Welcome to Ciao Italia

Portions are HUGE. A pizza, pasta (vodka sauce is one of our favourites) and garlic mussels easily serves 4, possibly with leftovers! The quality is impeccable. We have tried the soup of the day twice now- mushroom and chicken, then minestrone. Incredible. The ricotta they use is distinctly fresh (try the Romana pizza)and we always make it a point to try and make it to dessert so we can finish off with the tiramisu! The profiteroles are a little over the top and nothing to really shout about. Everything else so far? Superb. Even when we take away there doesn't seem to be much compromise. Oh, and don't forget the garlic bread- it's like they squashed an entire head of garlic into 4 slices of bread. Mmm...

This place is my benchmark for service.They are always packed and very busy, yet service is never compromised.You want water, you get water within the minute.You want to take your leftovers home, regardless of how ridiculously small the portion is,and it's done!Everyone should do business like this.

We love it. But if you're into dark lighting, romantic settings and privacy, stay clear! Patrons are seated back to back and you have to negotiate a labyrinth of chairs and waiters to get to the loo. But there's no airs about this place and no one seems to really mind!

Huge portion serving, value for money, i can guarantee you won't be able to finish whole plate of pasta on your own, it's a great place for food sharing, cuz you will only get to try more dishes if you go with a group of friends. Their garlic bread was one of the best i've tried so far in Perth. We also had the chilli king prawn pizza, the pizza was great, no doubt but the king prawn doesn't look as big as i thought and it tasted like those imported frozen prawns. We had the huge profiterolles tower, you will definately need to share this with ur friends, though the choux bun hidden inside could be softer?

Service was prompt and fast, no matter how long the queue are, they will never forget you, no matter how crowded it gets, you will be taken care of.

However, it is definately not a place for intimate dining as the place is very small and the table are literally next to each other.

If you are looking for good food that is value for money, a warm and cosy little restaurant with a taste of Italy, this is the place to go to. Btw, the Italian music that they are playing helps to get into the mood too, you really felt like you're dining in Italy.

Fantastic! Delicious pastas, woodfired pizzas and even steak (one of my eating companions had a steak with mushroom sauce he said was the best in ages!).

And the desserts... wow! The profiterole tower has to be seen (and tasted) to be believed, though it really needs to be shared as after mains (and entrees!) you won't have much room left!

Despite the 'no booking' policy, there is very fast and efficient service, all done with a smile on the face. Food comes out amazingly fast, especially considering how busy the restaurant is.

As one other reviewer put it - feels like "Little Italy"! Not a place you'd go for private intimate meal, but a really enjoyable experience.

Fantastic food, great value for money (they do 'doggie bags' and you will always have enough on your plate that you can have leftovers for lunch he next day!), fun atmosphere. Recommended!

As far as Italian food goes, this place is superb.

There are, however, three significant downsides to Ciao Italia. First, you can't book. Second, the place is tiny so they pack you in like sardines, *if* you manage to get a table. If you do get a table, good luck trying to have a conversation with anyone. Other than that, it's superb.

Friday night was the second time I had been here and the second time I had been seated at the table right in the doorway next to the cash register. Getting there just before 6 we managed to get a table for two but in no time, the queue outside started to grow before we knew it. The waitstaff are very vocal and energetic, how they keep up the pace and continue to smile and joke with the customers is beyond me. While we looked over the menu, the present my friend had just given me was quickly snapped up and passed around from waiter to cashier while they all pretended to open it (later in the night it was my credit card they pretended to “steal“).

We ordered garlic bread and calamari to share for starters and veal scallopine and chicken parmigiana for mains. When we saw the size of the starters we began to worry about how we would ever fit our mains in, 6 or so slices of tasty garlic bread and a dinner plate full of fresh salad with a gorgeous dressing and whole sliced and spiralled squid tubes. Pizzas and pastas arriving on other tables all looked delicious and everyone looked to be enjoying their meals.

Our mains arrived and were delicious, big serves accompanied by a really nice serve of mixed vegetables. We managed to fit it all in (just) but there was definitely no room for dessert.

This is definitely not the place to come for a nice romantic dinner, or even a subdued conversation. We had to strain across the table to hear each other and you do get the very obvious feeling that you are being rushed in and out. The place is so cramped that my friend constantly had people leaning over her reaching for menus or paying the cashier and bumping into her chair from behind. I think my patience would have run out after one too many armpits in my face, but she handled it all very well. Before we had a chance to push our chairs in, our table was being wiped down for two other patrons who were moving to sit there (would hate to see the table they moved from!).

It's loud, it's cramped and it's BYO. With a coke each, the bill came to $84 for the two of us and it was all a bit of fun, but we did have to go somewhere afterwards to actually sit and have a conversation where we could hear each other without shouting.

