Fabio Restaurant

Excellent food fresh high quality with a family feel. Can’t fault it! Great value for money and the relaxed atmosphere is really great.

We tried Fabio and had a pretty poor experience.
Firstly, when we entered we were greeted by 4 different staff. It needs to be one member of staff with the reservations list and another who brings you to your table.
Secondly, my date enjoys calamari. We usually go to Fratello’s because there calamari is fantastic. However we decided to try somewhere else based on its advertised merit. We were wrong, we couldn’t finish our starters. The calamari was almost cold and very undercooked and the prawns that came with my starter were overcooked in a light batter.
Thirdly, presentation on the main course. My dates lasagne was fantastic. And the presentation on it was up to the expected standard. However, my chicken arrabbiata was a was genuinely shocking. Chicken breast was placed on the plate and a large amount of sauce was poured over it. It came to me like that. Then 30 seconds later a side plate that you get in Sunday lunch/​pub food spots came with cauliflower on one side and roast potatoes and broad beans on the other. The food tasted ok but I’m being completely honest when I say I’ve cooked better at home myself — and I am by no means a chef.
Lastly, candles needed to be lit and the room temperature needed to be raised. The restaurant is underground in a brick cellar after all.
Maybe this was just a combination of unlucky factors. Perhaps the chef was a replacement one because the fantastic one was off sick and perhaps they were all having a bad day because of some internal issues. The staff were friendly and presentable.
If I were going again, which I will, I’ll be ordering the lasagne and trying the calamari again to see if we just caught them on an off night.

Always a nice friendly atmosphere. Food it’s always great with big portions.
Décor a bit boring.

I had the worst cooked fish here it was bland and soooo overcooked, the vegetables were the best part to the dish!

Fabio’s restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants in Swindon, in my opinion.
The food there is lovely and always tastes so fresh. I’ve had dinner there a number of times and the food is consistently good, even when the restaurant is busy.
The service is also very good. The staff are all very friendly and always make you feel welcome.
Sitting inside the restaurant you can almost believe that you’re actually in Italy. With Italian waiters and music it feels very authentic.