Review Bono Pizzeria - Auckland Central

Pizza - It was crispy and yummy. However the prawns were very tiny. Pasta - It was quite nicely seasoned but unfortunately the pasta tasted a bit over cooked to my personal liking. Dessert The lava cake was too over cooked unfortunately. Not much lava going on. However it was still quite tasty. Drinks were pretty nice nothing wrong with them.

It's an authentic Italian restaurant and the waiters are very hospitable. There are plenty of options for pasta, but I ordered the beef lasagna, where the rich texture of the cheese and the flavour of the tomatoes counterbalance the greasiness of the cheese and meat. The dried fruit in the rum ice cream seemed to have been soaked in rum beforehand and was delicious

Great pizzas and pasta here. They also have steak and other meals that I haven't tried. Had a Combination pizza that has chicken, beef, lamb and peppercorns. Smaller place but there always seems to be lots of available seating, not sure why. Family business where they're always friendly. Update: in a new location in Herne Bay, even better in every way and finally seem to be getting the volume of diners you'd expect at a restaurant with this quality of food and service. Friendly family business. Have been twice since they moved to Herne Bay and found parking down side streets pretty easy both times.

Amazing service and staff. They always have prompt service and accommodate you if they can for walk ins but it is best to book as it is a small restaurant. Definitely try the lemon meringue pie it's the best I've ever had. Pasta is delicious, as is the pizza. What's best is that because of how wonderful the owners/ staff are it feels like family which extends to how customers talk to each other as well. Is one of our new favorites to go too.

Finally found a great lasagna! Absolutely delicious!! Chefs pizza bread equally as fulfilling in flavour. So good to find a place that's not afraid to use some salt. We will be back! Thank you very much for your beautiful food.

One of the best Italian I’ve ever been to! Super authentic, naturally creative and the most epic hosts! Can’t recommend highly enough 😻

Lovely place with great service . The food was delicious creamy and perfectly seasoned the pasta dishes. We all enjoyed our food even pizza was great, we had lamb bbq and dessert was nice the lava cake not too sweet 😋

It turns out that this classy Husband & Wife owned and run Pizzeria in Herne Bay is not just a great place to eat or Take Away excellent Italian, its a popular gathering place for discerning folk who hold Ducatti Motorbikes in high regard. Well worth a visit, and a visit, and...

This has become our favourite restaurant! Portion sizes are great, food is delicious and service is friendly!! Highly recommend the creamy pesto based pasta dishes, it's so different to anything I've tried, love it!

Service is fantastic. We were a large group and they were very accomodating, and quick with service. Everyone really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.

Running 9km on the treadmill each day enables me to eat a lot of food, especially pizza. I was really keen to try out Bona Pizzeria with my family and seeing it was on Zomato Gold, was an extra bonus. Even without Gold, the food was really affordable for Ponsonby! The service was great as the waitress had to pull a table for us to fit all of our food lol! <br/><br/>Between the four of us, we got the pizza garlic bread to share as an appetiser. The portion was relatively decent, as we got 3 pieces each. It could have been more garlicky but then again, I eat garlic daily so I probably need more garlic than a normal person. My brother got the spaghetti carbonara with bacon and my mum got the Fettuccine con Frutti di Mare as their personal main. We also got a large Bona Tutto pizza, combination pizza and salami papa pizza to share. I only had the salami papa pizza so I could only review that but it’s so delicious. The pizza was perfectly cheesy with a nice pull, the thin crust was chewy towards the middle but crunchy towards the crust and there was a perfect amount of fillings without it being too much. It was cut into 8 slices and I had 5 and a half slices, tell yourself it’s ok because it’s thin crust :))) <br/><br/>Honestly, despite a lot of Italian restaurants in the area, please try out Bona Pizzeria if you have the chance. You will not regret it.

Absolutely love this place. The beautiful waitress, Maya is always very friendly and welcoming, also very smart and onto it, providing the best customer service! Everytime i come, the food is so delicious that i dont think id go anywhere else for good Italian food. Always a joyful time spent here with my bestfriends!! Would 10/10 recommend 😍😍

Everything about this place is impeccable! This is my favourite place for pizza, the crust is always perfectly soft but crispy on the outside, and the toppings to crust ratio is en pointe! The pasta is always cooked al dente and the sauce is flavoursome and creamy. The service is just as amazing as the food! Maya (the head waitress I believe) is incredibly lovely and helpful, and always gets what you need before you even ask. The ambience is warm and cosy, but not at all crowded. Definitely my favourite place to eat out in Auckland! Would recommend to absolutely everyone. My personal favourite is the Bona’s Tutto Specials pizza, it’s so good it makes me forget any stress I have and takes me to a happy place 😍

This restaurant never disappoints me, the food, service and ambiance. I think other reviewers have already mentioned the exquisite quality of food so I’d like to dedicate mine to Maya. She is a kind, beautiful lady who excels in servicing. I really praise her exceptional observant-ness and initiative! It’s currently 11 degrees at night, while writing this review I saw her give who I believe is a homeless gentleman, a hot cup of coffee for free. Maya truly takes dining to a whole new level. When you come visit you will know what I mean. Thank you Maya and the team, much love!

The food is yummy, the staff are so lovely, the portions are great, the atmosphere is delightful, that’s all you need!!!

We ordered Vegetarian Pizza and Pasta and both were quite good. Would definitely recommend to people with Zomato Gold.

An cozy little Italian restaurant in situated on Ponsonby Road. <br/><br/>Excellent customer service, the waitress was very welcoming and considerate. <br/><br/>The scallops were big and juicy, well flavored. The seafood spaghetti was nicely spiced, however the noodles didn’t fully absorb the flavoring and the mussels were a little dry.<br/><br/>Would be keen to try their pizza next time.<br/><br/>Taste: 8/10<br/>Presentation: 7/10<br/>Service: 9/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Value for money: 8/10<br/><br/>Price $20 per person (excl alcohol)

Food: Ultimate favourite is the Salami Feta - please try it if you can, you won't regret it<br/>Service: 10/10 every single time<br/>Ambiance: 10/10 despite being cosy, there's always a lovely atmosphere and the patrons are accommodating. <br/><br/>My favourite Italian restaurant. Haven't been here since I graduated from University and moved away, but I came back and it's still so delicious!  Will be back soon - thank you to the amazing whānau who run this establishment.

