Welcome to Sorrento Restaurant

This place has been reviewed so many times! I'll try to make mine short.

We arrived after 10pm on Sunday night and they were still happy to serve us dinner. I've never been keen on anywhere in Northbridge because I hate the nightlife there, but it was the only place with open restaurants. To be honest, I wasn't expecting fantastic food and service because it was the end of the night and we had left dinner a bit late.

However, we were served delicious crumbed prawn cutlets, outstanding veal chops, a killer carbonara and a superb pannacotta - all with a smile.

The only let down of the evening was me. I'd forgotten to bring the VIP card or the voucher, so we'll have to go again.

Classic italian food in a typical alfresco setting in Northbridge!

The menu is the usual fare, and we were greeted by the well known italian lady with the buffont hairdo. We were asked to wait at the bar inside the restaurant until a table became available, as we had not booked and it was 7.30pm on Friday night.

We were given a drinks menu by the barman, and after some perusing, we ordered a 375ml bottle of Elderton Shiraz ($26). We were then given the bottle (unopened) with several wine glasses. As it was a screwtop, we opened it ourselves. So much for service!!

We were led to an outside table shortly after, wherewe were given a menu, but not offered any water. We were asked if we wanted some garlic bread or bruschetta to start, and we nodded to the garlic bread, which arrived within 5 minutes.

We were ready to order, and after waiting 10 minutes, I waved to the waitress, who came over, but said "I can't take your order yet, you need to wait"!! I guess the kitchen must have been busy. We didn't ask for an explanation, and none was offered.

The waitress did however return 10 minutes later to take our order, and it didn't seem too long before our food arrived. I had the Spaghetti Marinara ($26), which was better than average and the other dish was the Penne Salsicce with italian sausage and capsicum ($22), which was very good. Servings were adequate, and overall waiting times reasonable.

The several waitresses (and barman) that served us seemed of the "backpacker" variety, but they were friendly enough and did the job, which we understand is the byproduct of Perth's booming economy. It was nice to see a half bottle of wine on the menu, as this is a rarity.

The total came to $83.50 including the wine and 1 softdrink.

Sorrento would be rated as one of the better restaurants in Northbridge. Apart from the fact the I spend very little time in Northbridge visiting Sorrento overall was really nice.

The food was traditional Italian and very delicious. We had one of the meat dishes which was very tender served with a yummy creamy sauce and lots of vegetables.

It was a Saturday night so the fact that they managed to fit us in without a booking was really excellent. Apart from being dumped at the bar... (which I hate about some restaurants) whilst finding us a table was the only thing I could fault about the experience.

If your not a football fan then give this place a miss as when the footy is on tele they have screens all through the restaurant showing the game.

I just had to write a review after our wonderful experience at Sorrento Restaurant on Friday night. It was our sons 12th birthday and we decided to use a voucher I had won from EatingWA. There were 6 people in our party and we booked for 7.30pm. The restaurant was already very busy but we were seated quickly and given menus immediately. Within minutes, our drink orders were taken and the wine we bought with us was opened and served.

We ordered garlic bread which arrived while we were deciding what to order and found the pieces to be very generous - much better than not having enough to go around!

Our orders for main course were taken quickly and the food didn't seem to take long to arrive at the table. The meals were all generous in size - you certainly wouldn't go hungry. My husband had the Fettuccine Pollo, I had the Veal Parmigiana, my sister ordered Saltimbocca alla Romana, Mum enjoyed the 400g Veal Rib Eye (and felt a bit like she was an extra in The Flintstones!). The boys couldn't decide and so ended up sharing two meals - the Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni and a large Vegetarians Nightmare pizza. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food - cooked and supplied as ordered and very delicious! Our meals all came at the same time because three people served them to us - impressive considering how busy the restaurant was.

