Scalini Restaurant

Well that was a big let down tonight… been here a few times and it usually bs very good… but tonight was a big let down
The food was lovely but service was terrible… we wnt in got r table waited nearly 15mins to order. i got spaghetti which was lovely as always. .if ur goin defo try it ull no b disappointed
We were sitting in front of thr bar/​till which had about 6 staff at it the hole time we were there… The manager took r order sumone else bought the food but no one can back to check on us or see if we needed drinks. plus we were finished about 15mins b4 sumone came to us… its not as if they cud mis us we were right infront of them
Tonight was a big let down service way but food was lovely will b back but not any time soon

I used to be a regular at Scalini many years ago and always enjoyed visiting. I haven’t had a meal in this restaurant for about 3 years, so when a friend suggested we meet up at Scalini for a long overdue catch up I jumped at the chance to return. Thus I visited last night.
The menu is predictable Italian dishes including pizzas, pastas and risottos with a quite a few vegetarian options. I had a Bruschetta starter which was nice but slightly bland, it seemed to lack some flavour but was improved with lots of black pepper.
My Penne Primavera pasta main was delicious. The pasta was dried instead of fresh and was slightly undercooked for my taste, nonetheless the flavour was good.
For dessert we shared delicious slices of pecan pie and chocolate orange cheesecake and they were heavenly — I’d almost visit Scalini purely for their great coffee and dessert!
Service was spot on, Pinot Grigio fine and the restaurant itself buzzing with a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere. We noticed many large parties celebrating the December Christmas season and winter graduation at the nearby Queen’s University. Despite this, service was quick and efficient with staff attentive but not intrusive.
Scalini is a solid restaurant serving reliable Italian food. I’ve enjoyed many meals here over the years, my visit last night was good and I will definitely return. A nice place to enjoy a catch up with friends or spend time with family.

Scalini is an extension of Villa Italia, which is right down the street. The staff was very friendly and attentive, but the food was average.

Scalinis is a treat to go to, the food is delicious and the menu offers a wide range of Italian food. The prices aren’t the cheapest but they’re not the worst either. If you like Italian food it’s a must to try!

Very solid Italian food. Great selection of wine and beer. Pasta cooked properly. Friendly staff. Not too loud, not too quiet. Just what you want.
Decent house drinks.

Great authentic food. A small selection of beers but a decent wine list. I guess I’m used to American Italian restaurants– since they do not bring gratis bread to your table before the meal.
Hours are later than most in the area. Service is friendly and attentive:)

Very high class food at a good price, and going there doesn’t require much dressup! I have been there many times for family gatherings as it has become the place to go when having dinner with my aunties and uncles. They have excellent customer service and we always like leaving a tip.

Went here with a party of 6 a few days ago while in Belfast. Wasn’t quite sure what to expect as it was my first time in the area, but I was overall very pleased with the experience. The décor felt authentic Italian, from the brick walls to the overall layout/​color scheme. The food was equally as authentic and delicious, which I was very excited about. All of the members of our table were very pleased with the service, food, and ambiance. If we’re ever in Belast, we’ll definitely be back.

This place has a really nice rustic feel about the place. Upstairs makes you feel that your on a balcony in the Italian Riveria food menu was exceptionally good choices of dishes available. The portion sizes of the food was also very good. Would strongly recommend this place it ticks all the boxes including the prices.

I had a lovely dinner here on my night in Belfast. The food was above standard and very filling… I only wish I was able to take the leftovers, but in hotels… it just never quite works.
I missed the building on my first pass by, but that gave me not only a bit more of a tour of Botanic Avenue… but also worked up a little more hunger!
I wish I’d been able to get a dessert, they sounded great… but alas my spaghetti filled me right up! The pizzas looked amazing… I’ll be back when I return to Belfast!

Had a great couple of meals in here. never seen so many staff working in a restaurant before. nice atmosphere with tables on different levels that creates cos intimate spaces.

Scalini’s is an Italian restaurant on Botanic Avenue, owned by the same people as the hugely successful Villa Italia. So you’d like to think that the people running it know what they’re up to. And, of course, they do.
The food is all very similar, as are the ridiculous queues to get in, as is the top notch service. But Scalini’s is unfortunate enough to not have the same charm as its sister restaurant because it hasn’t been around for long enough. Everything still looks bright and new, to its detriment in comparison.
But Scalini’s stands up well to any other Italian restaurant in the city. It would be especially suitable for anybody mental enough to have chosen to go vegetarian (sorry, vegetarians) — there is a good selection of meat-​free dishes. I was even tempted to try one myself recently — mushroom ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. Delicious.
But their steaks in wild mushroom sauce are better.

Firstly this is a lovely restaurant, nice décor which at least is attempting to be somewhat authentic, the staff are friendly and thoughtful. Although the restaurant is a typical middle of the road italian, the food is definitely above par!
I was there a couple of years ago on a leaving party for someone in work. My colleagues seemed to have a good time and they coped very well with our large group. As you would expect on offer you have your typical choice of pizza, pasta, fish and meat dishes.
If you’re in Belfast and are after some italian cuisine. Since there isn’t that many place to choose from, Scalini’s may not be your number one choice but it would come a close second. It is reasonably priced. But there are much better places to go in Belfast.