If I could give more than 5 stars I definitely would! The restaurant has a relaxed and cosy vibe. Service was extremely friendly, and went above and beyond. The portion sizes are quite large and look larger in real life than some of the pictures. Even without zomato gold the restaurant is really reasonably priced for the quality and quantity. Would come here everyday, that’s how good it was!

This place has decent food but not sure I would come here for italian food? Nothing is wrong with the food but its more if you just want quick, easy, italian food. Its not "wow" and its also a very tiny and cramp place so you cant have too many people inside!

Friendly and reasonable service, no additional drinks offered, would have had a few more beers, perhaps the universe is telling me something:)

A lovely little Italian restaurant. Proudly owner who serves herself and gives the place a nice touch. Food was delicious and I particularly liked the music . We ordered pizza and pasta, both were nice. Would definitely recommend this place. It’s cozy, very casual and simple.

This place is a amazing! We’ve been here a few times and we’ve tried the pizza and the pasta. Both are really amazing and large portions. Pizza base is thin but not soft and soggy and the pasta is always cooked perfectly with delicious, creamy sauces. Can’t wait to come back 🙌🏻🤤

We came here again with zomato gold and today we ordered beef lasagna and bona ravioli :) We really enjoyed the meals and staff was so nice and polite ❤️

A nice little italian place, they have lots of options. ordered their pizza and lasagna; both were so good! the pizza has a thin base but still filling. Reasonable price for the size

This little Italian place in ponsonby is an absolute gem! I love their customer service and I love coming here for their spaghetti bolognaise. Their pizza is also very yummy and delicious and this is a place I will always come back too.

Nice and friendly staff, the pasta sauce is quite authentic, but the only problem is the portions are very tiny for the price of each dish. Is not very filling somehow. Rest the taste and service is lovely.

Intimate dining experience along Ponsonby rd. Staff were nice however the food was average. We liked the pizza, not so much for the lasagna. 🙂

Came here for lunch and used Zomato gold. Portions were yummy and big. Great service from staff. Recommend and will come back. Great for any occasion

One of the great things about this place is that they are open until 11pm which was perfect since we were looking for somewhere to dine after 9pm. <br/>The food and service was perfect. Once we ordered we didn’t have to wait long for our meals which were cooked beautifully and full of flavour. We had the Cajun chicken wraps and fish. <br/>The service was nice with friendly staff and no issues with using Zomato Gold. <br/>Unfortunately there was a noisy group of 20 year olds but that’s what you get sometimes when dinning out. The restaurant is small and rather cozy. Nice and warm on the cold winter night but be aware if you’re wearing 3XL you’re going to have problems getting around in this place if you can get through the rather skinny doorway. <br/>We will be back to have a crack at their pizzas.

Excellent pasta and pizza (with toppings that are not scrappy/sparse as seems to the trend, but instead are well-balanced in relation to the base). With top-notch service and a homely ambience to boot, we will definitely return for more.

Tried this place as my first gold experience and I loved it. Ordered the Margarita Pizza and Pasta! It was amazing and very delicious. Served hot and tasty. Staff were really friendly. 👍👍

FIVE STARS FOR BONA! Entire family has been coming here religiously since we first ate here at the beginning of the year. Genuinely cannot recommend the place enough!!! The food is so bloody delicious, the prices are so reasonable and the portions of the pasta are so generous. Staff are the warmest and the lovely couple who own it are the absolute best!

A lively little place at the end of Ponsonby Road. As you open the door, the aroma from the herbs and garlic welcomes you away from the cold from the outside wind. The waitress remembers of my girlfriend and me, even though it was only our second time there, it transported me back to my days with mia nena (my grandma).<br/>A true Italian ristorante, from its pasta and pizza to their steaks and antipasti.<br/>This is my favorite restaurante.<br/>

I simply love this place. It's cozy, great staff and they make you feel like you are part of their family.  More importantly, food portions are huge! I highly recommend this place to everyone!<br/>GRAZIE MILLE PER IL MERAVIGLIOSO SERVIZIO de SEMPRE! :)

Great cosy neighbourhood restaurant. Loved the pasta! Definitely come here if you're looking for a simple authentic taste of Italy. Will be back!

Like everyone else has said, the pizza is fantastic. We had the Salami Feta pizza and Salmon penne pasta. The crust for the pizza is thin and toppings are delicious. Pasta was also good, very comfort food-esque but the pizza is just better overall. What we loved though was the kaka (italian pancake). It's not something we've come across and it had a perfect balance texture wise. I'd probably go back solely for that.

Unlocked zomato gold at bona pizzeria..really enjoyed the food..good vegetarian options tried the creamy white sauce pasta and lasagna. friendly staff . Worth visiting.

Came here with zomato gold and thought it was really worth it. My favourite was the cranberry, brie and chicken pizza. It was very tasty and could really taste the cranberry sauce, though couldn't taste the brie much. The pasta was also good. Good portion size. Tha place was small but was very cozy.

The place was quite small but had good ambience. Friendly service and the food was delicious! Loved all the mains but the garlic bread/pizza was average<br/>Would come back again to get pasta again and try the pizza!

We ordered the garlic cheesey pizza bread, spaghetti pomodoro and seafood fettuccine plus a coke. We got all that for under $30 with the Zomato Gold deal. Their garlic cheesey pizza bread is very cheesey. It’s also a thin crust version so won’t leave you feeling too full. Their pasta is delicious! Especially the sauce, it’s a spicy flavoursome tomato based pasta sauce. It was a good portion and left us feeling full but not too full. The waitress was also really lovely. Highly recommend this restaurant.

