Trattoria Pagotto - Lismore

If you want some stuck up food snob waiting on you that looks down his nose in a french kind of way and refers to you as "sir". . . dont go. If you are a real food fan go eat here. If you have travelled to Italy, Spain, Portugal and yearn for the un hurried familiarity of a back street mediterranean tratoria, you'll love it. Simon is MR FOOD. He is passionate and CAN COOK!!!! Good bloke, likes a yarn too.

The staff is overly chatty and doesn't give you space. The server is only interested in boasting about himself. You come to this restaurant to eat and have a conversation, not to listen to the staff talk about themselves.

During our first visit to Lismore, we were recommended Trattoria Pagotto, despite warnings that we might be disappointed due to its small size and lack of booking. However, upon arriving at 7 pm on a Friday night, we were pleased to find a table available. The food, ambiance, and hospitality of the hosts were all outstanding. We started with a delicious small pizza topped with anchovies and olives, which was very enjoyable. The highlight of the evening was a remarkable slow-cooked pork hock dish from the German/Italian/Austrian border. This dish was a generous portion, perfect for sharing between the two of us. The crackling was perfectly done and it was served with a delightful gravy and crispy potatoes. Overall, it was an excellent dining experience!

Simon's love of food and sharing his creations with guests who quickly become friends is clearly evident from the moment you sit down. Limited seating capacity it pays to book well ahead or you may miss out. This is a popular eatery locally and the place to go to get to know the folk on the next table. Very informal, friendly and damn good food at the right price.

Very personalised service, great food cooked with love and attention. Being able to watch your food being prepared with fresh local ingredients is a treat.The osso bucco was cooked for 9 hours and very tender.The tiramisu was a treasure and not shy on the booze - beware.Simon is an attentive host and regales with stories of Italy and his nonna.Good food takes time so if you are in a rush, you will need to let Simon know and he can rustle up some homemade pasta.