West End Garden

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

Visiting for lunch the other day we noted dine-in prices on the lunch menu for the specials are now $9.50 eat-in. We ordered one of the 'standards' - 'Spicy Calamari' which was not as tasty as previously experienced, nor as plentiful. However, it was still served with choice of a small bowl of steamed or (egg) fried rice.

From the 'Vietnamese Specials' the Pork Spare Ribs with Spring Rolls and Vermicelli sounded appealing (and at $10.50 was at the top end of the lunch menu price scale) but in reality presented as a bowl of cold (undressed) vermicelli noodles, topped with water-logged carrot and cucumber - the 'spare ribs' comprising of some very small slivers of cold pork scattered with peanuts and the spring rolls (2) cut in quarters, and again cold.

The accompanying bowl of basically sugar, water and some chopped chilli lacked fish sauce and any real flavour profile and just added to the overall 'sogginess'. Overall, a real struggle to enjoy anything about this dish.

We previously reviewed in 2011 - Have continued to visit this venue over the years and in 2008 things went downhill somewhat but recalled West End Garden offers a $8.50 lunch special menu (they do offer other lunchtime choices on this menu but they are at their normal a-la-carte prices so read carefully).

On the way to the (superb) Valentino Retrospective at MOMA we were after something quick and tasty so decided to drop in last week. Ordered the 'Spicy Calamari' and the 'Mongolian Beef' from the fairly standard (read safe) choices. Both came with steamed or fried rice and we expected the rice to be on the same plate so were surprised when we received a more than decent sized separate plate of fried rice.

The spicy calamari disappeared in record time, the coating was crisp, the calamari tender with a thin spicy sauce spooned over.

Mongolian Beef was more pedestrian but also generous in size and vegies nice and crisp. Service was swift with iced water quickly provided. For $17 we left very full and certainly feeling we'd received great value for money. Noting the large amount of other lunch-time diners we are not the only ones to think this. Try here when next catching a movie at the nearby Southbank Cinemas during the week.

In 2007 I reviewed as follows: Have dined here on numerous occasions over the years. Pretty consistent food. Can get packed on Friday and Saturday nights especially with larger groups. Young staff well meaning but service can be somewhat haphazard. Picks are the Vietnamese dishes: Vietnamese Combination Spring Rolls, Sugarcane Prawns, Kung Pao Prawns, Garden Shin Beef, Salt and Pepper Squid, Spicy Fried Rice, Creamy Prawns.

Mar 04, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  10     

Want a cheap meal for lunch, $7.50 serves are ample, free rice, tasty food. Try the spicy calamari but make sure you get the sauce served seperately, tender calamari deep fried and a spicy sauce that will knock your socks off. Satay chicken stir fry full of chicken and right amount of vegies. To be honest i can't fault it, even down to their $4.50 house wine.

Jun 08, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Went for the first time on a Saturday night. The food was really good, comparable to my other favourite asian restaurants. The service was great. Half of our party of 8 was late but they did not mind and allowed us to wait for 20 minutes before we needed service. Very friendly people. BYO wine only which was great as well. The food was served in a reasonable time considering the place was packed. Good portion sizes. Will gladly go back again when in that area.

Aug 31, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  9     

I always enjoy dining at West End Gardens, it is probably my favourite Asian restaurant in Brisbane. The food is always delicious, its great value for money and has a friendly atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Apr 09, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Consistently the best asian food that I have eaten in Brisbane. Affordable meals are well sized. Can definitely recommend the banquets, so much tasty, tasty food, you won't be able to finish.

Apr 08, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Excellent experience all round. Highly recommended, looking forward to going back.

Jan 02, 2009 

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  6     

Having recently travelled throughout Vietnam, we went to West End Garden with high hopes... but walked away very disappointed.

The menu consists of mostly Chinese meals, with a very limited range of Vietnamese scattered throughout (with the majority in the Entree section).
The meals we ended up selecting were fairly average.

To start we ordered Cold Rolls & Sugar Cane prawns and they were okay, though seemed to be lacking any real flavour. But still they gave us some hope for the remainder of our meal, unfortunately the next course wasn't any improvement.

The Vietnamese Lamb curry tasted like a very bland massaman curry (so bland in fact that once tasted, nobody wanted to try more). The salt & pepper calamari was ok, though not particularly salty or peppery (& the calamari batter was similar to that received from the local fish & chip shop).
Service was slow.

Perhaps it was an off night... but I certainly won't be returning to give them another chance.

Sep 25, 2008