Tilley's Devine Cafe Gallery

6.2 Average

Quality  6      Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  6     

This place looks promising when you arrive, but only partially delivers. It's got a classy, old school charm to it, but that's about where it ends.

Ultimately, it's pretty much fancy pub grub. The menu is uninteresting, and the food is reasonable, but nothing to write home about. Drinks are fairly priced, with a limited, but nice selection of wines on offer.

It can get busy at times, and you are left with the feeling that the place could do with a few extra staff. Nevertheless, it's clear that it's a popular place with locals, so worth consideration if you find yourself in north Canberra and want to avoid the perpetual chaos of nearby Dickson.

Feb 25, 2012 

5.4 Average

Quality  6      Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  5     

Apart from the overcrowded chairs in the court yard, my first impression was that this was a pretty 'cool' looking cafe. However, on closer look it was quite run down and dirty feeling, I like the old school feel but it was looking a little worn out. The menu was simple but a decent range of food. I chose the special tandoori focaccia and then waited a very long time for it too arrive, but it was not worth the wait. Toasted nicely but only 2 pieces on small chicken on only half the focaccia. Milkshake and coffee were good though.

Oct 09, 2011 

4.4 Below Average

Quality  4      Food  4      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  3     

Hmmm... This place has much going for it, cosy interior, decor a bit old fashioned but can be used with events &/or managed character to add to it's potentia; charm. Exceptional outdoor setting sunny, spacious, but... the quality of the food and coffee needs improvement especially for the prices charged. Service also needs attention, always too many staff running around with few taking any orders or wanting to take orders. And service from the kitchen either too slow or microwaved fast, need for quality improvement.
Seems like management is banking on little competition and exploiting their customers. And please do something about the music, the piped music needs be more funky. Place has potential but my patience can only go so far.

Sep 26, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Quality  1      Food  1      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  1     

Went there for breakfast and a coffee, and both were very disappointing. Coffee: Ordered a latte which had no coffee flavour whatsoever, it wasn't hot enough, and the froth looked unattractive with large bubbles - roadhouse froth; no latte art here!

Ordered pancakes with maple syrup and berries: The three pancakes arrived on our table in less than three minutes! They had a rubbery texture, weren't warm enough, but at least the maple syrup was good. We had the feeling that the pancakes were made well before they landed on our table and were just reheated in a microwave oven to a less than ideal temperature.

When we walked into this place we had the feeling that the food was going to be good, especially when we saw so many people having breakfast there. We were wrong and would not go back or recommend it to anyone.

Also, the rather unfriendly and disinterested looking staff perfectly matched the quality of the food and the coffee.

Feb 15, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

The food was delicious. We went on a Sunday morning and it was very busy with an interesting and diverse crowd. The staff were coping very well with how busy it was.

Jul 05, 2010 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

Ahh, Tilley's... We like you enough that we are prepared to jostle at the counter to order our meals and wait for our coffees. We’ll pay a bit more than we want to for simple food because the flavours are good and the servings generous (less hearty recently – anyone else noticed?). We’ll ignore our impatience at how long the food takes to come out the kitchen because you cook it fresh and the booths are cosy and the whole place clean.

Happy to keep you as a Canberra institution as long as you keep bringing in fabulous live music, pumping out quality favourites from the kitchen and don’t push our goodwill about service and price that next step further…

Oct 02, 2008