There were about 40 of us in our group so it could have been a disaster. However, Bona did the best I have ever seen with a group of our size!! They took all of our orders at once, everyone was issued a number, and almost everyone's food came out within 10 mins of each other. The staff were very friendly and lively and made a real effort. Paying was also simple as we could all just pay for the number we were issued. Will definitely go again/recommend.

The best italian food ever. Excellent customer service - they are very friendly, always hear what you want and do according to your wishes. Perfect place for coming with children, they will really enjoy meal there, for example, they can create their own pizza:) I really recomend to visit this place. The empty plate photo, because children had grabbed everything before I took my camera😂

Amazing dining experience. As soon as we set foot through the door, the owner (?) was super friendly. Food was 💯💯💯 ! The crust is thin and crispy And all of the dishes were full of flavour. I’m surprised the rating is only 3.9 on Zomato, it deserves at least 4.7. <br/><br/>Will definitely be back :)

Got takeout from here - Chicken Cranberry Pizza & Spaghetti Bolognase. I chose the small sized pizza for $14 & it was certainly very small. It was extremely dry with hardly any cranberry sauce and the underside was a bit burned around the edges & tasted bitter. The spaghetti bolognase was underwhelming & quite tasteless, more like something you would get at a foodcourt for $10 not $19.50. Don’t think I’d order from here again unfortunately.

Great friendly staff with good food. Noisy neighbours but can't blame the restaurant for that. Pastas are delicious and so are the pizzas. Recommend going on a weeknight as it'll be less noisy

Came in for dinner yesterday night. The pizza was absolutely delicious. Salmon Penne sauce was really creamy. I didn't really like the bona ravioli filling. There wasn't much beef stuffed inside which also made it hard to taste the flavour of the meat. The cashew chicken salad sauce was so flavourful but the chicken was kind of hard. The banana in the salad was an interesting choice but tasted okay with the salad. Sauce made the salad taste so good. Bona mixed grill meat was hard to chew and the grilled meat on the skewers didn't have much of a bbq flavour to it.

Good service, not long to wait. Friendly worker there. Had pizza and beer after work, it's for just $17 combo, which is so cheap. Highy recommend. Will be back again if I stop by in Ponsonby area

i literally could not recommend this place enough! went here for my birthday years ago and the staff were so incredibly lovely and friendly, the food is delicious and is very reasonably priced and it’s a BYO which is always a good thing. <br/><br/>i went back a couple of months later & the lady remembered me. i’ve been back many many times now, any time there is a birthday or a work-do or even just friends wanting to go for dinner. this is my go-to place to have dinner in auckland and i’ve never had anywhere near a bad experience. hands down best service in auckland!

This restaurant has it all.<br/>The sweet smell of garlic, tickles your nose as you park your car. Its sweet aroma guides your taste buds to the unassuming establishments were the Italian flavor lingers in the air. <br/>First Impression: Bona Pizzeria Restaurant lives up to its name. <br/>It was very hard concentrating on what we order when all the dishes that came past us smelled and looked so good. For main my wife and I had “Bona s Tutta Special” and “Fettuccine Mare Monti”.<br/>The combination of cheese, mushrooms, salami, onions, olives, ham and bacon complimented each other as the flavors and remnants oozed out of the fresh dough. <br/>Fettuccine was so good that it feels as if they might have added a secret ingredient... but there’s nothing there. It’s simple and excellent.<br/>For dessert we ordered Tiramisu which is a must. Since the meal was so filling, we took our dessert home.<br/>Service was fantastic and can’t wait to visit again.

Welcoming staff and nice atmosphere for a meal and conversation. The pizzas were good, average, but all-in-all, this is a very nice place to be for a quiet evening dining out. BYO is a bonus too!

The quantity of toppings on my Hawaiian pizza was enough to make me look forward to the meal. The pizza looked great but was a little thinner than I'd expect from a pizza. The crust was great. It was crusty at the bottom but soft at the top. It was a good meal overall but could have been better.

I usually don’t write reviews but I feel like one is needed for the experience I had at this place. First off I understand it’s Italian food which is all based around cheese and creamy pastas etc. but it’s also the 21st century and people have food requirements/needs. I am vegan and I don’t expect you to have a seperate menu just for me but what I didn’t expect was the rude remarks and annoyance you gave me when I told you this. All I asked was if we were able to leave out one ingredient in one of the items (no cheese on the vege pizza) which to me isn’t that difficult but by the tone of your voice was the end of the world for you. Apparently there were no vegan bases left which is fine. So you said all you can do is pasta vegan (in the rudest voice might I add) and I thought okay awesome! But man I was wrong. What appeared in front of me was plain pasta pieces tossed in oil... literally not kidding plain pasta pieces siting in oil. When I ordered it I didn’t think it would be the grandest of pastas but at least maybe some spinich or tomato’s? But no all i got was pasta and oil. I thought it it was ridiculous but as I was at a friends birthday dinner I didn’t want to make a fuss so I ate it and moved on. This was until I got to the till and got my bill... $22!! For plain pasta and oil?!?! How do you justify that price? My partner got a large pepperoni pizza and that cost him $26 (which I think is fine) but $22 for plain pasta with nothing in it! That shocked me. Again, I’m not complaining because I expected you to have vegan options and didn’t. I’m complaining because the customer service was terrible and the price of the dish that was boiled pasta and oil. I just can’t understand how you would be happy serving such an underwhelming (majorly underwhelming) dish, why didn’t you just say there where no options for me that would have been fine. Anyways my friends seemed to enjoy their meals which is a positive I guess. Just letting letting people this place isn’t vegan friendly or friendly at all for that matter.

