Vietnam Halls Head

Having reserved a table for a birthday meal with my family, we arrived on time, to find the doors looked, and the place in darkness and chairs on tables. No amount of door rattling helped us, so we left very disappointed.However after reading the reviews, [something I should have done before booking ] It seems we had a lucky escape.I

Well it's a sad dayIgnore all the reviews before May as these were a result of the original owners great food, warmth when serving and attention to detailBut now there are new owners...long very long periods waiting for food, tables not cleared (this wasn't due to time available as there was plenty of waiter chitchat at the counter ), and whilst the food was relatively tasty (6/10) it was in no way Italian. Oh and I forgot to mention the owners are just plain rude.This is mandurah- lift your game focus on the customers improve your service and your food or when the tourists go home you have no chance of survival!

As a party of six we visited this restaurant for Sunday lunch yesterday. We had read some glowing on-line reviews of the establishment, which referred to an Italian owner-chef and seemingly authentic Italian cuisine. We booked, mentioning that some of the group would be using discount vouchers, and this passed unremarked by the person taking the booking (who turned out to be the rather new owner-chef).It appears that the new owner is still relying on outdated online publicity offered on both the previous owner's website as well as on the site of discount voucher business Groupon. Although the former states that business hours are 11am - 3pm, when we arrived at 12.30 the premises were locked and the interior in darkness. However, some rattling of doors brought the attention of the owner who admitted us to the somewhat cavernous interior, where we were assailed by the sounds of INXS (I never knew they were Italian!) played at ear-shattering/conversation-inhibiting decibels. No attempt was made to reduce the cacophony until I requested such action be taken. At no time during our stay was the rather cavernous interior (another reviewer's description of the restaurant as "little" is baffling) lit by anything except the natural light through the distant front windows. Amongst the discount deal's "highlights" listed on the booking voucher (clearly another carryover from the previous owner) was "two courses of traditional Italian fare". You are invited to "begin with a soup starter and bread" and to follow this with "a mouth watering pasta dish of choice" that can be selected "from options like ravioli with ricotta and fresh spinach or lasagne with layers of fresh spinach pasta and bolognaise sauce".The soup was an unremarkable pea and bacon, more French than "traditional" Italian, served without the promised bread. We were then informed that the choices of main had been reduced from the mouth-watering items promised on-line to four options, all of which fell into the more common, though nonetheless satisfying if authentically prepared, Italian pasta dishes. Neither of the two mentioned above were included in the four. At no time during the booking conversation I had with the proprietor did he give any indication of applying such a restriction on what he was advertising.All in our group opted for "Tagliolini ai Gamberi", (which traditionally would be a narrow, ribbon pasta with prawns), and "awful" is the kindest way to describe what we were served. The "tagliolini" was clearly not hand-made, resembling cheap, supermart spaghetti, not cooked al dente. "The "gamberi", which my wife sarcastically identified as "clearly not from Mandurah", were so tough as to be almost inedible (two or more of our group left some) and the sauce in which this was served seemed to be simply some of the pasta cooking water with some sort of unidentifiable flavouring added, topped with a few cherry tomatoes. Perhaps because they feared the response they would be inviting, neither the owner-chef nor the young waitress who managed her duties effectively, invited comment on our dining experience.

Decided on Marina Italia for Mothers Day lunch with my family after reading the great reviews but I was so disappointed. When I made the booking I was not told it would be a 3 course set menu of roast for $45. The waiter was fabulous and very attentive and the posy of flowers for the ladies was a nice touch for Mothers Day. Unfortunately the food was not good at all and as the restaurant was only half full I could not understand why they did not have their normal menu or at least an Italian set menu.......very disappointing!

We came for lunch, with a groupon voucher.The new owners, Will and Clint made us feel very welcome and their enthusiasm with their new venture was infectious.Our entree, the pea and ham soup was well presented, full of flavour and very satisfying.Our mains was Carbonara, and was simply delicious!The house wine was of very good quality.We wish Will and Clint a successful future, we Will be back!