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We’ve actually been to this very restaurant site a number of times over the years, but the last time we were here it was called Lucianos and the walls were adorned with Mafia themed memorabilia. Not owned by the same people as back then but still very much an Italian restaurant, the mafia images are long gone but I couldn’t pick too much different decor wise otherwise. Although that could be my ageing memory.
What I do remember about Lucianos was that you got crispy squid and a reasonably sized portion of it that was delicious! So that was on our to try list this night.
Farelli’s is busy and similar to our experience of other restaurants at this end of town, the tables turn over quickly and there is a steady stream of people ready to fill emptying seats.
Our friendly waitress, who appeared to be under the watchful eye of someone with more experience was pleasant and staff overall were attentive and friendly throughout.
We went with the garlic bread and arancini to start with, followed by a children’s pizza, linguine and crispy squid (from entree menu) with Caesar salad (from side dish menu) to make up a main. You can pay a little extra to have the garlic bread topped with cheese and/or bacon. We opted for both.
The arancini arrived together with the garlic bread - but the bread arrived without our additional toppings, so was quickly returned to be amended. We weren’t too fussed by the additional delay to be honest as the entrees arrived in what felt like 10-15mins after ordering. It was very quick.
The garlic bread was worth the wait - yum. Our son loved it and basically filled up on that. You get a reasonable number of sliced ciabatta pieces which are kinda like eating pizza really. The arancini was ok, but could’ve been better. The trio of rice balls came with pesto on each and they all rested on a tomato paste, which was in turn surrounded by a buttery sauce - which I couldn’t quite make out. Part of the reason why I couldn’t quite make it out was the dominate flavour from the tomato paste. It just sat on top of all other flavours. As it was, I thought the trio of flavours was odd. The butter sauce would’ve been absolutely fine on it’s own, but chucking in another 2 flavours to me was a bit over-kill. It made tasting anything else in the arancini tricky - also couldn’t pick up whether there was any cheese in the arancini. Still it wasn’t bad, just confused but ok.
The linguine was adored by my wife and was devoured quickly, a mixture of garlic and chilli flavours with a reasonable number of prawns meant that it was digested with pleasure. My son’s pizza didn’t progress because he filled up on the garlic bread entree. The crispy squid, as with Lucianos, was a reasonable sized plate and of squid and very generous. It was also delicious! Absolutely loved it and the addition of the Caesar Salad side also meant I had something healthy-ish to eat as well. The 2 of those dishes combined still made for a reasonably priced main meal.
Portion wise we thought all the meals were good on portion size and the food was great quality. Price wise, Farelli’s is money well spent on good food with fantastic service.
This will definitely be on our to do list the next time we’re in town.
Baz Juan Pablo Sanchez
+4
An enjoyable down to earth little Italian Trattoria aiming to make you feel like you’re in Italy. Fresh pasta served to order with warm service is always a winner
Felt like eating Italian and this trattoria came up pretty high in reviews so I thought it was worth a try.
The gnocchi carbonara is not your traditional recipe but this trattoria serves up a modern twist on this classic. Firstly the gnocchi is handmade, you can tell by the irregular rustic shapes. It is served with mushrooms, crispy bacon (and lots of it!), spinach, cream and a touch of pesto. It is a very rich pasta and the portion size is just right. My only slight feedback was that I found the gnocchi themselves a little ‘gluey’ and perhaps undercooked?
My other half ordered the spaghetti pomodorro with sausage which had classic Italian tomato flavours. It perhaps needed a touch more Parmesan cheese which the staff were happy to bring a small bowl of cheese to add to the pasta.
Ordered a glass of house white Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough to accompany my meal.
Overall a decent Italian restaurant in Queenstown.
Amazing dinner! We have restaurant of our own and can sometimes be picky however this has been the best Italian we have had in a long time. We had the zucca pizza, monk fish, gnocchi, bolognese and the pancetta. Couldn’t choose a fav there were all equally amazing. Staff were so friendly and bubbly. We will be back again :)
By far my favourite dining experience in Queenstown. Food & service was second to none! Great value for money too, it will now be on my regular place to dine!
We stumbled upon this place somewhat accidentally, but the friendliness of the wait staff closed the deal. Let me just say that when you have a waiter with a very thick Italian accent start talking about their wine and pasta, you know you're about to be served by Italy's finest.
Indeed they lived up to this reputation - the Italian wine served in a jug was more than sufficient and of very good, crisp quality. It was an excellent companion to the pizza I had, and the calzone of a dining companion.
The food, drink and service made for a memorable last night in Queenstown and I won't be forgetting this place or the people there anytime soon!
Price wise was also really surprising - great value.
Steak was up there with the best iv ever had! Soooo good! Mash was perfect and sauce delicious. Highly recommend. We also had the carbonara which was also delicious.
