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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Vitalia's Italian Restaurant
Review
About
Travelers' Choice
2024
Cairns waterfront dining is hosting the italian restaurant, Family envoiroment business, Hand-streched pizza using natural ingredients to enhance the flavours, Homemade gnocchi and Pasta, and also the most stunning seafood platter of Cairns. The dishes are Created by the Italian chef Vitalia Zanda with over 20 years experience.
Features
CUISINES
Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Sicilian, Southern-Italian
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Buffet
Full Bar
Gift Cards Available
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Street Parking
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available, Street Parking
Does this restaurant have tables with seating?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 9:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Contribute
4.6
580 reviews
Excellent
472
Very good
39
Average
26
Poor
21
Terrible
22
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Lisa P
55 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
This restaurant did not disappoint, in fact exceeded our expectations. The staff are very friendly and approachable and know and understand the menu explaining anything we asked. We were in cairns for a week and on our first night came for the pizza’s they were cooked so well and delicious. Then we went again for lunch as on Friday, Saturday & Sundays they have lunch specials that include panini, pasta or salads.
I ordered the salad with grilled prawns, my husband had the vongole/mussels pasta. And my son had the pizza again. They have a kids menu for lunch and dinner, well priced $11 and you get choice out of pastas and pizza.
We then went back one evening for dinner where we had entree of calamari fritti, mussels with sauce that comes inside a bowl of bread (edible) and bruschetta. The three of us loved it. My son then had pasta from kids menu, my husband had the seafood fregola which was so authentic that if he closed his eyes he could have been in Sardinia. I enjoyed the risotto calabrese, that was so filling and tasty. This dinner was excellent value for money for all three of us.
On our last day being a Friday we ventured out to get a lunch special, I had the linguine with chilli prawns, my husband the carbonara which again was so authentic you could have been in Rome.
The value and quality of this restaurant will remain with us and certainly will return when back in Cairns. On our last lunch there, we had the pleasure meeting Antonio the owner of the restaurant who was friendly and we couldn’t thank him enough for the beautiful dinning experience of delicious quality authentic Italian cuisine so far away from Italy. Staff that were knowledgeable and friendly amongst beautiful panoramic views. Grazie tanto Antonio
A last special thank you to our two Italian waitresses, grazie mille, we will be back.
Written April 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia
25 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
I am not in the habit of writing reviews but this restaurant deserved a 5-star one without a shadow of a doubt. The pizza is really good, excellent dough well risen, the paccheri mushrooms and bacon to lick even the plate, the tiramisu delicious. But what above all makes this restaurant so outstanding is the staff. Kind is too little to describe it. We were here to celebrate my birthday and I asked for my favorite tuna and onions pizza, the owner approached us sorry to say that unfortunately he didn't have tuna because it's a pizza that's not in high demand and you know what he did? He went to the supermarket to get it just for me.
Such a gesture is truly for the few and it was greatly appreciated.
Then when they brought us the dessert with the candle, they even played and sang happy birthday to me. If I didn't live in Italy I would return to this restaurant whenever I could. The quality of the food is exceptional and the staff is uniquely welcoming and kind. Thank you so much for making us have a wonderful evening. We wish you good luck and only wonderful things :)
Written February 20, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua T
Charters Towers64 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
My wife and i dined here and the food and service was exceptional. We both had mussels for an entree and rather than being served in a bowl or buck they were served in a focaccia bread bowl where all the excess juices just soaked up into the bread. The mussels were fresh and prepared just right. For our main course my wife had the stuffed chicken and although not an overly large meal it looked and tasted great. I had the risotto which was cooked to perfection. We accompanied our meal with an Italian red wine which was unusual for us as we were not big wine drinkers but it was probably the nicest red wine we had ever tasted. I would definitely dine here again and probably again as we were very impressed with our whole dining experience.
Written August 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alisha W
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • family
We are from Quebec,Canada on a family holiday and the Hilton Hotel recommended Vitalias Italian Restaurant. Italian cuisine is our fa orite. So disappointed all round.
Very Bad Slow service. Waited ages for soft drinks (Our food arrived & the waiter didn't offer us parmesan cheese & requested black pepper. Waited ages as food cooled quickly.
4 cheese Pizza thick burnt & black edges.
Nice flavor. Good flavor. Pizza Oven. Seafood not bad. Not outstanding! Risotto gloopy and unfortunately was bland!
Gluten free pasta was chewy not al dente. Flavorless. Pasta Pomodoro tomatoes sauce disgusting and swimming in too much garlic oil! Inedible! Was looking forward to a rich tomato sauce. Garlic oil Drowned out flavor (if there was one??). Absolutely Vile!! Dundees Restaurant is No.1 and their rich tomato sauce is incredible & so thick & delicious fresh herbs. Polar opposite of Vitalias.