Dessert was beyond me but the temptation overcame the others. The birthday boy went with Chocolate Mudcake (and was lucky to get the last available piece), our older son chose Panna Cotta and my Mum and sister decided to share a Sticky Date pudding. At some restaurants sharing seems to be frowned upon but at Sorrento, the question was - so you'd like 2 spoons? When the desserts were delivered to our table, the mudcake had a candle in it and four lovely young waitresses gathered around to sing happy birthday. A good many fellow diners joined in, including one table in a language other than English. It was a really great atmosphere and made our son feel very special. Our main waitress, Marianka, even came back for a photo.

By the way, the mudcake was to die for - huge serve so birthday boys parents helped out a bit! The report on the Panna Cotto was that 'it was brilliant'. Here is another example of attention to detail - the Sticky Date Pudding didn't just come with 2 spoons - it was cut neatly into 2 pieces and was delicious.
All in all, a great night. The atmosphere was excellent - attentive, friendly service, a home-style restaurant with lots of good feeling around and we all left feeling on top of the world. We will remember our night for a long time to come. Thanks, Sorrento!

I normally enter restaurants uncomfortable, and leave tired and ready for bed. When I enter Sorrento, everyone's so friendly and I feel like I've been greeted by Tony Soprano himself. The food's delicious and authentic. I always enjoy myself when I go there. I leave full, but after the fantastic experience, I'm never tired. This place should be everyone's "regular" and "favourite" place to eat. If you see me there, and I don't have a smile on my face, Joel will personally serve you and your friends your meal. Thanks again Sorrento!

Finally, used the voucher courtesy of EatingWA and Sorrento and dined alfresco. Initially, there was a little mix-up with our seating but it was quickly resolved. The effervescent lady owner, I presume (one of the waiter calls her “Mama”) stands at the entrance and greets every diner which makes one feel very welcome. All the wait staff are very friendly and helpful and are indeed an asset to Sorrento.

Contrary to what other reviewers stated, we did feel that the prices here are on the higher end and the food was only of average size. We had the veal with prosciutto and sage ($30) which on the menu stated medallions but it came looking more like 3 thin slices. It was tasty enough but with the handful of baby potatoes it was barely filling for one person. The Vegetarian Nightmare pizza ($20) so-called as it comprised of meat, meat and more meat that is ham, cabanossi, pepperoni and bacon with of course tomato/cheese was generous with the toppings but rather on the salty side (but I suspect is due to all the meat and not coz of added salt). The fettuccine pollo ($24) was delicious with the meaty chicken pieces and pine nuts. The chicken breast topped with 3 prawns ($32) was very tasty but I don’t know if it was out of their norm today as all other reviewers stated that the servings were big but even my mum who does not eat very much could finish the dish! We did find the dishes on the smaller side for the prices charged except for dad’s 500g T-bone steak ($34) which was a substantial piece and cooked perfectly medium rare. The other disappointment I encountered is that I feel salad should be a standard part of every meat/seafood dish and here you would have to order a side salad.

Since we were not full, we had room for coffee and dessert. From about 8 choices priced at $8.50 we picked the tiramisu and sticky date pudding. The tiramisu was lovely in itself but once we tasted the sticky date pudding we agreed unanimously that it was the best. Quite a large serve and they did not stinge on the butterscotch sauce and it came with a large scoop of vanilla ice-cream as well. My 2 year old simply could not get enough of it.

That was simply divine!

Excellent! The best dining experience we have had in Perth for months. Our first time at this restaurant.

Our last minute booking for Valentine's Day went astray, but we were ushered in to the bar to await a table. The place was pretty packed but the staff were really switched on and working hard.

Friendly prompt attention at the bar and table, classic yet interesting menu, tasty food, good portion size, attention to detail in the old fashioned way.

We spent a very pleasant Valentine's Day, and felt our dining experience really mattered to the staff.

Thanks to Sorrento - we'll be back!

It's a rarity to find a restaurant where the staff look you in the eyes when they speak and genuinely are interested in ensuring you have a good meal. It was my birthday, and all the staff who served us wished me a happy birthday - what a wonderful touch!
My friends, like me, enjoy a good restaurant and friendly service and delicious food; so I recommended Sorrento as I'd been here before.

As expected, the service was wonderful and professional - wedges of green lemon in our sparkling Italian mineral water, impeccably set tables, chilled glasses, good lighting, tables comfortably laid out and outstanding food.