First timers in Queenstown and was so glad we found this Italian gem! Me and my husband are vegans. And it’s nice to see that more restaurants are catering to Vegos! We tried their salami and mushroom pizzas, decent size and delicious! Can’t wait to try the others! Attentive and friendly staff too. Will be back!
Went there twice. First time, I had the Tiger Prawn Linguine, which was fantastic. Decent portion size, lots of prawns.
Went back on the next day, and had the Fresh Pappardelle with chicken. It was my favourite, the sauce was delicious. Also had the Affogato for dessert, yummy! The service was great too!
I'm so glad we sat down at this cute little Italian restaurant. Our waiter was so friendly and helpful. And the food was great. I would highly recommend the linguine with chilli, prawns and garlic. The portions were very generous. It was one of the best pastas I've ever had! Full review at stormechaser.com
During a holiday in Queenstown, we came across this gorgeous little italian restaurant! We booked, asked for a table outside, and even though the guy said that he couldn’t guarantee it because it is the busiest day of the year, when we got there at 9pm there was a table outside ready for us while there were people there waiting to be seated! I had the tiger prawn linguini which was absolutely incredible! The portions were huge, and the prices were not over the top! Amazing service, very friendly staff, and our waiter’s italian accent just added to the atmosphere ☺️ I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!
Decent pizzas for $15. We tried the garlic mushroom pizza and vegetable pizza. The service there was great and it was a pleasure to dine there.
Going to say this is yum! Stumbled upon this restaurant and managed to have dinner before our flight back home.
Service was friendly and quick. The special was a bolognese and was only$15?! Super cheap! I splurged and got the prawn linguini. So yummy and quite generous with the prawns.
A big bowl of pasta for a pasta lover, Cooked al dente. The bolognese was also meaty and quite good. The gnocchi, creamy goodness.
I couldn't finish my meal so managed to take it away! :) will be back next time!
The food was excellent and staff were very considerate of my wife who was on crutches. Great flavours and very fresh. We plan to eat there again.
Discovered this little gem by chance! Booked a table for 9, and we were super impressed at the speed of service. The food all came out at once, and was well cooked - no complaints.
I had the gnocchi and would recommend anyone to try theirs! It was light, had great texture and a lovely creamy sauce to go with it.
Portions were fairly large too for the price point. Definitely worth it if you're looking to enjoy a good night out in Queenstown without breaking the bank.
Very very good food. I am unsure why it's rated 3.4. The rating should be above 4.
The food (we had the pasta) was very tasty and fresh.The service extremely quick and friendly.
I will definitely visit again next time I am in town.
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This was our first visit to Queenstown and we happened to notice this restaurant while we were on our late evening stroll walking downhill from the Heritage hotel to the City Center. I have always found Italian cuisine to be my favourite comfort food, one of the primary reasons being they offer far more options for vegetarians than many others. Since it was our last day, we did not want to leave this beautiful hilly town in New Zealand before experimenting the best of pizzas that this city had to offer. For those who might need a little help in locating this place, it is strategically located to the Real Journeys office ad very close to the lake Wakatipu. The front entrance had some construction work going on, so the best way to get in would be through the back door right opposite the Ice bar. They offer both an indoor and an al fresco dining experience while we chose the former. I was reading up a bit and found that a trattoria means an Italian styled eating place which are not as formal as a ristorante but not too casual either. The decor with hues of white and red reminded me of the picture postcards that I had seen of some of the restaurants in the land of pizzas.
As we were ushered in, the enthusiastic stewards escorted us to our table with lots of enthusiasm and with lot of grace. We were offered a table close to the bar and was quite a perfect setting for an early lunch. I had informed them about my particular food preference being vegetarian food and with no mushrooms. Although I don't particularly remember the lady who served us, she was a smart looking lady with a bob cut. She offered us exemplary and possibly exceptional service that possibly I have never come across in any restaurant thus far. With that said, our orders for the day included Italian marinated tomato bruschetta and minestrone soup with a pesto topped garlic bread as side as out antipasti (appetizers) while we ordered a half & half pizza including crispy potato, onion jam, pesto and wild rocket and napoli sauce.
The first to arrive was the bruschetta. They are commonly eaten in Italy as an antipasti consisting of grilled bread drizzled with garlic butter while topped with generous portions of olive oil and tomatoes. There are however other variants to include more vegetables. It comes from the ancient Roman dialect of bruscare meaning roast over coal. History tells us that during the Roman period, local olive growers used to bring their olives to the local olive press to sample their freshly pressed oil with toasted slices of garlic bread to accompany it with. The bruschetta served here was extremely flavorful with the right amount of seasoning including fresh basil. The next to arrive was the minestrone soup served with pesto infused garlic bread.
