Il Postino Restaurant

Excuses, Excuses.

Hello Internet! Just thought i would share my thoughts on a recent experience I had last weekend with II Postino Ristorante. We had a party of 25 ish to celebrate my son's baptism and all I can think about is what didn't go wrong. I'll elaborate. 1. Pricing - Joe (manager) kept changing his mind on what would be included in a cost per plate scenario. He first said dessert and coffee were part of the package. He added a coffee charge to my bill that was only removed after I was about to show him proof in an email on my blackberry. The worst part was the people serving assumed it was included and served 20 dollars worth of coffee. Apparently after talking to his mom it wasn't possible to include it in the first place, not sure who's in charge of these things. 2. Service - Joe did not adequately staff for this event. He had 2 poor servers working both the restaurant below and the event upstairs. They were frantically trying to get orders in and the wait for the main course was close to 2 hours! After I spoke to Joe about it at the restaurant he said he did US a favor by having the event on a Saturday and it's busy. Really? For the mix up though he decided to throw in dessert which was already part of the agreed upon set menu! Classic! 3. Food - Okay so the food did taste good the only issue is the portion in relation to the cost. I specifically asked Joe about portion size a week before the event and asked if what I'm paying is enough to accommodate 24 rather hungry eaters after a long church ceremony. He advised there is no difference in amount just cuts of meat would change as the price went up. So for 35 dollars+ we got a piece of fish sitting on top of 4 vegetables. I don't normally review things online but I did feel it necessary to let anyone who hits this page know that it's simply not worth it to eat here cost wise and definitely not worth it for a large event. There are MANY options on this strip, skip this one.

Amazing food, service and atmosphere!!

I took my wife here for our anniversary on friday based on some recommendations and we had one of the best dinning nights out ever. The food was exceptional, service was impeccable and the location is great, on a beautiful historic street. The place was packed and rightfully so! Definitely worth checking out!!

Flawless experience every time!

This site needs an HONEST review of this gem of a restaurant. I eat out all the time and have been to all of Toronto Life's "top" restaurants and must say that this restaurant is under-rated. I keep coming back to this restaurant because the food is simply delicious, the servers are attentive and the ambiance is perfect. There is no better restaurant in the GTA. Looks like many of the ppl who write reviews on here don't eat out much... The lamb is divine here and the portions are so generous. This is a family owned restaurant and the owners are amazing. The moment you walk into this restaurant you feel the warmth and love. Great place for an intimate dinner or a party/celebration. And the best patio in the city!

Good but too expensive

The lamb was so soft and we all loved it. The pasta which they made themselves had good taste. And mussels were delicious as well. The cheese cake tasted smooth. Tiramisu was a little wet and light. The service was perfect. However the price was a little too high

overpriced!!!

for the food we received it was overpriced. Our bill for two was over $150 for that we could of went to a good steak house and said, that was worth it! However the rent is overpriced on Mainstreet so ofcourse they have charge what they do. The owners are nice but the food was a little ok for what I paid.

Absolutely excellent

Four of us had dinner this week. The caesar sald was as usual first class. Two of us had the 'special' tomato soup with goat chees. It was piping hot and literally bursting with flavour. For my entree I had the 'special' roasted black cod, which was to die for. It was totally fresh and cooked to perfection...just melting in the mouth. We had a bottle of Pinot Grigio that was absolutely excellent. All in all a first class dinner....somewhat pricey but what do you expect for top quality such as this.

Delicious!!!!!

This very cute & quaint restaurant is nestled on this beautiful very inviting little street in Union-ville. Upon arrival you can tell the people that work there love their jobs & are so happy & welcoming. We ordered a bottle of wine & some fresh bread with a balsamic bread dipper on the side came to us immediately. Our entree's were delicious & busting with flavor. The Ravioli melted in our mouths & the chicken was scrumptious! Dessert was absolute heaven & the service perfect! The ambiance in this restaurant was incredible. Both the owner & his wife went around serving with the servers, making sure everyone was well taken care of. We never had to refill our own wine glasses & the music was so relaxing. It had a great energy about it. The owners shook each & every guests hands as they left & thanked them for their business. I can definitely see why this place is a such a success. Perfect for any occasion! We will definitely go back!

Way too expensive for what you get!!!

The food was definitely not worth the price. The portions are way too small and the food was average. I've eaten at many nice restaurants and this one just didn't measure up for the prices they were charging. Something needs to be done about it. When you're paying those kind of prices you expect a good meal. My ravioli dish which I paid $27 was more of an appetizer size. It was hard and didn't have much taste to it. My guest really didn't appreciate the meal either. I do have to say that the desserts were good and our waitress was very nice but the service was very slow. It took forever for the food to come and the restaurant wasn't even that busy. Now I understand why after reading all the reviews... which I should have done before coming to this restaurant. Very disappointed and I would definitely not come back here.

Good Food, Good Service

Background: We were a group of six out for my birthday on a Sunday night. I had made reservations three days in advance. Arrival/Greeting: The host was exceptionally pleasant and genuine when I arrived. He offered me the choice to sit inside or outside on the patio. Since it was such nice weather, I chose outside but the host said that if I wanted to move inside once the rest of my group arrived, he would have no problem accommodating me. Apps: We all ordered the bruschetta which was very crispy and generously doused in EVO with ripe tomatoes. I ordered the mussels in white wine sauce which was quite tasty and the sauce was perfect for dipping the complimentary bread into. I tasted the antipasto platter which had well seasoned grilled veggies and nice thin prosciutto. Mains: The Chilean sea bass was buttery and had a great crispy skin...I would definitely have this again. I tasted my husband’s tenderloin which was quite good too but he complained to the waitress it was 'medium well' instead of 'medium'. She agreed and offered to get another one but since he didn't want to have to wait, he didn't take her up on the offer. Dessert: I had a wonderful crème brulee with a candle on top. Price: Everything was on the pricey side but the food was good. A small amount was taken off the bill for my husband’s steak that wasn’t cooked properly. Service: The waitress was attentive and she took good care of us that night. Ambiance: The weather was gorgeous, the patio was full and the street was buzzing with a steady flow of people. This strip in Unionville is quite nice in the summer and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to someone else.