We expected to pay about $50.00 per person, just for the food (entree & main course, but with wine and water included, the entire bill for 5 was $267.00.

The experience of great dining is still on our lips!

Dinner last night was courtesy of Sorrento and EatingWA, with a $50 prize voucher. In all honesty, I'd been to Sorrento a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it, but not enough to have returned in the interim.

A lot of typical Italian dishes on the menu (e.g. pastas, scaloppini, saltimbocca), and a couple I don't see often or at all. I had to try one of the latter then.....

I can't remember the full Italian moniker for this one, just it was chicken with a crispy skin in herbs (rosemary) and other things (yes, slight similarity to KFC but not deep fried, and much better cooked). It was served with boiled whole baby potatoes, crispy pancetta (unsmoked bacon) pieces and a sauce - a delightful combination, especially with the Greek side salad we ordered.

My partner went for the linguini, and as usual, she couldn't finish it. I was struggling with my main course, too, which meant the range of desserts (panna cotta, tiramisu, etc) were off the radar.

One point I will make is the service. It's a mixed bag - certainly, if you want something, they are quick to arrive and take your order. They also 'drum up' passing trade by engaging pedestrians in conversation, and the sales pitch is blatant there (especially with young women doing the selling!). However, I was a little put off by one of the main 'spruikers' (and waitress as well), spending a lot of time at a table (the owner's?) smoking, while other tables around are eating - even putting down the cigarette to serve a table, and returning. It detracted from the professionalism of the waiting staff - not to mention the smoke!

Apart from that little gripe, I would recommend Sorrento - it's a long-established Northbridge icon, and with reason.

Came here to redeem my EatingWA voucher (yay) the other week. Had a range of entrees, pizza bread - quite ok, and gnocchi - fresh and hand grated parmesan - lovely touch. The maitre d is a charming Italian lady and is great to watch when she is swooning around and joking with customers. The wait staff in training was not so impressive, we had to ask her twice to get the cheese for our pasta dishes and it took her 10 minutes to offer a drink to my guest who arrived a bit later than I did. As main I had the scaloppini with mushroom sauce on spaghetti. The meat tasted very odd and I needed to send it back. Since I had enjoyed many entrees this was not as disappointing as it would otherwise have been if hunger had still been gnawing in my tummy. On the upside they did not charge me for the dish so they did the right thing to correct their mistake.

I was lucky enough to win an Eating WA voucher to Sorrento and took a friend along with me for dinner last week. Everything was just right...we absolutely loved it.

When we arrived we were asked if we had a seating preference and ended up at one of the tables inside but running right along the sidewalk which was perfect, as the tables are set up a little higher yet are still open to the fresh air.

We were served promptly, and given the opportunity to order a drink and some garlic bread while we were mulling over the menu. Our three waitresses were all lovely, were friendly yet professional. One in particular (the one with the cute little piercing in her chin) was really great, we were having such a dilemma about what to choose and she helped us out by describing the dishes and making a recommendation - it’s always good when the wait-staff are familiar with what they are serving.

The menu is divine and it really does make choosing a very difficult task albeit a pleasant one. After much debate I ended up having the Char-grilled chicken breast on a bad of roasted rosemary potatoes and sautéed spinach topped with prawns in a creamy garlic sauce and I ended up being so glad I chose it. The chicken was very moist, prawns crisp and fresh and the potatoes, spinach and the smooth rich sauce were perfect with it. My friend had the Saltimbocca which was recommended by the waitress and she loved it. The serves are very generous and well presented.

Top marks guys, we really enjoyed it and can't wait to come back...I strongly recommend anyone gives this place a go because you will come back again...and again.

