An Italian restaurant established in 1985 in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, known for its long-standing commitment to authentic Italian food and hospitality, aiming to transport diners to Italy.
Al Fresco Italian Restaurant has been a staple in Surfers Paradise since 1985, offering a long-standing tradition of Italian hospitality and delicious food. It aims to provide a casual, fun, and relaxed dining experience, making guests feel like they've taken a short trip to Italy.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Al Fresco Italian Restaurant for its delicious food, particularly the pizza, pasta, steak, and seafood options. Many highlight the casual, fun, and relaxed atmosphere. It is highly rated on Tripadvisor, ranking well among restaurants in Surfers Paradise, with positive feedback on dishes like Stuffed Mushrooms, Marina Spaghetti, and Hawaiian Pizza.
The restaurant boasts a strong Italian influence, complemented by a selection of wines and cocktails. Its long history since 1985 underscores its established presence and commitment to Italian cuisine in the Gold Coast area.
Based on its casual dining style and popularity, it's likely a good option for dinner any day of the week. Reservations might be advisable during peak tourist seasons or weekend evenings in Surfers Paradise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alfresco Italian Restaurant – Popular spot, good but not amazing
A bit of background: Alfresco Italian Restaurant has been a Surfers Paradise institution for decades. Founded by Tony and Silvana Velardo after moving to Australia from Italy in the early ’80s, it grew from a humble pizza shop into a Gold Coast favourite. The family legacy continues today with Raff and Natalie keeping the hospitality warm. It's been operating in Surfers Paradise since 1992, and is known for serving Pizza, Pasta, Steak & Seafood in a casual, fun environment.
We didn't have a booking and walked in around 6:00 PM – big mistake. The place was already packed with people queuing up. We ended up waiting about half an hour and still didn't get a table. So we ordered a pizza to take away and ate it outside while we waited. If you don't want to wait forever, this is actually a decent workaround – the reception doubles as a takeaway counter, so you can grab something to eat while you wait for a proper table.
The pizza itself was pretty good – solid, authentic enough. But the rest of the food? Just okay. Nothing particularly outstanding. I can see why it's popular – it's a family-run spot with a long history and a loyal following – but I'm not sure it's worth queuing for ages.
That said, the service was a highlight. The staff were attentive and polite despite being run off their feet. They handled the chaos well.
Verdict – 4 stars. Good food, great service, but definitely overhyped. If you're in the area and don't mind a wait, it's worth a try. But if you're short on time or don't want to queue, just grab a takeaway pizza and enjoy it elsewhere. And definitely book ahead if you can.
My wife and I dined here tonight for my birthday and what an experience it was! From the second we walked in we were greeted with a smile and although we had booked prior we were still offered where we would like to sit! The food was delicious, service second to none and then they opened the roof! Not sure about you but to have a beautiful unexpected breeze come through the restaurant changed the whole atmosphere completely! It was just perfect!
We finished our meal and shared a bottle of wine then surprise number 2 arrived! 2 waitress’s coming my way with a creme caramel (sparkler attached) singing Happy Birthday!! On the house too mind you!! Even made a special effort to say that this was also Gluten Free after recognising we had ordered Gluten Free Pasta for our mains!
Loved every single minute we were there, you could not have been more accommodating and we are so so glad that our visit was solely based on your reviews and we can now see why! 🇮🇹🥰
Had dinner with the family tonight. We decided on an Italian restaurant and found this one. We are staying in Broadbeach so a 5 month tram trip was all we needed to get there as the tram stops out the front! Walked in and found what felt like a genuine Italian restaurant. We sat in what I would the second part of the restaurant, which was really good as it is not as noisy. Our waitress (a young girl who I didn’t get the name of) was brilliant. Very accomodating, very helpful and even with kids wanting to remove or add ingredients, she made it feel like it was never a problem.
Food was great. We had a combination of a Chicken Parma (Parmi in n QLD), which was great. Pizza, which had an amazing thin crust and flavour, a risotto with mushroom sauce as well as a carbonara and a tortalini Sorrentina which were both well presented and tasty!
Value was pretty good for a family dinner and when adding in the service and quality, it was even better.
My affogato to finish off, also a tick!
Would go back.
Our first visit to Alfresco Italian Restaurant was absolutely fantastic! After hearing glowing recommendations, we decided to drop by without a booking. Even though the place was buzzing and clients were waiting outside, we were lucky enough to be seated almost immediately. The atmosphere was incredible—it’s clearly a local favorite for good reason.
The staff were incredibly welcoming, and despite the crowd, our food arrived in perfect time. We ordered the oven-baked Wild Barramundi with lemon butter sauce, which was served with fresh salad and chips. We also tried the Vegetariana pizza and a side of seasonal vegetables. Everything was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor!
It’s rare to find a spot where the service, ambience, and food all hit the mark so consistently. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back. Thanks for a great meal!
We’ve had several great meals at Alfresco Italian Restaurant and it continues to impress every time we visit.
The food is consistently very tasty, and the service is amazing. Both the owner and the manager are clearly across everything that’s happening in the restaurant, which makes the whole experience feel smooth and well run. They’re also fantastic with recommendations — we were given a great wine suggestion that paired perfectly with our meals.
We’ve been here a few times now and have some favourites we keep coming back for. The Scaloppine alla Zingara is excellent, and the baby octopus is always delicious. You gotta try the mussels - yum! The pasta sauces taste incredibly authentic and full of flavour — you can tell they’re done properly.
We haven’t tried the pizzas yet, but they look fantastic when they come out to other tables, so that’s definitely on the list for next time.
The team are very attentive to their patrons and really make you feel looked after. Highly recommend if you’re in Surfers Paradise.
Thanks guys — we’ll see you next time we’re in town! 🍝🍷