Bona pizzeria is a super cute and cosy Italian restaurant which I will definitely be coming back to. I came for a friends birthday dinner and the food didn't disappoint. It's homely, comfort Italian style food with big portions. I ordered the Vegeterian Lasange which was so tasty and couldn't stop eating even though I was full 😄The pizzas look good too so I'm keen to try next time. Staff were very friendly and nice too!

I went here for a friends birthday and the place was fabulous. The Fettuccine Mari monte was delicious and the staff were so friendly. Love love love. Would definitely recommend this place.

The best Italian restaurant in Auckland and the best BYO too. The food is amazing and the vibe of the restaurant is so comfortable you feel like you're back at home. I've been here a million times and tell everyone I know to go here.

Sure I was fed and full but the only thing i was full of was disappointment. You also need better delivery drivers who work on their customer service skills.

Haven't dined in yet but the quality of the pizzas are good enough that I'd definitely go have lunch or dinner there if in the area!<br/><br/>Ordering through UberEats we've tried several of their pizzas and are keen to work through the whole menu :) <br/><br/>At times their pizzas aren't the most attractive but this isn't to say they're sloppy either. The toppings are very generous, to the point of crowding, especially with the Venezia (chicken and cranberry). There's almost too much chicken so you don't get much chance to savour the sauce, which isn't thick enough to balance the chicken, or the cheese. But it's still tasty enough. <br/><br/>Even better are the Hawaiian, Salami Feta, and most especially Bona's Tutto Specials Pizza, whose ingredients are balanced just right, and so delicious for it. Can't wait to try more from this place!

EASILY THE BEST ITALIAN PLACE IN AUCKLAND. YOU MUST HAVE THE PASTA, SENSATIONAL AND VERY FRIENDLY STAFF. WOULD DEFINITELY COME BACK AT THE DROP OF A HAT. A+++

Ordered for the first time from here today via uber eats app. Can't comment on ambience as we didn't eat in, but the food was really good. Apart from the garlic pizza being a little bit dry in places, no issues with the food. The pasta was really good with the basil sauce and was full of cheese, and the vege pizza had a good amount of topping as well. Will try something different next time 🙂

I came here for my birthday dinner with friends as I have heard they do great pizzas and also offer free BYO corkage for groups with over 8 people. <br/><br/>It’s really small inside but has a nice intimate, cosy feel. It’s the perfect setting for a BYO and groups to get together over a few wines and good food. My friend and I ordered the small sized, salami pizza which was actually plenty for us! It was great, a thin crispy base with lots of cheese. I also tried the pesto penne pasta and it was really tasty! My friend ordered the scallop salad and unfortunately all the seafood was under-cooked. I was actually worried this place might be a bit too casual for a birthday dinner but it was really nice inside. It does get a bit noisy being a BYO and was packed when we arrived, but we didn’t mind this, it all added to the lively atmosphere. Service could have been better, they got a bit annoyed with us when ordering our food. <br/><br/>Despite this, I would definitely come back again.

Had a last minute dinner booking for 9 on a Saturday night, waitress was great! We ordered a range from their main and desserts and everyone said their food was great, so a big Thank You, cant wait to come back!

Incredible and friendly service, meals were outstanding and the free byo just tops it off! An amazing local that we will 100% visit again. Warm cosy and welcoming. Highly recommend!

Everything was okay and reasonable till I went to checkout. I originally got some pasta for $19.50 however I added extra spice and this apparently made it $22 so I basically got a "create your own" without any warning or knowing also the "extra chillie" was barely noticeable. Not coming back with this sort of stunt happening, was very noisy as well could barely hear myself thinking or talking. If they did not pull that stunt I might have given this a better review but they deserve a 1 star for stealing from customers like this, very unhappy.

Enjoyed a gorgeous vegetarian lasagne here a week or so back on a Lazy Thursday evening with a band of merry men and lovely lasses. Service was impeccable and the food was testament to the genuine appeal of the restaurant. The BYO with no corkage fee is a true winner.

You know that scene you see in the movies? Where the character walks into his local haunt and asks the bartender (with whom he is on a first-name basis) to get him “the usual”. And it’s there in a matter of seconds, shaken not stirred and what not. Bona Pizzeria is that for me. This is my go-to restaurant for Italian food near the city. And you know it’s authentic when the entire operation is family-run. There are a few things I have come to expect of Bona Pizzeria: excellent customer service, consistently delicious food and a lively atmosphere. Understandably, it can be hard to get a table here on Friday nights.

Had a great meal; scallops a lot of them, perfect scotch fillet followed by tiramisu whilst eating outside on an autumn evening. Great friendly service and the extended happy hour all at a good price. Its easy to walk past this little restaurant but definitely would be a mistake to do so. Looking forward to coming  back and trying the pasta next time I'm in Akl.

Went to Bona Puzzeria as a large group, service was good and wait staff helpful in making recommendations, food tasted fantastic - I had the chicken pesto pasta, the dish was full of flavour and lots of chicken, not too oily which was great. This restaurant is also a BYO which makes it great for a big group. The downfall is that the restaurant is very small so there is not a lot of room to move and it gets very noisy and hot, this was particularly the case when we were there with there being two large groups (us being one of them) taking up the whole restaurant. Price is very reasonable for what you get and the great tastes.

I came here for a BYO with my friends 😊 there was no corkage which was great. It was quite small but I loved how intimate and cosy it was. I got the squid appetiser and a soup. It was super filling and tasted delicious. Most of my friends got the pizza and that was really good as well although some of them said their pizzas were a bit dry. Overall I enjoyed my time here and the service was really friendly which was another plus for me :)

This is pretty good pizza. They have byo, no corkage and a $5 happy hour that goes way longer than an hour so it's a win all round. Pretty small and cosy inside and on this occasion we had pizza to take away. Could see them rolling their own dough in the kitchen so that's a pretty good start. It was thin without being hard and cardboard like, with a good amount of toppings. Also the large was a pretty good size. Would love to go back and try their pastas

What can I say, I have been coming here for about 4 years. Lovely staff, always happy to see people and to feel welcome. The food is amazing I have tried nearly all of the pizzas but the best is De Zaafeer. The pasta Mare Monte is also very tasty.<br/><br/> I took my now Partner on a first date here. Won her over with some good bona pizza.