It is a thick soup or broth of Italian origin made with lots of vegetables including tomatoes, onions including a generous helping of pasta. According to Marcus Apicius's cookbook De Re Coquinnaria described polus as a thick soup made with chickpeas, farro, onions, tomatoes, greens, garlic and was eaten as early as 30 AD which many believe as the earlier version of this fantastic soup. The introduction of potatoes and tomatoes from the Americas in the mid sixteenth century made these vegetables as staples in today's times. For those who might want to know more, this style of cooking with rustic ingredients including local produce belonged to the style of cooking called cucina povera when translated meant poor man's kitchen. There are three forms of broth served in Italy including zuppa, minestra and minestrone. The zuppa generally referred to tomato soups while minestra referred top more substantially heavy soups similar to a vegetable soup while the latter referred to a thicker and heavier broth similar to a stew which also included pasta or rice.
The soup served was almost a meal by itself with lots of seasonal vegetables including pasta. The vegetables for the day included carrots, onions, garlic, celery along with vegetable stock.The broth was heavy wit lots of pureed tomatoes and possibly the best minestrone soup I have had ever. The pesto infused garlic bread to accompany it with reminded me of the Genovese traditions with the extensive use of pesto. Our last order for the day included the half & half pizza. There were only two vegetarian options and the steward suggested that we try the best of worlds. Modern pizzas had their origins from the town of Naples in the 8th century while ancient history suggests that the Greeks were eating similar flatbread with oils, herbs and cheese as old as the 6th century BC.
I ave never tried onion jams before an as a pizza topping was quite an enriching experience. I was told they use generous portions of red wine, honey, lemon juice and zest to caramelize the onions and they turn into a beautiful marmalade. They also added lots of rocket leaves which are called in different names in different parts of the world including arugula, rucola or roquette. While this portion of the pizza was an eclectic mix of sweet and sour flavors while the other half included the more traditional napoli sauce with fresh basil similar in taste to the margherita. It was a beautiful amalgamation of flavors and certainly a marriage made in heaven. Prices are fairly high but definitely not as expensive as many of the other restaurants in this part of the world. A meal for two would cost around 60 odd dollars. Overall, fantastic service, great tasting food and possibly one of the finest restaurants that I have visited which prides itself in traditional meeting nouvelle Italian cuisine. Definitely worth the experience.
We arrived quite late in the evening with our 7 month old baby and we're very pleasantly greeted. Service here was top notch! I can in no way fault the service. The food matched this. I've had Italian before (at highly reviewed restaurants that many people rave about.. so i figured that italian just wasnt me and i and just wasn't a fan) HOWEVER I am officially converted as my Italian dining experience was a taste bud explosion tonight. Very flavorsome. The price is on the heavier side, however I am a bargain hunter so this may not be an issue for many. It's worth it. I was very pleased that they went out of their way to provide a highchair
.. however the only reason I give this place a 4.5 and not a 5 is because there was no change table or facility in the bathroom... there definitely is room in there to get one installed. But that's me talking as a momma. Do it,dine here!
Outstanding experience! Arrived on a busy Sunday night, were told it would be a 45minute wait so we left our name and had a drink at the pub. Arrived back and straight to our seats (now a 90min wait for a table for others). Given how busy it was we feared there would be delays on food..Nope! Great service from the waitress and the food was outstanding! Highly recommend the arancini and vegetable lasagne!
Farelli's has a large vegan menu, which I was not expecting! I had the vegan gnocchi which was incredible, it just melted in your mouth. Definitely try the garlic bread with vegan mozzarella. My only request is that there should be vegan desserts added to the menu!
Authentic pizza!
Absolutely loved the cannelloni with truffle ricotta and the potato gnocchi with pesto!!
The penne arabiatta and the Arancini balls were a bit disappointing
We also tried the prawn linguini which was subtle yet tasty!
We enjoyed our dinner at Farelli's. We ordered the rib eye steak, salmon and the prawn linguini. They were all delicious and the staff were very accommodating. There was a mistake with the beer order and there was a prawn on the floor. Overall, great food and we will go back again.
Great pizza, authentic italian wine and great service. We found some of the cafes and restaurants in Qtown to have minimal service (of which we quickly left & also blacklisted) - this little restaurant is certainly not one of those! As soon as we walked in we were greeted and offered a table. The waitress was friendly and knew the menu well. I would have liked to have seen more pizza options, but the pizza we ended up ordering was delicious anyway. The 4 cheese calzone was awesome but I was full half way through. Dessert was ok, to be honest I actually don't remember what we ordered for dessert - the mains stood out more.
Worth a visit if you're after an inexpensive meal in a welcoming and warm environment.
There $15 early bird dinner special is excellent value for money. Do give these guys a try. This lovely Italian Restaurant is a hidden GEM of Queenstown. Fantastico!! @AftaabSandhu
Chris opened this wonderful restaurant recently, obtaining a top Chef from a local lodge.