Was there on a Saturday night. They dont take bookings so we had to line up for an hour and this was at 530pm. We were seated at a table in the door way of the main entrance and were constantly bumped by people coming to get take away. The staff made the place, with the ability to almost make you forget that you’re in a sardine tin. I ordered a woodfired pizza which was average. The others in the group ordered pasta meals, which were massive and they really enjoyed. Overall the food was good, the atmosphere excellent but the restaurant was way too cramped. Would I line up like some people did for 2 hours? NO.

If not for EatingWA members’ reviews, we would never have known the existence of Ciao Italia. And as the reviewers state it truly is Little Italy. I have never been to a more cramped café but hey, I like it ! So does my toddler who being a little sticky beak made eyes at people at nearby tables which gives us a chance to see what other people have ordered. And it all looks good. Best of all the Italian music is loud enough that our little man’s tantrums are not as obvious.

We were greeted by the ever smiling waiters looking smart in their attire. Here is a successfully run café where the staff are happy doing their job which creates a very jovial atmosphere. At the early dining time of 5.15pm, half the diners were families with young kids but you had an assortment of diners too such as 3 older Asian men which I find it a surprise as my dad’s generation of male friends don’t particularly like pizza/pasta. This says a lot about the café and we will bring dad here to let him immerse in the Ciao Italia experience.

We had the fettuccini marinara ($21.50) where the fish pieces were to die for. Once, our toddler tasted it, he attempted to monopolised the fish and hence, we had to all gobble the dish as quick as we could. Quite a generous serve of fish and calamari rings with about 3 king prawns and 4 mussels in the rich tomatoey sauce. Like other restaurants, I wish there were more mussels in the marinara mix, though. The scaloppini al funghi ($23.50) was a substantial dish with veal in mushroom sauce served with baked potatoes and to my delight, my favourite - grilled vegetables. What we liked also about both dishes were that there was plenty of sauce as we are saucey people and some people may scoff but we like our food soaked. However, I felt that the mushroom sauce was a little bland and black pepper would easily have enhanced it. But as they were so busy I did not want to trouble them and instead just sprinkled more white pepper which was already on the table and to some extend it did the job.

So many things looked tempting on the menu. Gotta try the pizzas as the smoked salmon one caught my fancy. Also, the lasagne as it seems to be a firm favourite of one of the reviewers and the chicken with prawns and the calamari with salad¦. We are definitely returning !

haven't been there for a couple of months so thought it was time to go back again...went saturday night, got there at 5.40pm and stood outside with 20 others...fortunately they were all larger groups so when a table for 2 became available we were first cab off the rank....

have never had anything other than lasagne before (i'm a creature of habit) so this time i plucked up enough courage to order chicken parmigiana... no complaints at all, huge plate and very tender, however i think the lasagne was more authentically Italian and a cut above everywhere else i have had it...

my better half ordered 'Pollo Ciao Italia', pan-fried chicken breast with mushrooms, prawns, spring onions in a really tasty peppercorn creamy sauce....she loved it and i thought it was a treat too...can absolutely recommend this one, huge plate and if you're still hungry after this then you need to have your stomach stapled...

we finished by sharing the obligatory profiterole which as usual topped off the night....

i know it's busy, i know it's crowded, i know they herd you in and herd you out, but the staff are friendly if you take the time to chat with them... if you are the impatient type you probably won't enjoy yourself at Ciao, but if you take it all in your stride there's a fair chance you'll have the eating experience of your life...great food, great value and if the 25 or so people still waiting to get in when we left are any indication then we are not the only people in Perth who love the place...

**Little Italy in PERTH!!!**
My partner's parents have been raving about this little restaurant at the end of their street in South Perth. We decided to go there for this BD. We always drive past the restaurant and wonder why there are always herds of people standing and waiting around the restaurant. After that night, I know why.

We had to wait in the cold from 7.30 to 8pm, although the restaurant is considerate to put the chairs outside, its simply impossible for me to sit still as its very cold brrrrrrr.

We are usher in the (VERY FULL restaurant) onto a small table for 4 of us, but its still alright. We ordered Bruschetta, biggest I have ever seen in my life, although I thought it’s pretty expensive at $10.50 for 2 servings.

I order Veal with veggies which is very nice, nicely presented, taste was good but I think it shd have been richer. The meal balls spaghetti were HUGE but I heard that the servings used to be BIGGER, I can’t imagine that. My partner's mum ordered chicken with cream and prawns and veggies. I had a little try and it’s absolutely heaven!

Service is a bit quick and rushed but efficient. We didnt have to wait for water or anything at all. Food was served very promptly.

We didn’t have tummy space for desserts which is a pity because the deserts looked yummy.

The food quality is v good, good value for money, main dishes from $19-25. Flavoursome and hearty.