I have never been to place with better service and lovelier staff. The food is just above average but the atmosphere and the staff make it so worth it. I love this place and I recommend it.

Fantastic! Great waitress, who remembers you, and provides friendly and professional service! My meal was fantastic; fresh, tasty grilled chicken kebabs, with salad and the nicest Turkish bread I have ever tasted. Wine is inexpensive and you get a huge glass! Not pretentious, relaxed and welcoming. Will be back:)

Went to Bona last week, litterally EVERY DAY for lunch and  the reason why I did so is simple. Not only the food tasted good, but the service was impeccable! The owner of the place was so nice and professional: always a word for the customers, always enquiring about the taste of the food and always smiling!<br/><br/>Pizzas were delicious and I also had salad (can't eat pizzas all the time!) and the salad was excellent too, with chicken, cashew, grilled banana...!<br/><br/>Overall, a very good impression, at a very good price too!<br/><br/>Keep up with the good job!<br/><br/>Cheers!

Went to Bona with a group of friends for a BYO (no corkage!!) the service was friendly and the food was really good. Everyone on my table got a pasta, I had a salmon and creamy sauce penne which was delicious. My friend got the basil pesto penne which was amazing! I definitely had food envy.<br/>We also ordered squid and garlic bread as an entree. The servings were decent but split between five disappeared very quickly.<br/>The mains were really decent sizes and the environment was great. Will definitely return to Bona and check out the pizza!

Best BYO in ponsonby! Excellent service especially when dealing with large groups, no set menu for group bookings, staff were lovely, food was yum and there's no corkage charge. Definitely keep this place in mind for your next event!

Over crowded. The table opposite us were loud, obnoxious idiots playing drinking games and throwing food around. They threw food at our table to which a heated argument broke out and the staff's response was "we have to look after our regulars" so were pretty much endorsing the behaviour of the drunken idiots. Never again.

We had a really great meal at Bona Pizza last night. The atmosphere is nice and intimate and the waitress was super friendly. <br/><br/>To start we shared a pizza, which was so nice and crispy and tasted very fresh - one of the nicest pizzas I've ever eaten! <br/><br/>For mains I had the chicken kebabs with salad - fresh, tender, tasty and great to see healthy options instead of just pizza and pasta! <br/><br/>We had a few wines as well and noticed that the drink serving sizes are massive! Definitely good value for money. <br/><br/>We couldn't fault the food and service at Bona Pizzeria, simple food done well; what more could you ask for! We'll definitely be returning to try out their other pizza options ☺️

I love this place!! Very authentic with a kitchen staffed by Italians and excellent pizza and pasta. I’ve been back countless times—it always seems busy, a favorite of larger groups. The outdoor seating area is great for watching passersby on Ponsonby Road. Sarah Forsyth #g4

Food 3.5<br/>Value 3<br/>Atmosphere 3.5<br/>Service 4<br/>Ordered Fettuccine Mare Monti, great deal for lunch only 13 dollars on ponsonby road. Its yum but because its a bit way too heavy for me usually for these type of food I can only eat half of it. I wish the fettuccine could be a bit more cook for me it was quite chewy would be perfect if it can be cook 30 secs more. Apart from that its awesome. Sauce made great combo with the chicken and mushroom.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.<br/><br/>The food here is awful and the portions are tiny. The people who own it are actually Persians.<br/><br/>We ordered a ravioli in tomato sauce - see my photo - the tomato sauce is like brown gravy, no tomato sauce in sight.<br/>I asked if they had gnocchi on the menu - they didn't even know what that was. I asked if the tomato sauce was a Napoletana sauce - they didn't know what that was either - very strange considering these people masquerade as "Italians".<br/><br/>Our pizza bread was dry, inedible and TINY - literally the size of my hand (see the photo) - and I have really small hands.<br/><br/>All in all, I am disgusted with this food - my ravioli is spicy and tastes like Indian - clearly the work of someone who has literally no knowledge of what Italian food or flavours should taste like.<br/><br/>I'm appalled, and will not be going back<br/>Rather go to la porchetta, you'll have a more authentic Italian experience. And not be left feeling scathing, hungry and disappointed.

Have been to this place multiple times, order the same thing; pizza bread, chicken cranberry pizza and chicken fettucini. The pizza bread is crunchy and delicious! The pizza is very well made, again only complaint is not having buffalo mozzarella. The pasta<br/>Is very tasty, lotsa sauce and goes well with the pizza. The service is awesome, the place is small but intimate. Highly recommended!

This place is amazing great service fantastic food had a great time can't wait to return for another meal got a voucher off groupon but still fantastic!!

What a find!<br/>With so many places offering authentic cuisine on Ponsonby Road, I fell in love with the Italian / Mediterranean fusion dishes.<br/>This is a quaint and welcoming eatery. The owner obviously loves doing what he does (because he can be seen working the floor, cracking bottles of wine open and whizzing in and out of kitchen) serving perfect sized pizzas (large=2-3 people) and classic pasta dishes.<br/>I'm a sucker for Italian, but the extra flare and genuine attention to their customers (come friends by the end of your visit) will keep me coming back for more.<br/>Thank you so much!

Myself and my partner have been to Bona Pizza numerous times. It is by far one of our favorite eating places.<br/><br/>After just having come back from Italy and eating authentic Italian food, I can confidently say that the food at Bona Pizza is better than that in Italy.<br/><br/>My only words of advice would be to the owners and the diners:<br/><br/>To the owners: stop putting vouchers online, it brings in diners that normally would not eat here, and will not normally come back. It also creates a negative perception of the restaurant due to over crowding and noisy restaurant.<br/><br/>Bona Pizza is all about the family run atmosphere. Keep that.<br/><br/>To the punters: Stop buying vouchers online. Pay the money for what the restaurant offers. Buying vouchers just devalue venues and services.