Table booked in my wife's name. I will not disclose my name. Anonymity. I am 100% truthful.
Written January 17, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio Lo Conte
Dear Alisha and anonymous Husband
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. At Vitalia’s Italian Restaurant, we are dedicated to delivering authentic Italian cuisine and excellent service, so it is disappointing to hear that your experience fell short of your expectations.
We strive to prepare every dish using traditional Italian methods, and we stand by the quality and flavor of our offerings. While we understand that taste can be subjective, your comments regarding our dishes and service are being reviewed by our team to ensure we continue to meet our high standards.
It is also worth noting that comparisons with other establishments are unnecessary, as our restaurant prides itself on its distinct culinary approach, inspired by authentic Italian traditions. We are confident in the quality of what we offer and the consistent satisfaction of the majority of our guests.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, you are welcome to contact us via email at owner@vitalias.au. Constructive feedback is always appreciated, and we continually strive to enhance our guests’ dining experiences.
Written January 20, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Des
Cairns1 contribution
Oct 2023 • friends
Service was good but that was it, Vitali’s has been a favourite in the past however this time 4 out of the 6 meals were no better than packet pasta quality, and the Australian Shiraz choices were unheard of, and 4of 5 people experienced with red Shiraz varieties were left wondering why such a choice of wine. Thebpizza meal was good and the Suzie choosing a steak main were happy but all the pasta dishes were frankly terrible. Complaints to the waitress were futile as she just doubled down instead of listening. She did bring out an extra piece of very average lasagne for one person in an effort to help however. Something was very wrong on this occasion and hope they can sort out the food and wine quality as it is a great location and has been great food in the past.
Written November 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joy C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • friends
We booked for dinner at Vitalias on a busy Friday evening. The staff were pleasant and our orders were taken.
For entrees we ordered mussels and arancini. The mussels were tender and tasty. The arancini was described as "stuffed with ragu sauce, peas, diced beef, Napoli sauce, provolone cheese." What was presented was two large deep fried balls that appeared to be and tasted like little more than rice served with a small amount of tomato salsa. I noticed that I was not the only diner who did not consume more than half the dish.
For the main course we ordered a seafood pizza and Cotoletta alla Milanese. This crumbed chicken dish was described as "herb crusted chicken fillet, pecorino and chianti red wine jus, marinated tomatoes". What was served was a crumbed piece of flattened and unrecognisable meat no more than 4mm in thickness and topped with a bit of greenery and two halves of cherry tomatoes. It was mostly unedible.
The Fruitti Di Mare, a pizza described as "San Marzano, fiordilatte, local prawns, calamari, mussels, vongole olives, garlic and parsley" did indeed have the described seafood ingredients, but the pizza base soggy and unedible.
Altogether some of the worst food that we have ever been offered and an insult to Italian cuisine and very expensive.
Written August 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TAKASHI
Tokyo Prefecture14 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
Being an Italian restaurant, the pizza was very delicious.
Since it's Cairns, I also ordered a seafood plate and meat.
The seafood plate is served on a large plate and is a luxurious and satisfying dish. Since the volume is large, you may need to be careful when adding meat or pizza together.
At the top of the two-story seafood plate, there was a seafood stew similar to bouillabaisse or pescatore, and the white fish that was lying in the depths of the soup soaked up all the flavor of the seafood, and it was very delicious. is. Thank you for the meal.
By the way, I was so impressed with the seafood plate that I forgot to take a photo of the pizza and meat. I was too full to eat dessert.
Written March 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackin C
Perth6 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
Service was not good, brought the wrong wine. My pizza was inedible - waiter said he thought it looked bad when he brought it to the table. Nobody came near us till my husband had finished his meal, they then came over and said it was beyond their control as I’d ordered a GF base (they charge $5 extra on the menu for this option)??!! AVOID THIS RESTAURANT
Written November 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vitalia Z
Dear Jackin
As we already apologise for the experience and you raised the voice showing your disagreement unpolitely.
I will state all the experience you had at restaurant
That was not completely bad as your husband appreciated the his meal.
You did not like the pizza which Is absolutely understandable but your review is misleading
I felt embarrassed when rudely you did not gave me the chance to reply to you and offer a second option or replacement for another meal.
The pizza was taken off from the bill.
The clients are important to us and we always appreciate their understanding. In your case did not happen because was really hard to have a polite conversations. I can only wish that you will moderate your anger
Kind regards
the owner
Written December 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Happy Traveller
Adelaide1 contribution
Sep 2022 • none
We headed into Cairns from our accommodation at Trinity beach for a stroll and lunch by the Marina.
Found this place offering a great value lunch special, greeted with a smile we were offered a choice of 5 nice options along with a quality glass of wine each.
