Bella Italia - Penrith

We visited as a large group to celebrate a 50th birthday, which included 9 adults and 4 children. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. We ordered bread and olives, but the olives never arrived. To make matters worse, two of the adults finished their meals before the rest of us even received our orders. When the food for the other seven finally arrived, one dish had to be sent back because it was served cold. After voicing our concerns about the subpar service, we were offered a complimentary bottle of wine and a round of house liqueurs. As for the food, it was fairly average, typical of what you'd find in a chain Italian restaurant.

On our second night in Whinfell Forest, we chose to eat at Bella Italia. We kicked things off with bruschetta, meatballs, doughballs, and mushrooms. For our main courses, we ordered four different pasta dishes. For dessert, we indulged in cheesecake and cookie dough. The food was top-notch, the service was warm and welcoming, and we were delighted by robots delivering our meals—a delightful surprise! Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience.

I thought I had written a review for this restaurant after celebrating my wife's birthday here in 2014, when we were truly impressed by the ambiance, the staff, and the food. It turns out I never did, but I wanted to mention that to provide some context. We returned a few weeks ago, and I was looking forward to it, as I've often said it's the best Bella Italia I've ever found. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed this time. The charming décor and lovely atmosphere we once enjoyed have been replaced by a more cafeteria-style layout. The friendly, attentive staff we remembered are gone, replaced by employees who seem to be merely going through the motions. When they told my son they were fully booked until mid-evening, it was hard to believe, as the restaurant was nearly empty. Furthermore, the quality of the food has noticeably declined; what used to be above-average dishes are now just standard, somewhat bland offerings typical of chain restaurants.