The food was pretty basic, and didn't taste very authentic. It came out quick though. But sadly the service was less than perfect. Also it left me and my partner with very sore stomachs for the evening and the following morning.

Love the food. Great to have a quiet evening dinner at this restaurant

Yeah love coming in for a pizza and a nice glass of red during the week. It's not a big place but it's just like one of those little back alley pizzerias you discover in Italy. Nice staff and great selection of pizzas.

I have been here several times and had many dishes but I will be coming back for deserts regardless of how my mains taste. The world’s best Tiramisu in my opinion! And Mocca chocolate cake was to die for. <br/><br/>We thoroughly enjoyed our meals – beautiful soups, pizzas, lambs, salads. Wonderful flavours and well presented. <br/><br/>Staff were very friendly &amp; welcoming. Service is amazing, professional and personal. The waiters even remember you and know what you eat!<br/><br/>Can’t recommend highly enough.

Would probably sell a lot more delivery pizza if they took credit cards over the phone or had mobile eftpos. Even taxis and food stalls have eftpos<br/><br/>Lovely pizza though!

Bona Pizza has the nicest food I have ever tasted!. Bona pizza with welcoming and attentive staff offering a good range of options on the menu. I have ordered salami papa. The pizza was fantastic – very juicy, of reasonable size with lots of ingredients delivering great taste combination. <br/>The pizzas here are some of the most delicious in the world…including Italy. The bases are really thin, savoury, and nicely blistered by the hot hot. But more important, the toppings are generous with properly good ingredients seasonal herbs Crunchy garlic bread and Italian wine were good as well. I would go back for the food.

yesterday I experienced some of the best service ever in new Zealand.I came to NZ for my holiday. and yesterday I went to bona pizza for dinner with my family.First of all the staff was very frindly and the food was vary delicious and tasty. we ordered salami feta and venegia which was very good. food was hot and freshly made.Me and my wife loved both the pizza.my mom and dad ordered Ravoli and lasaniya.and they loved it.we been through many resturant in new zealand but we love Bona pizza.hope to see you guys again.

Probably my favourite place on Ponsonby. I have been visiting it so many times and it was always a great experience. All that at a very reasonable price. The lady owner always extremely friendly and the food is delicious - best pasta I ever had!

Bought a deal, and used it for lunch, nice little Cafe, good food and service. We like the pizza bread, and we have a pasta and pizza and share. We enjoyed it so much I went and bought more coupons. We've been back several times, good value for money, authentic taste and nice flavours. Would recommend to anyone, it's a buzzy little place. We enjoy it here.

Take into account that it is a cafe, not a restaurant. If you want a restaurant, go somewhere else. Food is good, but depends on what you order. Pasta is stunning, the best I tasted in Auckland. Salads are good as well, but pizza is average. but I find quite challenging to find a good pizzaiolo in Auckland. Desserts are not good either. Tiramisu I had wasn't the genuine one. Service was always great. So if you want a really tasty pasta - go there, you won't regret!

Great food, great prices and brilliant service. Good to see a family run Italian restaurant doing well!

We've eaten at Bona Pizza many times, on our own and with friends, its our favourite local for a simple but delicious Italian meal. Friendly, affordable, and its great to have somewhere you can take your own wine. Because its small and cosy it pays to book as its very popular. Love it.

Today I experienced some of the worst service ever. I sat down at 1.10pm and was completely ignored. A while later a group of 4 sat down and were immediately served. 5 minutes later the waitress returned with there beverages, then proceeded to clear the table beside me of coffee cups, whilst still ignoring me. It wasn't until I was joined by someone else that she finally came to serve us. When I questioned her as to why, her response was "I thought you were just sitting" which annoyed me even more to no end. And no apology. Of course I responded with "you should have asked" and since that interaction she decided to have a shitty attitude. This girl was stupid and should be used as an example as what not to do when learning customer service. In the service industry there is no way you ignore customers who have money. The food may have been good, I dunno as the service I received made me so wild that nothing satisfied me after that. Were we asked for another glass of wine to help generate revenue for this business, NO. I will never go back here all because of this one silly girl.

A fantastic affordable and friendly restaurant run by a fabulous and delightful family. I have been a frequent visitor of bona for a while now and each time I am greeted with a hug and kiss (just like they do in Italy). Always a pleasure to come here. The food is always consistent and have no complaints. I've never minded the tables being so close and the noisy hustle bustle atmosphere (try clooneys for those that want romantic, calm, intimate space and fuss fuss). Here at bona it's all about loud, vivacious, and good Italian food. Yes you can hear the neighbours conversations and the odd loud wino (thanks to the awesome no corkage BYO service) but Bona is exactally that. Its alive, its mayhem its everything an italian eatery would be. Delicious food made to your satisfaction and if not, the chefs will whip you up what you like without any fuss. I have taken huge groups of up to 30 people and the staff have been more then accommodating. It's a wonderful place for a quick snack before a movie or a late night treat (try the Bonoffee pie, it's amazing)! This family is a hidden gem that always gets brighter and brighter each time we visit<br/><br/>Well done Bona you guys are awesome BRAVO!!!

Very nice place with excellent friendly service. Pastas are unique and very tasty. Went there for the first time with a voucher and they were very accomodating. Due to the first experience we have been back several times now and even taken friends and family who have all agreed that this is a place worth visiting.

Hopeless and third grade service. Went there tonight with my wife and 3 year old. The waitress was a complete jerk. While my son was finishing his dinner, she came to the table and wanted us to move to another table, as another large family had arrived. She hastily moved all plates while my son was still finishing dinner. I would have created a scene, but did not want to spoil my family's dinner further. Wife had bought voucher online, will make a formal complaint with voucher provider. Appears from their past feedback that they do not value online voucher business. Evening spoilt. Not recommended.