«Scalini restaurant and pizzeria with its 250 seats is one of the latest arrivals on the restaurant scene in Belfast and was opened in October 2001 and has proved to be a great success story in such a short time.
The word Scalini in Italian means ‘steps’ which becomes evident upon arrival, as the restaurant has been cleverly designed on multiple floor levels — each one with its own character.
On one level you may feel as though you are dining ‘al fresco’ under a Mediterranean sky filled with stars twinkling above your head. «
Above is the website blurb and if I were you I wouldn’t believe all you read (other than what I write). This is a pretty bog-​standard Italian restaurant. I’ve never had a bad experience here but I’ve never raved about it after either. The prices are ok, but there really is no reason why you wouldn’t just go to Pizza Express.

Scalini is a pretty standard Italian restaurant, Cheap Italian food cooked well.
There is nothing more to say about Scalini’s other than that it is average. When I go to Scalinis I always order the lasagne because you can not really go wrong with Lasagne. For starter I would opt for the bread and olives much for the same reason as before.
The restaurant itself is located on Botanic Avenue, a perfect place for a Scalini’s as it is cheap enough for students and also classy enough for business people to catch a bite after work.
All in all Scalini is just about average as I have said, nothing bad, nothing particularly outstanding. Solid 3 Stars.

Scalini is the sister restaurant to Villa Italia and upon hearing this I was most excited! They don’t take reservations much like Villa so on a Friday and Saturday evening you may find yourself in a long queue with the smell of awesome Italian cuisine wafting out making you hungrier. moral? Get there early! Once inside the Restaurant had a real rustic Italian feel much like Villa and upstairs they have starts painted on the ceiling so you almost feel like your dining al fresco! The staff are really great and really busy too, but the sheer volume of turnovers doesn’t seem to phase them in the slightest!
We ordered Brochette to start and it was really great! A huge portion (which worried me as a pizza was on its way) and tasted absolutely perfect! Then came the pizza with chicken, jalapenos, onion and peppers! It was really great and had a real homemade authentic taste! We got a fab bottle of Chianti from the extensive wine list which really complimented the food. A great Italian if you don’t mind a bit of a wait! But don’t let the wait put you off– it’s worth it!

Our delightful landlady gets our house a voucher for Villa Italia/​Scalini every Christmas and both times we have chosen Villa Italia. Perhaps it is because you have less to walk to the Globe or to the Union, but for many people Villa Italia is always first choice.
My girlfriend and I went for a spur-​of-​the-​moment pizza here on the way home from a hard day’s shopping and to be honest, there is not much about this restaurant that would make me choose it over Villa Italia.
Though the food is as good, and the staff are as nice, and the décor if anything is better, but the whole experience was a bit deflating.
I think there is a happy medium when it comes to length of time spent waiting on food and then recieving your dish, but we were literally in there ten minutes before our pizza was brought out to us and we were wished a very quick Bön Apetite.
Now some say it is a good idea, but I like the waiting for food and having a chat part of dinner.
There wasn’t the ‘wow’ factor I got with Villa Italia and I have been back to Villa Italia a few times. I don’t think I’ll go back to Scalini’s, not because it is terrible, but because it is just a bit disappointing.
Food was very good. Staff were very good. But to be in and out of a restaurant after half an hour I just thought was a bit too quick.

I love the interior of this restaurant. It has very rustic, Italian feel to it that’s quite refreshing given the number of modern restaurants in Belfast these days. If you can, ask for a seat up at the very top. It’s a good bit warmer up there, but you’re up on what feels like a terrace and the ceiling is painted with a starry night so you can kid yourself you’re dining al fresco in Verona!
The staff will always look after you. They tend to dash about quite frantically though, which can affect how relaxed you feel. Although, having been to Italy, that’s fairly standard!
The food itself is good. Not mind-​blowing, but still very good. Their menu also hasn’t really changed in years, which is a bit annoying to be honest, but I suppose Scalini is really the kind of place that you go to for familiarity and comfort and good food and craic (I do anyway), so a bit of the mundane isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Reasonably priced, you can get a good meal (including drinks) for about £30 a head. It’s quite family friendly too, which is a big plus for a lot of people!
Be prepared to queue though. They don’t take reservations for parties of less than eight people, so it’s first come, first served, which can mean a long wait — especially at the weekends.

A nice casual eating experience that doesn’t have that overwhelming aura by trying to be too Italian.
As I tend to eat alone most of the time it’s ideal for types who would normally eat I’m the hotel room instead of mingling in the local area.
Downsides are that my particular waitress wasn’t that clued up on the food here and wines is normally only served by the bottle (if that’s a bad thing)
Recommended to me by a cabbie and I’m more than happy to pass that recommendation on.

I think this restaurant is owned by the same people as Villa Italia. This place has been going for years, and is good for a night out with a crowd, because it can accommodate all sorts of numbers for a sit down meal. It’s got an ancient Italian vibe going on with the décor, to match the Italian cuisine on the menu of course, and specialises in Pizza, Pasta and even does a good steak.
It’s got a lovely warm, inviting feel about it, with an indoor-​outdoor feel, so you can imagine yourself on the terrace of an Italian hotel, overlooking exotic surroundings, even though you’re in erm… well Belfast.
The Veneziana Pizza is lovely, and all the pizzas are reasonably priced also, and the pasta dishes are good too, the Carbonara in particular I’ve had more than once. The service is good, and we’ve never had to wait too long for food, which is the sign of a well-​run kitchen. It’s smack bang in the University area, which is why it does well, I would say. Also, you can book a table here if you’ve got a party of 8 or more, unlike Villa Italia round the corner. Why would you stand outside for an hour when you can walk straight in here and get your table?