We both had the Frittura di Pesce comprising of Calamari, prawns, scallop, served with fries and a nice fresh salad (always a good sign when there's more seafood than fries!)
Couldn't fault any of it, and great value for under $50 for both of us.
Will definitely be back...thanks for providing the highlight of our day trip into Cairns!
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FitzHour
Brisbane34 contributions
Feb 2024 • family
Ambience appeared ok for an above average Italian meal. Salumi platter was ok. Flat bread was burnt. Burrata was ok but relatively solid; this is now a common entree in many restaurants and it was average. The lasagne was a gnarly corner which was dry and looked at least 2-3 days old; actually the lasagne was a disgrace. Ordered two pizzas, overly burnt with some parts completely inedible. I realise that pizza makers heavily defend their charred Neapolitan pizzas as being just right but fellas it is inedible and proven to be carcinogenic. 15% surcharge as Easter and difficulty finding staff.
Written March 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio Lo Conte
Gnarly review
"We appreciate your feedback, although we regret to learn of the unsatisfactory experience you had during your visit. We value all feedback, even when communicated in a harsh tone, and will address the issues internally to ensure improvements are made. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us."
Written April 1, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BBKiwi97
Sydney28 contributions
Dec 2021 • solo
Due to COVID Cairns wasn’t too busy so was able to get straight in on Xmas eve without a booking.
Unfortunately that was the only positive. After one birra moretti they ran out, the pizza was chewy and soggy, and once finished I had to wait 10 minutes to get one of the inattentive waiters attention for the bill. When I mentioned this to the guy at the till he shrugged then pointed me to the credit card machine. 5 more days staying upstairs, but not another dinner to be had at Vitalias!
Previous recent reviewers have been spot on.
Written December 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
federico
Rimini1 contribution
Aug 2023 • couples
Indulging in this Italian restaurant was an exquisite experience! From the moment I stepped in, the warm ambiance set the stage for a delightful evening. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff who made us feel like honored guests. The food was a culinary masterpiece, with the pizza bringing back cherished memories of Italy. The thin, crispy crust topped with mouthwatering ingredients was divine. And the tiramisĂą, oh my! It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Each spoonful was a heavenly blend of flavors that left me craving more. This restaurant is an absolute gem, and I can't wait to return for another sensational dining adventure!
Written August 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara
Far North Region8 contributions
Dec 2022 • none
Seafood linguini was nice. Don't order garlic focaccia as it is made on pizza base and garlic from a jar which was not very nice. The bolognaise sauce on gnocchi tasted like it was napoli sauce from a jar and didn't seem to have mince in it. The gnocchi was very hard and chewy like it was frozen or maybe long life. There are much better Italian restaurants and we will vote with our feet. It may be that they didn't have a chef on this night but we had a chef with us and it definitely was a disappointment
Written January 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio Lo Conte
HI thanks for taking your time for the review, We do not agree for what you are stating we use all fresh ingredients and gnocchi are made fresh daily as are very popular and we are very busy. I wish to see you again and shake your hand and your friend chef too
Kind regards
The owners
Written March 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Catherine C
Cairns80 contributions
May 2022 • couples
It is was a beautiful view of the wharf, we were were sitting in the corner so we didn't really see much of the inside. The staff were friendly and hard working. Our waitress did forget to bring the dessert menu, but she was trying to serve other people too, so I wasn't upset. The food was overall pretty tasty. The nutella ice-cream was so good but you definitely need to share it, to finsh it. My husband and I had the cheese pizza and some sort of cool looking entree. It had meat and vegies inside, so good. Tasted like mac and cheese but looked like a hash brown on the outside. The pizza could have been better. It tasted a little too burned and smelled burnt. It was a little off-putting. My husband had the steak, it came out covered in salad which was also tasty. I had some sort of stew, it was so good. I loved it a lot. The taste was homely and reminded me of winter.
Written May 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony L
Cairns49 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
Review
/ minimum
This authentic delicious Italian Restaurant ticks all the boxes. With an exceptional menu, friendly efficient staff, sweeping views of the marina, it is our special place.
Catering for large groups is always so no problem. I personally love the Zoupa Di Pesci (vummy seafood hotpot) & Fruiti De Mare (seafood) Pizza, affagato (ice cream desert with express coffee and a shot of your favourite liquor drizzled over it), lemon-cello & fine Italian vino are just a few if my favourites gastronomical delights. We have followed Vitalia's from Holloways Beach to the Pier & even celebrated my wife’s exquisite 50th Birthday celebrations there in a private function which we all enjoyed! Thank you Vitalia's fabulous staff. I always feel like l'm coming home when I visit Vitalia's Restaurant in Cairns at the Pier! It's a "must do" and never disappoints!
Written March 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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