Tomassi’s

We’d come to Tomassi’s every previous time we’ve visited Southend because they were an Italian restaurant and café that had a nice selection of pizza and pasta and a wonderful dessert menu. Visiting Southend today with my family we thought we’d go back, only to find the menu has changed! It’s now JUST a café, their main meals number 5 in total! Didn’t even bother and certainly won’t contemplate going there again should we return to area.

Great for your Granny, but not your food intolerant friends, or those with littlies.
Have only popped into the café for a cuppa with friends. We both have babies, but the sign on the door told us that we needed to collapse our prams and that there was no high chairs available. We asked if we could still come in, as it was quite quiet, and we were relegated to the back of the café. Where, what a suprise! We found a high chair, another, uncollapsible pram and the entrance to the loos. What a welcome eh?!
Was really disappointed that there was no milk alternatives, and I was stuck with a boring chamomile tea… Is it just me who thinks that having a dairy free options should be standard for tea and coffee these days. Such a shame, because the menu looked fab, but if they don’t even have soy milk for a cuppa, I doubted that I could have even asked about the rest of the menu.
The interior is functional, clean and nearly spacious, if a little late 1990’s. The staff were friendly enough, but lacking the warmth of someone who cares about the business and its customers, and that’s saying something in Southend.
There were plenty of customers who seemed to be enjoying their cuppas, but they did all look as if they were on the other side of 70. And if they are happy, then clearly this place is doing something right for them.

I can’t believe this place wasn’t on Unilocal.
This place is a proper traditional Italian place, with clean and updated décor.
You know a place has been here forever, when it’s filled with old couples having their afternoon tea and has multipul pictures of decade changing signage on the walls.
It is split into a restaurant and café/​icecream bar section.
I have just sampled from the café side of the restaurant.
And it is just what is says on the tin, a huge selection of amazing ice cream sundays. And they are amazing.

From reading other reviews I seem to have a similar complaint. Visited with my Mum and 12 week old daughter on Thursday 17 March 2011. We sat down at a table by the window and I placed my daughter asleep in her pushchair behind the table so we were not in the way of anyone. We were told very rudely by the waitress we had to move to the back of the café with the pushchair or fold it down. When I asked why I was told simply and very abruptly ‘rules and regulations’. I was not going to get my sleeping child out of her pushchair and wake her up and so after a few choice words we left and found somewhere else to eat. I was very angry and I have written a letter of complaint to the café. I feel this borders on discrimination, they have no right to ask you to move to the back of the café just because you have a pushchair. I was not in anyone’s way and so I was not breaking any health and safety rules and my daughter was asleep so I was not disturbing anyone either. How come we could then walk down the street and go into another café and sit wherever we wanted?
Very unfriendly towards children!!!
And generally very rude staff!!!
I have put 1 star because it would not let me leave it blank, but does not deserve any stars!!!

Had some bad times in the restaurant but maybe the ice cream bit isnt so bad? Not sure, family thing not to go here!

Have been going there for over 20 years. Taken friends and family many times and all have been very pleased with the food, staff and value. Selection is fantastic and the ice creams are excellent.
Rasher from Hockley

I am very unhappy with this place. I went there with my sister and my 1 year old baby on Saturday. It was packed out, but there was one table free right in the window (to the right hand side as you walk in). We positioned the pushchair so that it was not in anybocy’s way at all. There was more than enough clearance for the door and the table next to us. I first felt unwelcome by the look we got from the people on the table next to us. My daughter was not crying, but very quiet and happy. We just started to look at the menu, and along came the waitress who told us to move as we could not have the pushchair where we had it. I told her that it was clear it was not in the way, but she told us again to move. My sister quite rightly said that we would only move if there was another table. There was one, at the back. So we went to move and I asked the waitress for a highchair. She said they don’t supply them in the café. At that point I had a go at her and promptly walked out. Beware — they are not baby friendly. They don’t want babies there. I have lived in the general area all my life and had never been in Tomassi’s before, so I was glad to be giving it a try, but I will never set foot in there again for as long as I live.

Very child unfriendly
Food is poor to ok
Staff are surly
Overall not very good

All I can say is largely over-​rated. Pushchair un-​friendly and staff are polite but cocky at the same time. Not a place to go if you are looking for a cheerful, lively dinner.

A little old fashioned but fantastic! Absolutely wonderful staff-​friendly, attentive and genuine. They serve the best ice creams in the world (!) and I have been eating there for years. They do allow children, I should know, I’ve been going since I was tiny. It doesn’t deserve to be labelled as ‘unfriendly.’ I don’t think people realise what a rare gem it is-​how many excellent and family-​run businesses do we still have on the high street?!

Have only been here for ice creams which were delicious — good sundae menu. Received good service abut was quite expensive.

Visited on 27.12.08 with partner and 3 lively children. Friendly waitress — service attentive but not intrusive. Good childrens menu. Tables well spaced. Restaurant extremely busy, but food came quickly and was good value for money. Desserts (sundaes) excellent. Good quality coffee — regularly order double espressos when out, and these can be awful depending on coffee used. Look forward to next visit — nice to find a thriving independent restaurant /​coffee house /​ice cream parlour amongst the usual suspects

On Southend High Street but seems to like certain customer. Don’t go if have children, even if perfectly behaved. Ice-​creams are good but main meals are a bit of a let down. Too expensive for what it is.

Family run restaurant. Good disabled access. Staff pleasant and helpful. Always delighted with meals. Ice-​cream treat.

Dreadful place. Staff are rude, especially if you have children (well behaved). Food is overpriced and the place seems to run on its history and being a good restaurant about 50 years ago.

Nice restaurant with range of dishes but a little on the expensive side for what you get.

Ive been here a few times with my nan, it seems to attract alot of oaps, i think this is because they keep children controlled and not run about everywhere? From what i can remember the food is good. Would be a ideal place for a family meal. Italian icecreams, yuuuuuum!

good traditional fish and sunday roast. nice icecreams

I was tempted in here by the range of ice cream sundaes, and was impressed by my knickerbocker glory. It had sauces that tasted of fruit, and pieces of fruit you could recognise, but was properly traditional and even came topped with wafers. Had I been in Southend longer, I would have been tempted to go back and try some of the other sundaes: there’s a good selection of traditional and more unusual concoctions.
Service was pleasant but unexceptional and the price was reasonable. A good place for ice cream!

We’ve been going to Tommassi’s for over 25 years, and have rarely had any cause for complaint.
We’ve always found the food to be of a consistently good standard, and the staff friendly and helpful.
I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this restaurant to anyone.