Marinara Trattoria

I love the atmosphere. The food was good but not crazy good. Definitely tasty though.I think the only problem was the waitress asking desert menu 3 times right after we finish our meals. We really needed some time to digest and start thinking about the desert. We spend 220 dolars for 2 people so I dont think we were stingy when it comes to ordering.So that kind of attitude devaluates the beauty of the place. Overall, it was worthed.

An unexpectedly delectable vegetarian meal for two, given the small section of veg items in the menu!Bruchetta pizza was a loaded treat of tomato and cheese on a soft base. Fettuccine verde had a diverse selection of veggies balanced well with fettuccine and olive oil. Indian Chai Punjabi was a pleasant surprise with an exceptionally large serve and had just the right amount of spices.Special thanks to the team for accommodating us instantly without a pre-booking. A further thumbs up for a fast service and super nice staff.

Always a great atmosphere - friendly staff, consistently amazing food and a beautiful setting. Perfect for everything - a quiet weeknight dinner, group dinners before a wild night out, or a relaxed weekend lunch. This has been one of my favourite spots in Brisbane for years.

This restaurant feels like a place I've been to in Europe in the pastI'm stupid to come to Australia and only now know about such a delicious restaurantAnd food is really greatIf I have a chance next time , I went to visit again

Food & DrinkFour of us dined on a busy Tues night in late December. I ordered a spag bol with fettuccine pasta. The meat was well cooked just the way I like it, and the pasta was tasty and soft. Only problem was that it was lukewarm. I suspect this may have had something to do with the time it took to deliver it to the table. The rest of our group ordered baked salmon, fettuccine marinara and risotto marinara. To accompany that, we ordered a Greek salad and to end, a sweet and moist pistachio cake, which we shared. For drinks, a couple of bottles of Red Peroni. Everyone enjoyed their meals.ServiceThe staff here are exclusively female. They’re nicely turned out in neat black uniforms and I found them all to be friendly, polite and helpful, taking the time to give each table attention, despite the fact that it was almost a full house. The efficient maitre d’ with a cute Italian accent quickly took our orders, and the drinks came out without delay. After that it was a bit of a tedious wait of around 20-25 minutes before the food arrived, a little too long, but still I guess understandable given the crowds. After we’d finished our main meals, a pretty lady with an English accent brought a tray of desserts to the table to choose from, which I thought was a smart marketing tool. We normally aren’t big on desserts but it all looked so delectable that we couldn’t resist ordering the pistachio tart and sharing it.AtmosphereWe dined during that hectic period between Christmas and New Year, and boy was this place busy. It was packed to the rafters with people even queuing outside and waiting for their tables. Like most others we had taken the precaution of booking ahead, because without a booking, it’s unlikely we would have got a table. The atmosphere was lively, fun and energetic, most diners clearly having a good time.AmbienceThe ambience is warm, homely and inviting. It’s been decorated in a traditional Italian style, with brick arches, loads of greenery, red and white chequered tablecloths, timber floors, and pictures of Mother Italy adorning its walls. I assume this was once a terrace house that was converted into a restaurant, so I did find it a tad cramped and awkward to move around in. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Being a warm summer's night, we chose to sit outdoors, which was nice enough, except the lighting was non-existent. All we had to use was a tiny little touch lamp, so consequently us four seniors with weak eyes, all had our mobile phone torches turned on, and even then we struggled to read the menu. It was so dark, that it was almost impossible to take any decent photos, hence those familiar with my reviews will wonder why the paucity of accompanying pictures, and that’s the reason why. Time to put in some outside lighting guys!CostWe paid a hefty 200 pesos for four beers, a salad, four mains and a dessert. That’s 50 pesos a head, with each person getting a beer, a modest-sized main course, a bit of salad and a spoonful of dessert. Even in this current environment of raging inflation, I found that to be a bit steep.ToiletsUnfortunately, the guest toilets were out of commission, so we were forced to use the staff toilet, which required a walk through the storage and kitchen areas, never a pleasant experience. The toilet itself was reasonably clean with soap and hand towels, but using the staff toilets in a restaurant is not ideal and for these kinds of prices, I hope they get the guest toilets up and running soon.ParkingThere's easy street parking outside on Latrobe Terrace, where most restrictions end at 7.00pm.SummaryThis place is clearly popular with the locals and it’s not hard to see why, given the fine food, professional and friendly service and cool alfresco ambience. However, I did find it a tad small and cramped, the lighting outside was hopeless. Service was a bit on the slow side, and at least until the guest toilets are functional again, I wouldn’t rush back.

The decor and the ambiance was really interesting - giving an authentic and homely feeling. Food that we ordered which were two pastas were good and quaint - still need to cover a lot more from the menu so I think I’ll need to come back. Slightly dark inside but the outdoor seating looked pretty cute.

We had the best meal here!Amazing food, fantastic ambience and perfect service, especially from our waitress Jen. They even provided a complimentary cake for mother-in-law's birthday.We're excited to make rare gem our new regular!