Went there for lunch with my family. Pizza was yummy, pasta was the best I ever had in Auckland. Reasonable prices with good service, would recommend to anyone!

We went to Bona Pizzaria to catch up with friends, the restaurant has an awesome atmosphere. We were a large group and were managed well. The staff were very hospitable and made us feel incredibly welcome. The food was great and well priced. I will definitely go their again!

It was a very pleasant dining experience for the two of us. We got the voucher for pasta/pizza, garlic bread and wine. <br/>The pizza was fantastic – very juicy, of reasonable size with lots of ingredients delivering great taste combination. Crunchy garlic bread and Italian wine were good as well.<br/>We were especially pleased by the welcoming atmosphere of this cozy place created by friendly Italian staff and Italian music. We will definitely come back again with our friends. <br/>The only thing to mention (just as a piece of advice to make this place even better) is that it would be great to have some olive oil and sauces on the table as well as more salt/pepper as it was almost finishing. <br/>Thank you.

Love this place! Good food, sensible prices. Bottle of house wine just $30 whilst it is also a BYO and no corkage to boot!!! Lovely staff and Parastoo is gorgeous.

What a fabulous find this was! A cosy cafe with welcoming and attentive staff offering a good range of options on the menu. The 8 of us ate out for $160 and as it was my birthday they threw in the corkage and a surprise dessert with 8 spoons. Thank you so much for a fun evening out - we'll be back!

Amazing value for delicious food cooked with Italian passion and family heart! <br/>Love this wee ponsonby BYO, always greeted by the wonderful Parisdu, (hopefully spelling is correct) with great service and a super frindly smile! Expansive pizza and pasta menu with an array of delightful mains, the Della casa steak is a must try!!!!

I organised my friend's 21st at Bona Pizza and we had a great turnout, which meant we had to book the whole of the 35 spaces inside the restaurant. The staff were mega-friendly; they surprised us by giving us $5 for any drinks on their menu because there was such a group of us. I had the Seafood Platter which was $28 (the most expensive thing on the menu I think), because I wanted to have a treat, but I was really quite surprised when they brought it out at how large it was! Thankfully, other people also wanted to try it so we shared it around. I got to try two of their pizzas as well - the Fungi, and one with chicken and brie - both were excellent. <br/>The prices were not that high compared to restaurants in the Ponsonby area, but the portions were quite large. I recommend getting Large size pizzas over Small ones though, because they are quite a bit larger.<br/><br/>The pasta dishes were huge as well! Great value and taste for money, I reckon.<br/><br/>The staff really did cater for us even though we kept dropping lots of forks and things on the floor and had to get extra cutlery sets to amend for people's silliness. And when cake was served, the staff clapped and cheered along with us from the kitchen.<br/><br/>Overall, wonderful night. My friend enjoyed his 21st, and it was memorable.<br/><br/>I would say one slight disappointment was the mood lighting... because it made me a bit sleepy... but maybe it was also that a lot of us were tired.<br/><br/>Next time I'm in Ponsonby, I'm looking this place up again. I want to try another of their pizzas ... :D

I just had my 30th Birthday here and had an awesome time! <br/><br/>For our party of 20+ we were well catered for the food was fantastic and utterly delicious and the service was prompt and friendly. <br/><br/>We are regulars here and their pizzas and pastas are always made fresh and you can taste the difference. You definitely cannot be beaten on quality, price and service!<br/><br/>Thank all of you guys at Bona very very much for a great night, fantastic service and wonderfully tasty food yet again!

Excellent service. Best Italian food I ever had in long time. I ordered pizza and was the best one I ever had. Great price , excellent food and service. Owner and staff are really friendly and always happy. I will see myself going there again. Thanks guys

I only ever get pizza from Bona Pizza. It may cost a little more than other places but they are the best Pizza's I have had in Auckland. Well worth a visit and the staff are really friendly. So lucky I live 5 minutes away!!!

Went last night (Tuesday) with my partner using a deal voucher. Definitely recommend booking in advance as the place is quite small, although not cramped, and seems to very popular. I can see why!<br/><br/>The food and service was 5-star! My pizza was delicious and one of the best I have had in quite some time; the lasagna was also very good. Too full to finish dessert but they were happy to give it to us takeaway. They also offer free delivery and no corkage on byo so can see myself coming back here again and again

Here now!!!! The squid is to die for and lovely Shiraz. Random choice for us but paid off. Thanks Bona Pizza. Hope the next courses - salmon followed by chocolate pizza also are as lush but have got a feeling it might be. Good atmosphere and already planning to come back.

My partner and I went here last night on a groupon voucher. Was quite hard to get a booking, but well worth the wait.<br/><br/>Service was fast and friendly, but the food was amazing!!! If you don't like spicy, don't have the Squid, we loved it. I had the Ravioli and it was like little bits of heaven wrapped up in the lightest most delicate parcels of pasta. It was just like being back in Milano in our Fav restaurant without the Duomo Square view.<br/><br/>Will definitely be making this a regular.

Just moved to the area and have been several times as well as lots of other restaurants. Fab service very welcoming. Good honest food, reasonable prices and cosy. Not your typical Ponsonby hang out, refreshing for a change, if you want flashy dashy and to be seen uptown then this is not for you! I love it:) Leigh

Average at best .. Went here for my birthday dinner, the resturant is very small, the pizzas were nice but nothing exciting, it took a long time to get our drinks. My husband ordered the rum and raisin icecream for dessert and it was vanilla ice cream in a glass with rum poured over it, would have been nice to have been told before hand seeing neither of us drink !! Overall a bit pricy for average food

Hi fellow diners,<br/>I was really hungry by the time our fairly large group ordered a number of pizzas. My appetite didn't assist in making the bland pizza taste any better. They were New York Italian style in toppings - rather bare and nothing like the photos shown. The ones with “exotic“ toppings were just plain weird and not very nice. The classic style pizza was very average. The crusts were very chewy and had to throw them rather than enjoy eating them. Overall, I found them more tasteless then chain store styles and therefore way overpriced. I give it two stars rather then one (rating pizza only), hoping that there was untrained staff earlier this evening.

