Puccini Pizzeria - Salford

We don 't go to Puccinis every month or even every year but when we do go for a special occasion the food has always been great and the service attentive from Michael and his team. We started going to the restaurant when they used to be where Halifax building society is on the precinct and if a table wasn 't available you had to wait in the basement having drinks . They moved down to the lower level of the precinct after a few years and expanded again . Over the years we have had great times there and reading recent reviews was a little worried and thought it had changed hands . Well last night 's meal and experience didn’t disappoint. We took visiting family for dinner , booked a table for 6.15pm for 4 and got a warm welcome from Michael on arrival, he asked if anyone was celebrating anything , no . I know from past experience if anyone is they will bring out a little something with candle and sing Happy birthday . We had great service all night , the staff checking if we needed anything . The food was hot and tasty and our family were impressed and gave it all a 10/10. Puccinis is still in good hands and we will not hesitate to return.

We have visited Puccinis over several decades but sadly I think this one will be our last. The front of house service was faultless with attentive staff but unfortunately the same cannot be said for most of the food which was served to our family group. The garlic bread, which has always been legendary, was served with virtually raw, mouth burning garlic. My mother ordered fresh scallops which came drowned in a sauce that masked any flavour from the four tiny scallops. Surely given the price tag of this dish the chef could have thought of a better way to cook and present scallops. Two of our group ordered pate which was obviously not homemade and came with a very poorly presented bit of salad namely iceberg lettuce, reminiscent of something from the 1970 's, and a few slices of burnt cheap white baguette. It 's the lack of attention to detail in the presentation and the use of cheap produce that was such a disappointment. Why is an Italian restaurant not using proper ciabatta and better quality salad produce ? The seafood linguine, which has always been a favourite of my family, was destroyed by the use of the same nameless sauce and a mountain of pasta. In the past this dish was wonderfully fresh and tasty but now it just feels as though the same slimy sauce is being used to cover everything. I normally don 't like to post bad reviews but hopefully Michael will read this and do something about the standard of the food being served as it is not representative of Puccini 's long standing great reputation.

Very disappointed,ordered scallops and received 4tiny scallops drenched in a very strong dark sauce,so could not taste the scallops,the same sauce was served on the seafood marinara spaghetti which had a small octopus which was so tough it was impossible to eat.

We went for my youngest 16th birthday meal .we didn't mention this at booking .we all loved the food and atmosphere and on chatting was asked if we were there for a special occasion and replied my daughter's birthday .we were then surprised by a celebration desert with candle with staff and the owner coming to wish her a happy birthday.it was such a lovely heartfelt surprise and really made our evening.its very clear that the staff are like a family there and you can tell with the great genuine atmosphere.couldnt have had a better evening anywhere else.thanks so much see you soon

I had my daughters christening here in 2020 and the food was superb, we came back after lockdown and it was terrible. I thought I’d give it another go today with my daughter. We orders, olives, garlic bread and ribs for starters, spag Bol and the Christopher penne. The food was dire nothing like it’s hay day. Most certainly nothing like traditional Italian food like it use to be. Will never be back. On a positive wine nice and staff friendly. Very expensive for location and standard of food. £18 for a starter and nearly £20 for a small pasta dish that had fillet steak in it, that’s a Joke more like over cooked rump. I understand cost of living increases and trying to claw back money from lock down. Had the food been amazing would not even mention the price