Fresh User Reviews for Steak House in Canberra

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  1     

So far as I can tell, and my partner says the same thing, the meat at this place is chemically aged. It certainly tastes that way. I can only guess at the maturation method, but chemical aging seems the most obvious. The place isn't really different from Hog's Breath except the crowd is quieter.

The service was on the line of 'don't bother me, do it yourself.' I know that these guys spent a lot of money on the decor. It would be better spent on the food and getting a decent staff.

May 19, 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

2.3 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

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

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

I took my wife there for her birthday, we both had a great time.

Fantastic atmosphere, love the fire place! It is definately for people that like their restaurants to have character and this [place had buckets of it. Staff are friendly and the food was fantastic.

The only down side is it was a little hard to find but definitely worth the search.

May 01, 2012

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  2     

A group of six of us went here for a post-Christmas catch up. Charcoal has a reputation for fantastic steaks so we thought we would try it out.

Despite asking for my steak well done, it came out, as one person on the table quoted, 'still mooing'. So I sent it back. The second time it came out still incredibly pink with blood coming out of it. Not too sure how the staff at Charcoal define 'well done' but my definition certainly isn't mooing.

What was even more disappointing was the service of the staff who on each occasion were so rude about the fact that I was sending it back.

I will not be going to Charcoal again, nor will any of us who dined there that night (service was terrible for more than just steak issue) be recommending it to any of our friends or colleagues.

Mar 18, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  2     

Service staff lacking in communication with each other and us, entree took over an hour to arrive, bread/dips arrived after the entree (no staff apologised for the wait and/or gave us any update as to how long it would take)...pork belly crackling tasted like burnt fat and from our table the highlight was the mussels, steaks were good and sauces interesting.

Overall would not go back as not value for money at all. Training of the staff is required to get up to a standard where the price charged matches the experience, well under expectations at present.

Mar 13, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  4     

First time ever in my life that a waitress asked me to bring my plate to her, as she already had three plates on hand and too lazy to come back and collect the last one. She then asked us if we wanted her to send the bill over, we were still having our drinks so we said a bit later. She just dumped the bill on our table 2 minutes later.

Steak was good (considering how much to pay), cocktails wasn't and service was astonishing! I won't go back to this restaurant where they don't understand that customers pay and Receive services!

Feb 18, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  2     

This rating may come up as a little lower than I would probably have given the experience overall - so I shall explain.

I didn't much appreciate the ambience but I could see where they're trying to go with the whole steakhouse thing. The service was nothing spectacular but the person who put through our payment was very friendly (possibly the manager it seemed?) and took on board our comments regarding the sauce we'd taken with our steaks and chatted with us a little about the night which was great.

The food I thought was quite good, our steaks were sized well and cooked to perfection. Our side sauce (something garlicky I think) was not very nice but the manager seemed to take on board our comments and had said they're actually putting in place a new one and that he'd recently tasted that sauce and did not like it either. The side salad with beetroot in it was amazing and it was good to have a few different sides that you don't see at every old steak house.

In saying that, however, I think the steak were far overpriced (as is the case with many steakhouses) and couldn't rate it well on value. If you're willing to pay the cash though, this is a steakhouse we'd go back to.

Feb 15, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  2      Value  2     

The service was poor, the value wasn't good and for bragging to have the best steak it was dangerously under cooked. The medium rare looked like ble steak, if that.

Jan 06, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  4     

Came here last year and this is the 2nd time I have been to this restaurant chain. Not sure why I decided to come here again, but this visit has reminded me of earlier impression of this chain and I will not be visiting this place again.

Now in all honesty the service is okay. For families I can definitely see how this place can appeal because it is very family oriented. For any others, I warn that the food is disappointing for a Steakhouse. The prices are not that cheap either.

Jan 03, 2012

5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  3     

We had a great steak but once our table was cleared the service ended, we waited for 30 minutes to place our dessert/coffee orders, but gave up. Person taking the bill didn't seem to care when we voice our opinion. Will think twice about returning.

Dec 19, 2011

6 Average

Food  8      Drinks  5      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  5     

Had dinner here the other night with 3 others. Bar service was okay...just. Drinks were a bit pricey and I didn't appreciate being asked by someone 30 years younger than me if I was driving when I ordered my third drink (my husband dropped me off and picked me up for those that are wondering).

Bistro service was good, the woman taking the orders was very busy, yet she kept her cool and was friendly and helpful. The wait for dinner was a little long, but as we had 2 servings of the mixed bread, we weren't starving. We were all very happy with our main meals. Everything cooked to perfection, vegies nice and crisp (not soggy at all), chicken just right, sauces very yummy.

I would recommend El Dorado's for casual dining, nothing flash, but the food is good value for money.

Dec 18, 2011