Cafe Bon Ton

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Couldn't believe how rude the senior staff was. Under heated over priced food.
No kind of atmosphere inside, service was rushed and rude. The dishes were okay/some were alright but overpriced. Seriously disappointed, would not recommend.

We should have checked the reviews and read between the lines, so many mixed reviews.

May 26, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

More just your average cafe food in a slightly fancier setting. Although nice outside, it was very annoying having leaves and sticks continue to fall.

Service was quite slow and hard to get attention. As for the food, it was not bad but just ok. The best part was the choc cherry torte which was actually really good.

Slightly overpriced for what you get. But it was ok.

Apr 16, 2012 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

We ate here over the Easter long weekend. Upon entry, we were asked, 'inside or outside?' As it was cold, we requested the inside, only to be told that the inside is completely booked out. Why did the waiter bother giving us an option if they were in fact booked out inside and We counted at least 5 empty tables inside.

Sitting outside we waited and waited for service. I signalled a couple of the waiters only to have them look at me, ignore me, and continue doing whatever it is they were doing.

We noticed even more empty tables inside and being cold and uncomfortable we decided to request a different waiter for a table inside. We eventually got one, with the waiter saying, 'sit right there, underneath the mirror'.

We also noticed that when another older couple entered the cafe, they were without question escorted to a table inside, with the same waiter saying, 'choose any table you like m'am'.

When the food eventually came out, the pumpkin baguette was cold and my smoked salmon wrap had a piece of salmon that was no larger than two fingers put together. The wrap was $21. I could buy a whole fish for that.

We don't mind paying for food if it's worth it, but for this sort of food and atrocious level of service, I will never be coming back and will be warning friends and family to steer clear.

Apr 11, 2012 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

My husband and I ate at Cafe Bon Ton for the first time yesterday, Australia Day. From the outside, it looked charming, although upon entry, the staff were rude and lifeless. If you don't enjoy your job, don't make everyone including yourself miserable by going back!

The food took forever to get to the table, and once it arrived it was cold. $26 dollars for "fish and chips" is a complete rip off when the fish is frozen fish, the meal is delivered cold and the "hand cut chips" were also undercooked. I would be ashamed to present that to any customer.

Presentation is average, and the interior of the building needed a good scrub!

Completely agree with Mike H as commented below, yes it was a public holiday, although the service was very slow and the food was average and over priced.

Even before the 20% holiday surcharge, which was not advised prior to ordering nor printed on the menu, the bill was quite expensive for such stoge. A counter lunch at the local would be much more flavoursome, served hot and less than half the price!

Needless to say, we will definitely not be visiting Cafe Bon Ton again, nor recommending it to anyone!

Jan 27, 2012 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I walked out of ‘Café Bon Ton’ in a state of Ecstasy. When I ordered the ‘Eye fillet of grass fed beef’, I didn’t know that I’d be having the tastiest steak I’ve ever had in my life. The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. Even the potatoes were out of the ordinary- it must have been the duck fat. The dish was served with peppercorns, duck fat potatoes, red wine onion jus, Brussels sprouts, smoked speck and Porcini butter. I never thought that it was possible to have a food orgasm until now- the food was orgasmic! So much so, that even my boyfriend got jealous! Anyway, the waitresses made us feel very welcome and the service was top notch. I will definitely be going there again. I'm already dreaming about it right now… and drawling.

PS- by the way, anyone leaving a less than a perfect 10 review for this exquisite venue, must have left their taste buds at home. And for what you're getting-the food is underpriced. I didn't expect a 5 star meal in a cafe.

Jan 12, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I went to dinner with my love last night at Cafe Bon Ton in the mountains. I had the lamb, which was so soft it fell off the bone. Absolutely delicious. My babe had the eye fillet of beef and it was so good. Compliments to the chef, service was great! will be back.

Jan 12, 2012 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  7     

We went to Bon Ton for a Sunday lunch recently, looking for something a bit more upmarket than the main-street cafes but not as pricey as Vulcans etc, and for the most part, this fit the bill.

The food was quite lovely (the crispy fish burrito was a pleasant surprise) and on the whole the service was pleasant. However, we were unimpressed with the way the staff dealt with (or rather, failed to deal with) a fly in our olives (part of the otherwise lovely shared antipasto plate). We discretely brought this to the attention of the staff and a mumbled apology on behalf of the chef was the result - we didn't push the point, but some kind of recompense would have been nice (replacement olives? a salad on the house?). A disappointing lack of customer service from an otherwise pleasant mountains eatery.

Jan 10, 2012 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

My wife and I had our first meal in Leura at the Cafe Bon Ton. Unfortunately, this was a mistake.

Accepting that it was on a holiday (02 Jan), the service was very slow and the food mediocre at best. Even before the 20% holiday surcharge, the bill was exorbitant for such an average meal. We will not be going there again.

Jan 03, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

My wife and myself went to the Bon Ton on new years eve, the service was top notch and the food even better than the entree, 4 types of seafood bisque was sublime, better than I'd had at a famous tv chefs where there are great views of the opera house. We were there for about 3 hours all up with no pressure to rush us out, all in all a great experience we will definitely be back.

Jan 01, 2012 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Every single time we head towards Katoomba or Leura, we always make it a point to have at least one meal at the Cafe Bon Ton in Leura. The food is always great, the ambience sublime and it holds special memories for us. Yes, I'd love it if they had a couple of varieties of scotch (they only have one) but hey! it just means I have to drink more red! Hope it always stays the same, as it's one of the reasons we decide to go to Leura every few months!

Dec 05, 2011