It was my brothers 21st birthday and we were treating him and his 6 best mates to a dinner to remember! We sure got that at Sorrento!! I had the Linguine Primavera Tossed with artichokes, mushroom, grilled zucchini, olives, basil and a fresh tomato sauce absolutely divine. We were very well looked after by the friendly wait-staff and thoroughly enjoyed the authentic Italian food and great wine! The family feeling of the restaurant makes patrons feel right at home I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that is looking for a great night out.

definitely the nicest place in northbridge for a meal. each time i drove passed i thought their popularity was due to eatingwa alone but they hit the spot with their food and their service is just as you'd hope to expect.

not a flash restaurant but homely, inviting and has that special italian feel

after going through some reviews i had the chicken and prawn dish which was simple but perfection

caesar with chicken to start with was too much for me, even entree size, so i shared it.

winelist is very thorough and sure to keep you happy

its going to be hard to venture to any other restaurant in northbridge with such positive feedback from others and this experience

Gosh! Having read all the other reviews on this restaurant I feel mean giving only four stars. However, delightful though the experience was, and thanks eatingwa for the voucher towards the cost of the meal, there was room for improvement.

My partner and I decided to share a small Napolitano Pizza as a starter. The topping was delicious although a little sparse on the anchovies, but the base was soggy, so much so that it was impossible to eat it by hand without the slices falling apart.

Then only a couple of minutes after our pizza arrived, the main courses were put on the table. We had Spaghetti Marinara and Rigatoni Polpette. The spaghetti was delicious; clearly home-made and the seafood fresh and plentiful in a deliciously rich sauce. The Rigatoni (pork meatballs) was delicious, the sauce had just the right amount of chili but the pasta tasted like it had come out of a box.

Overall the service was brisk and friendly and we definitely will go again.

BYO at $7.50 is a little steep.

A very delightful Sunday lunch. The service was excellent and the food delicious! Will definitely be going back!!

I went to Sorrento’s as I won a voucher from EatingWA and I am pleased to say it was wonderful, the service was fast and friendly and I had the chicken fillet supreme for my main course which was served on panchetta and potatoes with a sherry marsala jus. It was delicious and different to anything I have seen and tasted on other menus, the desserts were also to die for; I recommend the ferrero ice cream.

My only complaint was being seated to a group of drunk out of control tourists, the only annoyance to the evening.

To improve my only suggestion is to change your garlic bread; it was chewy and did not have much garlic on it!

Tonight I went to Sorrento for my dads birthday dinner after work. This was the second time i have been here and it has been a good experience both times. Both of my parents are vegetarians and found the food done well. The service was friendly and prompt and the girls were lovely. I ordered the creamy Chicken and Prawn dish as it was recommended to me and it was delightful. Rich sauces flowed over the large chicken breast pieces garnished with prawns and potatoes, normally when i go out i worry about the servings being too small but this was quite a large meal. Two thumbs up.

Very impressed! Wonderful service, felt very looked after, I love different waitstaff with different roles - in my opinion it makes things flow a lot better. I ordered the rack of lamb special and Scott ordered the Capretto which was another special. My lamb was beautiful, only complaint that was there was a mountain of mash potato with not enough meat or jus to make it edible... it wasnt the greatest mash either but the lovely lamb made up for that! The Capretto was so tasty in a chilli, pepper and potato sort of broth (I dont know how else to describe it) which went very well with the bottle of Barwick Cabernet Sauvignon we shared. Finishing off with great affogatos since I didnt have enough room for sticky date pudding (my ALL TIME FAVOURITE dessert), but I will definately be back to try that, maybe with one of their famous pizzas!

Tried it for the first time on the weekend for a friends birthday.

Got the chicken and prawn dish with a creamy sauce (sorry i don't remember the name) which was very very good.

I'd like to try some pasta and pizza before I can proclaim it to being the best italian food in Perth,

If the quality is as good as the chicken dish i would say it probably comes close.

Service was good, especially considering how busy it was.

My only gripe was the chairs and tables, very uncomfortable, not much space between fellow patrons.

Will go back for lunch sometime this week and try another dish.

I suggested our group of four go to Sorrento for dinner based on the reviews on this site.

I've got to agree with most of them too - The service was fast and friendly (in that brisk Italian way), although not quite efficiently organised - still, better to have 3 people asking you if you'd like anything else than none.