I went to Ciao Italia on Saturday night for a dinner with a friend and a birthday girl. No bookings are allowed and at 6:00 the place was already filled to the brim. I arrive two minutes late and find my friends on the queuing seats outside with a bunch of other punters. Despite my protest that I was not late and they were ten minutes early, they had already been called twice to go inside for an available table, so no messing around at this place. Upon my arrival we are immediately called for the third time by the brash headwaiter; Starrsheep gets a friendly telling off and in we go. The place is an awkward shape, thin and narrow with the kitchen taking up an entire side of the restaurant. Every available space is taken up by a table. Expect to walk sideways to get to the bathrooms. We find ourselves changing tables twice. The first time we get a table tacked onto the end of another family (who say hello) but I am sitting in the way of traffic. They move us to the next table shortly which is in a better location. The staff here must all be chess champions as the delicate nature of maneuvering and procuring tables is an art form they have down to a T. Maybe they should consider demolishing the free patron carpark and extend the premise out a bit.

After hearing the other rave reviews by other EatingWA'ers, I think pffft - pasta and pizza is decent at any Italian restaurant and decide to put the place to the test by ordering the calamari, not expecting much as this type of dish always goes one of two ways, greasy fish & chip style crumbed squid rings or inedible scary round white rubbery things. Service is fast considering the crowds. I receive a huge plate of golden, lightly battered and grilled squid cut into large chunks of continuous spirals upon a bed of fresh gourmet salad with a light creamy dressing and a dusting of paprika. What the?! Does this little homely joint have a five star chef hidden inside? Absolutely delicious! Tender squid and refreshing salad. My friends have the gnocchi with a bolognaise sauce and the rigatoni with a chicken, pea and white wine sauce. Both were huge servings (only one serving size) and had to be put into a take away container at the end of the night. That quashed our dreams for desert. The rigatoni was delicious as I helped myself to it while my friend went to the toilet. The headwaiter was also very helpful when taking our order, making sure that we would like what we ordered.

Going to the counter to pay we encountered a bungle due to the crowd as we got accused of pushing in by another couple. But the headwaiter who still remembered my charming friend EV (and had been calling her "Miss EV" all night) magically knew where we had been sitting, smoothes it all out with generous offerings of nougat for all parties and we walk out sweets in hand, forgetting about the nasty incident.

I would be more than happy to return to Ciao Italia, but perhaps on a weekday night when things are not quite so busy, as the food is superb and very authentic at a terrific price and the chilli mussels going past sure looked good! The headwaiter and staff are friendly, but they are under pressure, so I don’t blame them for being a little too artificially cheerful and trying a little too hard, which is my pet hate. This is a good casual restaurant to get together with friends, as long as you are prepared to be quickly herded in, eat a delicious meal and then be quickly herded out again on a busy night, which is not my style (I already get enough of that as a sheep, plus despite not being an exhibit at The Royal Show I was unintentionally touched a few times by other patrons in the crowdedness) - hence the star penalty. Give me a day with less of a crowd and then I will put the Starr in the Starrsheep!

After a birthday breakfast at the Royal Brasserie we decided on a birthday dinner at Ciao, the best little Italian restaurant in Perth. As usual it was crowded, as usual it was noisy and as usual the food was great.

With the restaurant chockers and another 7 or 8 queued up for takeaway it was a matter of not breathing too deeply or letting the elbows stray, otherwise eating became a contact sport. It's certainly not hard to make friends at Ciao as you're practically sitting at everyone else's table anyway and it's almost obligatory to start a conversation.

However on this particular evening the service wasn't quite as good as usual, but they really do work under pressure and in a very restricted space. Whilst i wouldn't work there for quids i'll keep going back, as the meal for quality and value can't be surpassed. And don't forget to share a profiterol for finishers. Too big for one, but just right for two.

Has to be the best value Italian Restaurant in Perth. If you like genuine Italian food, crowds, noise and pleasant service this is the place for you. However unless you get there early be prepared to wait out the front for a table. By 6pm the place was chockers and even the waiter couldn't get to our table by the window.

I had the lasagne which had real Italian tang and filled most of my plate. What room was left was quickly filled up with Profiteroles, but be warned, share, don't order two or you'll be very full instead of pleasantly full.

Can't wait to go back again.

I've only given this little restaurant three stars for ambience because it is variable. You can find yourself outside the toilet in a dark corridor (one star) or on a comfortable table with enough space to swing a length of spaghetti (4 stars). The staff can be, in fine Italian tradition, offhand, brusque and aloof but there is always noise and energy in this place. The food is excellent and now I as write this, I want to go back again!

We love the food, we love the staff!! Never are we tempted by another...this is by far the best Italian restaurant!!!

We went on a Tuesday nite at about 5.30pm and I was suprised at the number of people. The inside of the restaurant feels very italian and the staff, who mostly seemed to be family, were very friendly and accomodating.

Don't let the fact that tables and chairs are so crammed into the place put you off. I figure first in best seated, to avoid being squashed.

The wood fired pizza was delicious and ample for 4 people. We had spaghetti marinara and fettucine ciao italia which were both delicious.

But be warned, the serves are huge and are one size only (no etree size). Unless you are a huge eater, I would recommend sharing.

The prices were very reasonable and it was some of the best pasta I have ever had.

Well worth a visit!!!