Unfortunately, we did not get the table we had reserved. My partner had gone in during the week to make the reservation and they noted our table request but it was occupied when we got there. The food was just OK and we found the owner's wife to be a bit abrupt. The wine list was expensive. We couldn't get over that they served fusili with beef tenderloin as one of their specials. Fusili comes in a box. We can make that at home. We certainly didn't feel like we were valued customers. We won't go back

Last weekend I took my wife and 2 friends to postine restaurant.We go out a lot and we know food well. We had never been there and we decided to give it a try. Honestly it was the worst experience in a very long time. I don't mind paying for food that is of good quality and well prepared.The grilled calamari was tough(overcooked).The carpocio was not tenderloin ,but cheap & tough meat.The salmon was fishy and the pasta w/ clams(canned) @ $ 26 was overcooked and runny w/ no flavour.We ordered glasses of chianti wine and that is the only wine I drink,therefore I know what it is supposed to taste like.God only knows what mix they served us.ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. NOW I KNOW WHY THE PLACE WAS SLOW.

This was my first time at Il Postino and I...

This was my first time at Il Postino and I couldn't have enjoyed it more. The service was beyond reproach as was the food. The Mediterranean Sea Bass with risotto that I had was honestly the best fish dish I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The risotto was cooked to perfection and the accompanying veg (broccoli/asperagus/bok choy) was the perfect compliment to the meal. The sea bass was flaky and fresh, stuffed with lemon and herbs and encased in it's own delicious crispy skin. My friends Chicken Risotto was just as good with ample pieces of grilled chicken breast. Dessert was Creme Brule and Chocolate Java cake and was the perfect end to a perfect meal, enjoyed with a great cup of Cappucino. I truly don't understand the bad reviews here. It almost seems like restaurant sabotage. I am not a regular, nor was my companion yet we were treated as such by the very attentive and friendly staff. Overall the whole experience was most enjoyable. I will defintely be returning to Il Postino. Often!

I have been to Il Postino numerous times for many...

I have been to Il Postino numerous times for many different functions. Each and every time I (and my friends or family) were more than satisfied. We've been there for lunch, dinner, a Baptism, my family Christmas dinner, birthdays, and most recently Valentines day. The food was hot and tasty every single time, and the service never disappoints. You can tell that this is a family run establishment. They are always working so hard to please every single patron. I honestly can't imagine what it takes to please some of the previous reviewers who had negative comments. I was there the same night (Valentines) as the previous reviewer and had a totally different experience. And apparently so did the two couples on either side of us as they both couldn't stop raving about how great everything was. In my opinion Il Postino is the best restaurant on Main St.

My wife and I went for dinner on Valentine's...

My wife and I went for dinner on Valentine's dinner and I am sorry to say that the food was cold and awful. We don't mind paying a bit more for a special occasion ,but when service is bad that really ticks me off. The food is not italian and the flavours are not there. Need to change chef. Until that happens we will never come back.

I dined at Il Postino this weekend with my...

I dined at Il Postino this weekend with my husband and another couple and had to write in because yet again, it was a fantastic experience. Every time we go there we are treated like family by the owners and I have yet to have a meal I didnt love. Our guests also enjoyed themselves, they had the lamb and the sea bass and were blown away, the quality and the portions were phenomenal...I can guarentee they will be back. The staff at Il Postino is extremely friendly and that coupled with great food and an cozy atmosphere, makes it one of my favourite restauarants to dine at - especially on Main Street Unionville.

I question these poor reviews. I am not a...

I question these poor reviews. I am not a regular patron at Il Postino but have been ther several times for lunch and dinner. I found the service attentive and pleasant. All meals have been very good to excellant. I know several other people who feel the same. As such, I just have to question some of these negative reviews, as this restaurant is consistently superior in all respects. It's as if ther is s organized effort to discredit a fine establishment.

Terrible

I took my wife to this restaurant because another restaurant we wanted to go to ,on the street, was booked .It was terrible!!My lamb was very small and the salmon wasn't fresh at all.The app.shrimp was overcookedand dry.Service wasn't any better.Prices are too expensive.We were really DISAPPOINTED.we will NEVER return.

Overpriced food and smoky patio

Service was not to bad but clearly more attention was given to regulars. A few people (regulars) smoking on the patio a complaint was made but no attempt made by staff to ask them stop. Food was overpriced particulary fish pasta which comprised of 1 scallop, 2 shrimp a few mussels not fresh and tough old shrimps. The best was the glass of stella. Companion enjoyed her meal thought.

Horrible

First of all prices are very expensive.My veal was smelly and tough.The pasta wasn't any better.I think the chef should retire.He has had better days.Service wasn't much better;but if the food is not good why do you keep the doors still open?

Consider Other places to Eat in Markham

How often would anyone wait 1 1/2 hours to be served ? We waited 90 minutes just for our Bruschetta which they later tried to double charge us for. The Ceasar sald was awful and by the time the main course was served we were fed up - will not repeat at this second rate establishment. Very poorly run. My advice is to stay away.