The dishes were great - decent serves and all very nice. The only reason they didn't get a 4 or higher was that they were great, but not fantastic... The prices were reasonable enough.

All in all, it's a good place to go for Italian in Norby.
Minor annoyance: the metal bars around knee height on the tables.

This has got to be my all time favourite restaurant! I have always been a huge fan of Italian food, but until I first dined at Sorrento late last year I had never truly tasted authentic Italian cuisine! The food is superb, and it has become the restaurant we regularly frequent, it always delivers good times, fantastic food and wine and a long enjoyable evening!

If you want to dine out with family or a group of friends and want to find a restaurant that will truly deliver on all fronts whilst providing dishes that will suit a diverse range of tastebuds then this is your place.

It also has a wonderful traditional Italian feel and would be an ideal place to go on a relaxed date.

It's our very own piece of Italy.. right here in Perth!

P.S. Make sure you try a Pizza they are fantastic.. mind you so is the pasta.....you really have to go a number of times and try everything!!!

Service is fast and efficient and certainly a place you can go on a Friday night and not compromise the food and service for the large amount of diners.

The Veal Saltimbocca is always cooked to perfection as Alfonso and his chefs only know how.

Great choice of food and an extesnive wine list.

Overall a great place to go if you want to relax and people watch during a lazy lunch period, or dine and be amongst the buzz of Northbridge by night.

BYO: No
Vegetarian: Yes

Wine Recommendation:
Definitely try the Shadowfax Pinot Gris in warmer weather. For the red drinkers, a nice higher range wine is available from the list.

Sorrento Restaurant in Northbridge is definitely a showcase venue, and should serve as a blueprint for any would-be restaurateur looking to establish themselves in the city-Northbridge area.

Of the many visits i have made to Sorrento, none have ended with anything short of contentment. I could detail many of their main courses, rave on about the deserts, or bore everyone with endless stories about the friendly, personal service that the staff AND owners bestow upon their guests.

And a guest is exactly how one feels when they visit Sorrento. Nothing is too much trouble, everything is performed professionally, and always with the ebullient personalities of the staff coming through. One can easily tell they take pride in their restaurant.

Having tried so many of the dishes, it's safe to say they have mastered GREAT Italian food. Salads, gourmet pizzas, pasta's, all are tasty and neatly presented, and fear not the portion sizes! I would suggest trying one of the desserts, but i feel mentioning one would do a disservice to the rest, and i'd feel guilty to the chef!

Honestly... organise a weekday afternoon off, grab your best friend, and head to Sorrento. Sitting in the alfresco area enjoying course after course of beautiful food and wine will provide a cure for any problem.

Make sure you say hi to Alfonso!

What can I say that has not already been said repeatedly over many years? Sorrento Restaurant is a firm fixture in James St with a massive history. I have been dining there for close on 20 years and often it can be six months or more between visits but it always feels like going home. Everything is so dependable - the service, the food, the price. Consistency is a given and I know I am assured of a wonderful evening out whenever I go. The food always feels like it's been prepared with love and care. I adore this place. If you haven't yet given it a go, do yourself a favour. Good, honest, Italian food within a wonderful atmosphere.

The homely ambience and service and make this restaurant stand out amongst the rest for Italian cuisine in Northbridge.

Alfonso will even create a fabulous meal from his secret recipes, which you will never forget.
ps the wine list is excellent.

THE most authentic Italian restaurant I've been to. Everyone there is simply good natured and great fun. We sat with the owner, Alfonso, and the stories, the laughter, the wine and the pizzas kept on coming.

We were shown the kitchen and the pizza makers workshop, both filled with excitement and very, very clean.

I had the Caesar for entree, as well as a shared pizza, and the freshness of the ingredients for both was easily recognisable. The mushroom risotto (Risotto ai 3 Funghi Arborio rice with porcini, button & field mushrooms tossed with fresh basil & shaved parmesan) was perfection.

Great wine list for every occasion and although we sat outside, the inside has a Tuscan feeling that is warming to mind and soul.

Thoroughly recommended and it is going to be almost impossible to pass this experience. But I will continue to try...