Asked for a big breakfast, waitress didn't ask how I wanted my eggs,the sausages were frankfurters which I have never been served in cafe before didn't go with the rest of the meal. Husband got pancakes which he loved. Presentation 7/10. Was told the takeaway cups were a $1 extra was going to argue the point but husband said that was fine. They new we had the dailydo voucher so wondered if that was anything to do with it. Got our meal after a couple arrived after us and they got their meal first but did get meal straight after they did. My question is why did the waitress as I was paying ask where I lived? What on earth does it matter where I live? I grew up in Herne Bay, Westmere, Ponsonby, who cares if I now live somewhere else............. weird and will not be back only because of that.

Takeaway pizza was OK, but nothing more than that. Base was neither thin nor thick, but instead was quite dense and not a million miles away from the pre-made frozen bases you buy at the supermarket. But the toppings were fresh and tasty and it was certainly edible - but just nothing remarkable. Very prompt service and very friendly.

The italian resturant offers contemporary italian cuisine in a sophisticated and intimate environment absolutly loved not only the food i enjoyed the warm cozy feeling aswell as the delicious taste of authentic tasting foods. my partner got the pizza and he i must say was very satisfied. i orderd the steak and i must say it was by far the best iv had, the creamy taste of the mash was perfect the steak was perfectly cooked to perfection, my glass of wine to go with it just hit the spot. i really enjoyed the service as it was very professional as well as the great friendly staff in which made sure we were taken care off at all times.Lets not forget there amazing tasting tiramisu which wasnt to over the top but was light in taste and amazing smooth! YUM Bona is highly recommened !

We just stopped by for a pizza a few months ago, and have been returning regularly. We go back because the service is consistently great, and the food awesome, generous portions, at great prices. Its a warm and friendly space run by a good bunch of people eager to make our meal an enjoyable experience.....highly recommended...

i LOVE the pizza at Bona pizza, since i have read the review on Canves magazine, with good marks …. now this is my favorite place in town.<br/><br/>perfect service, awesome pizza and pasta. great value.best atmosphere. <br/>i think the timing is good enough for a little busy restaurant<br/>A+++

Last night was the sixth time we have eaten here, and as always the meal was fantastic. We went as a party of 6 including two children. Between us we ate from their steak, pasta, pizza and dessert menus and all of them were cooked to perfection and served in a timely manner - despite them being fully booked and having to turn diners away. The staff are very friendly and the prices are excellent. We have now decided we will try to treat ourselves to a meal there once a month.

First time i dined here i brought a lasagna,was very pleased with the meal was tasty and cooked perfect and the service is very friendly so i thought i might come back here again so i did,second time round i brought the same dish lasagna and was very disappointed the top was cooked but the bottom wasn't cooked enough or either over cooked was very hard and chewy i won't be dining here again.

We decided to try out Bona after reading good reviews, and we were delighted that we made that trip. <br/><br/>Food took a little longer to be served but you can hear the chef chopping away and you know that everything is prepared fresh and upon request.<br/><br/>The pizza was unique in its own right and flavourful. We had the large pizza of Quatro Stagioni and also a Fettuccine Mare Monti, they were wickedly delicious.

Had pizza here last nite with friends. Brought my family there today for lunch! Great value lunch deals...pasta dishes were great ! would definitely be there again. Service was great too...

The cajun chicken was great and the service super friendly! The manageress remembered us after several weeks from the previous visit. Happy hour drinks options and no corkage fees are a bonus. Choice of indoor or outdoor seating too.

Went here for lunch last week and the Lasagne was really good. Decent sized meal which filled me up and the prices were great for lunch time. My Partner and I decided to have dinner there a few days later and were both greeted by very friendly staff.<br/><br/>They remembered us and we received very friendly service. Checking to see if we needed anything and if our food was alright. There was no corkage charge and even though we were the last ones there sitting and talking until late, they never once asked us to leave or gave any indication for us to hurry up.<br/><br/>I'd defiantly go here again. The food and service is amazing

The first bite into the crust was heaven. The crust was thin, lite, just salty enough. Perfect!<br/>It was refreshing to eat pizza that was not overly-processed with low quality ingredients. We could actually taste fresh ingredients!<br/>Food was fresh, clean, delicious; and ambiance was more than appropriate for a cheerful "Tiny Italian Joint".<br/>This tiny space cooks up some delicious pizzas. Ordered the Margarita and taste the colours of the Italy. The Margarita was hands down the winner with the freshest simple ingredients in every bite, followed by the vegetarian...<br/>Service was excellent, above expectations(prompt, efficient &amp; friendly)...Yum!!!

This place is amazing. I never have the time to review restaurants, but wanted to find the time for this one. The food is fantastic, the service is fantastic, and the price is extraordinary! This is my favourite restaurant in Auckland by far! And tops it off that they do payment dining in by Bartercard too...LOVE IT!

This is my go-to restaurant for Italian food in the city. There are a few things I have come to expect of Bona Pizzeria: excellent customer service, consistently delicious food and a lively atmosphere. Understandably, it can be hard to get a table here on Friday nights.<br/><br/>A visit here is invariably welcomed by a warm smile from the maître d’. The wait time is short and the staff always check on the customers afterwards. No corkage fee is an added bonus!<br/><br/>You can’t go wrong with any pizza/pasta here but I would personally recommend the Salami Feta pizza and the Pollo Genovese pasta. If you’re visiting Bona Pizzeria around lunchtime, check out their excellent value lunch specials.