserts were the same as the last few times we had been.
I think they feel they have hit on a formula and can't be bothered changing it.

Food:			Visit: Sat 8 March 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: pwilson19 | 24 October 2007, 10.45am

Now that Vini has doubled in size, going there makes sense because you are actually likely to get a table - as we did last night. The food was still great, the service was helpful and I think the atmosphere is even better because there is now a bit more room to move.

Food:			Visit: Tue 23 October 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: reggieroo | 22 February 2007, 4.36pm

Vini is awesome; for anyone who appreciates the simplicity of a truly Italian experience Vini has it all. The food is great and while a small area to dine in, the atmosphere is buzzy and cool. The wine list is great and the service friendly, a welcome change to the all so often similar restaurants in Sydney. Highly recommended. After three visits I will keep returning.

Food:			Visit: Wed 31 January 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: foodho | 23 November 2006, 1.48pm

After a horrid dinner experience a couple of months ago (great food, but service so laden with rudeness and ego that I swore I would never return) I caved and returned at lunchtime yesterday. No waiting for a table - admittedly it was 1.30pm on a Wednesday - and the service was wonderful. The lady who waited on us was so very nice, helpful but unintrusive. Complimentary glass of dry prosecco to celebrate Vini's first birthday was a great start. My rotolo with prosciutto, artichokes and ricotto was fantastic - soft and tasty, true comfort food. Asparagus, goats curd, lemon zest and olive linguine was a hit, also. Will definitely return but probably only weekday lunchtimes.

Food:			Visit: Wed 22 November 2006 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: p501 | 11 May 2006, 5.30pm

I live close to Vini and have wanted to go there since they opened. That happened last night, and I LOVED it. It's just the kind of place you want in your neighbourhood (which is saying something when you live in Surry Hills). The food was fabulous, the wine was great, the service was helpful, and the atmosphere was good. Yes it's a small restaurant, and we did have to wait for a table, but it was worth it and I'll be back in a flash.

Food:			Visit: Thu 11 May 2006 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Unregistered user | 12 April 2006, 11.25pm

Went here for dinner tonight with my partner on the recommendation of someone whose opinion we both trust implicitly. Maybe it was a bad night. It is just way too cramped in this restaurant. Those who call it "intimate" are off base. "Intimate" is where you still feel as though you have some personal space. Here, it was a struggle getting between tables. The food, though reasonably priced, was really not something I would go back for. For entrees we had crostini with mozzarella, tomato & tapenade. My orecchiette with sardines (barely any present in the dish), tomato, chilli and rocket was uninspired. My partner's rotolo was a bit better. He had the apple strudel, which again was better than my choice - the rosemary creme caramel with almonds. I must say that this is the first time I have ever been presented with a slightly collapsed creme caramel. Taste-wise the rosemary was a bit dominating. All in all, it was average.

Food:			Visit: Wed 12 April 2006 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Unregistered user | 15 February 2006, 8.41pm

If your idea of a good night out is being sqeezed into a tiny space like battery hens, being left for 30 minutes before your order is taken, waiting for an hour and a half for your meal to arrive, and when it does, the fish is rubbery and the vegetables are overcooked, then this is your kind of place. Enjoy!

Food:			Visit: Wed 15 February 2006 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Unregistered user | 10 February 2006, 11.50am

Friendly casual atmosphere coupled with extraordinarily delicious and inventive meals made this a night to remember. The blue swimmer crab spaghetti was superb, as was the cured ocean trout carpaccio, whilst the crostini with fig and Taleggio made a mouth-watering starter. The wines were thoughtfully chosen, and most showed how far Italy has progressed in quality winemaking. Prices were most reasonable for the quality on offer.

Food:			Visit: Thu 5 January 2006 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Unregistered user | 10 February 2006, 11.48am

After reading rave reviews about Vini on the internet, I decided to take my family along for a celebration meal. On eventual arrival (little difficult to find as it is in Holt Street, but advertised in the better-known Devonshire Street), we were squeezed into the remaining table among many hot, steamy jostling elbows. Menus were handed out on small, difficult-to-read scraps of paper. Minimal choice, but this was explained away by the small kitchen (according to the waitress) - the kitchen was smaller than the seating area, which you would think would be difficult to achieve.
Entrees were small and poorly described - but tasty! Wine list was excellent. Good variety. Reasonably priced.
The 'signature dish' of blue swimmer's crab spaghetti was small and extraordinarily salty, with approximately two pieces of crab in my dish (and I was one of the lucky ones).
Atmosphere was ok, apart from the horrible overcrowding and consequent noise. During our meal, the large wine bucket overflowed onto our table and drenched one of our family - this was not mopped up (even after complaining).
Average evening out.

Food:			Visit: Mon 9 January 2006 Mealtime: dinner
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