Fresh User Reviews in Canberra

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Great place to eat and drink coffee and take in the cycling ambience. Staff were excellent. Great place don't miss it.

May 22, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

I like this restaurant because of the lovely positive atmosphere, amazing steaks and the friendly staff.

May 17, 2012

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  4     

Given how many staff they have you'd think someone would be interested in the customers. That's pure statistics. We ended up helping ourselves to menus pinched from another table.

When everything tastes of salt, coriander and chilli you wonder what they are covering up? Lack of skills or frozen ingredients?

May 14, 2012

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  2     

We visited Hogs Breath Cafe based on previous good experiences in the restaurant. This was a mistake: slow service, average food in overpriced and small servings.

We had rung beforehand to confirm that gluten free options would be available. We were assured they were, but on arrival found that this is not the case: 'low gluten' is what they now offer.

After some debate we elected to stay. My daughter ordered the calamari rings, which proved to be a very small serve far outweighed by the salad included in the cone shaped server, certainly no mention of salad in the menu.

The steak was average at best, lacking flavour. When we raised these issues with the senior staff, it was all blamed on a new menu having been introduced earlier in the week. And dare I mention the never-ending TV show of bike and skateboard crashes? Never again.

May 12, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Tried out the hogsbreath cafe on one of my friends recommendation. I really liked the food, especially the mains. The steaks are slow cooked for 18hrs which tasted very nice and was cooked as per my liking. I have no hesitation in recommending this place to my friends and family. Cheers

May 11, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  1     

Had a table booked which we didn't get to until 20 minutes after we arrived. Service was good and food ok but certainly not worth the $20 surcharge they slapped on just for attending the cafe on a sunday! Will never venture there again.

May 08, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  7     

Went with my brother, and we both ordered the Barramundi burger. It was made so well, and I couldn't fault it. Tasted so good, and the aioli sauce that went with it was delicious.

Only problem was the main ushering guy was a bit rude. A younger guy serving us afterwards was nice, but when we tried ordering something else, he'd keep forgetting so we just got up and left to buy extra food elsewhere.

Value is alright, but I agree, the service at this place is pretty damn bad and kills the mood.

May 07, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  6     

I'm not really a chocolate-person, so it was with much dragging that all my friends decided to take me here.

The truffles here are amazing. Try the Rosewater Jelly one. Or, if you're into more of a drink, try the blood orange with dark chocolate. Wish their coffee was a bit better though. It's got a bit too much milk, and thus too hard to taste the beans.

Service here has always been amazing everytime I've popped by. Only let down is that it's incredibly expensive for everything. Then again, I suppose you do pay for quality, and in that aspect, Koko Black does very well.

May 07, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  6     

I'm really fond of this place for breakfast but can't help feeling it's a just a touch overpriced. The bircher muesli I had was great, but about half the size I'd expected, and 9 bucks for what amounts to a small juice isn't very competitive either.

May 02, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I frequent Urban Pantry quite often and I love the relaxed feel and quality of the food.

I have only ever dined there for breakfast/lunches but I have no major gripes at all. The food is great and they are happy to cater for dietary requirements (vegetarian/vegan, lactose/gluten free etc) where possible. The staff have always been pleasant and the food and drink doesn't usually take too long. I will continue to visit.

My only criticism is that they charge 50c extra for soy, 50c extra for decafe and $1 extra to put your coffee in a mug size (it works out to be around $7 a coffee, plus surcharge on Sundays so it gets a bit pricey.

Apr 29, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  3     

A Sunday breakfast with family, made unpleasant by uninterested staff who seem as if you're being done a favour. We actually asked for butter and there was eye rolling!
Portions are small on small plates - value lacking. I was also unimpressed with the spinach side that was not only expensive, but completely saturated in oil. The fit out is good, and we were warm and comfortable, but good service really is an unknown concept here.

Apr 23, 2012

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

Admittedly I've eaten here before and haven't hated it but the last time I went here I was extremely disappointed, and I will not go again.

My caesar salad came with a cold poached egg on top. Not cold because it had gone cold, but because it had been refridgerated. I ruined a lot of my salad popping the egg yolk, expecting warm runny yolk. Though I suppose there wasn't much to ruin really, as the salad was barely edible.

My friend had ordered bacon eggs and sausages, and instead it came with bacon and mushrooms. When told about the mistake, the waiter looked completely uninterested and took the plate away without saying a word. Much later it was returned with the sausages, not another word was said, no apology, nothing.
Plenty of other places in Canberra to get good food and good service, so I won't waste my time and money on this place again.

Apr 16, 2012

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  1     

We went there (2 adults, 2 kids) on Good Friday. The foods were so Expensive ($27 for a supposedly-pancetta pasta with a oil, garlic and couple of pine nuts? You gotta be joking). My husband had a veal meal, not much to brag about. Kids had the kids menu, very pricey.

On top of that, the public holiday surcharge of close to $18! Hmm...Canberra, very expensive. At least they did not charge for the chilli oil I asked for (or did they?).

Apr 12, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  2     

A nice space, but the service was terrible, which given the price is inexcusable. We ate at urban spoon on Sunday night, and while the food was nice enough (as you would expect for the price), the staff seemed more interested in talking to each other than the customers, and at times seemed to be actively avoiding doing so.

Our waitress gave us menus, but didn't come back to take our order. She later apologised, but did the same thing again with the dessert menu. We did want to order dessert but ended up having to go elsewhere. Meanwhile, the senior staff was more interested in discussing his recent wedding with the table behind us than ensuring his restaurant was running properly. Such a shame because it could be a really good restaurant, but the front of house staff seem to be on school camp rather than running a restaurant.

Apr 10, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Great place, perfect for break fast, brunch, lunch, coffee or delightful pastries, all done in house! Small cafe, limited seating so you need to be quick in the mornings! Can not say enough about these guys, welcome to Canberra, I am one of many very happy visitors! See you soon!

Apr 05, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  7     

Food overall was great! Service was knowledgable, and trying to be attentive, although they were simply understaffed.

Read the full review on my blog

Apr 05, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  10     

Fantastic place, kid friendly, large serves of amazing food for low prices. The staff never smile but who cares when everything else is that good!

Apr 04, 2012

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

This place was a major disappointment. Food was terrible and service no better. I had to go and get water myself for table. They then gave us the wrong bill and then overcharged us when we went back to say they we had not paid enough. Never going back!

Apr 02, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Beautiful cafe with excellent food. A really lovely experience with great coffee. Service could be improved, but overall a charming little cafe next to the beaver galleries.

Apr 02, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  8     

Go for the great food but do not stay for the service or atmosphere.

Read the full review on my blog

Mar 24, 2012