I have dined here with friends, alone and for business dining and every time the food and service has been second to none.
I am working my way through the menu and to date, have absolutely loved every single meal I have eaten here.
You will not be disappointed, I assure you.
Without a doubt, the best Italian food I have had in my entire life. I ended up eating here twice in my 1 week stay in Queenstown. The second time, I was literally there at opening time because I couldn’t wait!
Service was extremely friendly and genuine. The only downside was that I ate my food so quickly, I didn’t even get to take a picture of it 😂
Honestly the food tasted like a warm hug 🥰
Please open a restaurant in Western Australia!!
Exemplary authentic italian food with delicious handmade pasta, love the angus beef ravioli! Staff very attentive too, prices reasonable too around $24 for a pasta. Garlic bread will be better if there is more garlic, but bread is handmade and still good
Great service and atmosphere, awesome pizza. The only issue is the carbonara, the egg was added when the dish was too hot, so in turn i ended up with scrambled egg through the dish. Easy mistake for a novice. But overall a good experience.
OH EMM GEE.......HANDS DOWN - BEST ITALIAN FOOD IVE TASTED in a long time!! The flavours were absolutely delicious as was my Aperol Spritz! Amazing service just made this whole experience FANTASTIC!! A MUST TO VISIT in QUEENSTOWN if you love ITALIAN CUISINE 🧡
Amazing home made pastas and warm comfort foods with friendly service. The cáprese and tiramisu were out of this world! Highly recommend!!!
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Everything about this place was epic!!! We booked ahead as a group of six and they had us sorted the moment we arrived.
The atmosphere was so exciting, beautiful place with so much to explore visually. It was hustling and bustling but it never took away from the experience.
The service was exceptional. The waitress (for lack of a better word because she was our main entertainment for the night) was just delightful, she was patient, attentive, offered opinions when asked (and boy I'm glad she did) and not once did I see a dirty glass or dish last more than 3 minutes on our table. When we asked if she was able to eat here, she exclaimed that was her favourite part of working there- I've never come across better service.... anywhere.
So onto the food. We all got different dishes and every piece of it was amazing. Perfectly cooked, the texture of everything was great and oh my gosh, having dairy free options that tasted just as amazing as the main menu was a complete luxury. The portions were huge, the flavor deep, the presentation beautiful and it a definitely exceeded expectations.
If you're in Queenstown, make that booking and you will not regret it.
Had dinner here our first night in Queenstown and came back two days later. It’s that good. Best focaccia I’ve ever had, incredible gnocchi, service, and vibes
Had a great meal here this evening. The pasta sauce was absolutely authentic and tasted wonderful. Along with the great ravioli served with it. The pizza was terrific. It had a beautiful thin crust with the edges, feeling the heat from the oven. The red wine, the Annibelle Montepulciano was an excellent accompaniment too. The staff were very attentive, without being intrusive, and the whole atmosphere was one of a friendly Italian Trattoria. We’ll be back.
My boyfriend and I walked passed this restaurant in the early morning and thought why not give it a try later that night. And can I tell you, we were delightedly surprised at how amazing this Italian food was. We both enjoy Italian food on a regular basis and this was a huge standout. From the cheesy garlic bread to the butter and sage ravioli and bolognese, it was so beautifully tasty and not heavy at all. We really enjoyed eating here, having the seat outside in the laneway kept us people watching. Small family owned business it looks, and it was fabulous. We highly recommend this quaint Italian restaurant. Thank you Farelli’s
This is the first time I have ever reviewed a restaurant. I feel obliged to share our excellent experience at Farelli’s. Hands down, best vegan Italian meal my wife and I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. We had the potatoes with chilli oil, vegan chorizo pizza and the arrabbiata pasta. The flavours of all three dishes were incredibly well balanced. I often find vegan options on Italian menus to lack flavour, which was certainly not the case at Farelli’s. Awesome meal, will definitely be back when in Queenstown again.
It took me by surprise that during low seasons reservations were essentials in Queenstown. We chanced upon this place by accident. No regrets! Food was gooood. Pizza was thin crusted and so tasty. The clams...yum. The pastas were great too. Tiramisu...yum yum. Generous portions.
I’ve been here 3 TIMES on my holiday to Queenstown !!! Their vegan / plant based selection is mouth watering and such a great excuse to absolutely blow them dollar bills for!!!! OH EM GEE!!! Yes yes yes!!!!!!
Try get a booking though cause they’re hella popular!!
Amazing staff, great food and cozy vibe!
Went for an early dinner here and thoroughly enjoyed it. The gnochi alfredo was the highlight of the meal, the sauce was so flavourful and creamy, couldn’t fault it. Pizza was also great.
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