Fresh User Reviews for Fine Dining in Gold Coast

6.3 Average

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  2      Value  5     

Extremely happy with the food. Its the real indian food that I ever had in QLD. Only drawback is the service. Was not really happy with it as I had asked to pack the left over curry as I had ordered too much and was not able to have it there and they handed me a container and asked me to fill it myself which i felt was extremely rude.

May 09, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  10     

We recently had dinner at East on a Thursday night. They have this great promotion where it's half price off your total bill. This is a great deal, and we made the most of it, keeping the bartenders busy supplying us with yummy cocktails! We also made the most of the deal and had a bunch of entrees to share.

The food was great! The food took a while to get to the table (it was a busy night), but we were cool with this, as Sex n Chocolate were on stage keeping every one entertained. We had a great night, and will be back, next time we will get the babysitter to stay a bit later so we can enjoy the late night club!

May 09, 2012

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  1     

Invited to Absynthe to help celebrate a friend's wife's birthday. Not sure how much he paid for the gustation experience, but we were surprised at how tiny the portions were. Their outdated menu (2011) on this site, says $140pp. I hope my friend didn't pay that much. My wife ordered a cocktail from their list, to have the waitress return and inform her they didn't have all the ingredients. She ordered a simple Brandy Alexander next, to again have the waitress come back and inform her the barman didn't know how to make one.

I needed to go to the gents toilet. Another waitress informed me that I had to go into another building and gave me some sketchy directions to get there. When I eventually found it, I discovered I needed a code to tap into the keypad locking the door. I had to go back to the restaurant to explain to another waitress my predicament who informed me that I actually needed a 4 digit code to get into the toilet.

The drinks were ridiculously over-priced. $17 for a stubbie of beer, or a glass of wine. A bottle of Amiri Sauv Blanc, $16 a glass, $56 a bottle - same bottle, $7.00 @ Dan Murphy's - seems indicative of the overall impression we have of our 1 time experience of Absynthe, highly over-priced and over-rated and very poor value for a hard-earned dollar, in short, a rip-off.

May 05, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

We had a fabulous time at East last night. Drinks were great and the food was wonderful. The place was packed out too.

Not having been to east before, I was blown away by the design and ambience of the restaurant. I was even more surprised by the transition to a nightclub. We had no choice but to stick around for drinks after dinner.

All in all, I really enjoyed my time at East. We have already booked again for next Thursday. Loved Sex and Chocolate too :)

May 04, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

A restaurant that truly delivers on fine dining. If you aren’t based on the Gold Coast, I can assure you, the drive / trip to dine at Absynthe is definitely worth your while. Had an absolutely delightful evening at dinner. The food was outstanding… so rich and full of flavor. Dessert is always my favourite course and the chef’s at Absynthe knew exactly how to deliver. I chose the Crème Brulee with a light sorbet…this was divine!

Entrée (risotto) was exquisite. Cocktail menu is another must to sample! My favrouite was the cucumber martini – sounds different but I can assure you it will leave you wanting another! Exceptional service, lovely ambience - all I can say is, well done Absynthe!

Apr 14, 2012

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  1     

Two ordinary steaks. The eye fillet my wife had was tender enough but not tasty and lacked any juices?!

My Waygu was chewy, not on. Service was average at best. They seemed to know that what they were serving was disappointing and were happy we left without complaining.

Apr 11, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  3     

Waitress was friendly enough but service incredibly slow, took 15 minutes to get drinks, asked especially for kids food to come first yet arrived after mains, 3 of mains were wrong, one main sent back twice, plates never cleared even when kids dessert was being served, which we had to ask for, the senior staff came to apologize and blamed it on the kitchen (bad form), all in all a very disappointing experience given the prices.

Apr 04, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  10     

Really can't work out why the place was quiet. The food was amazing and authentic.

Apr 03, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

This should have been a lovely night for my partners birthday at the Absynthe Restaurant at Q1 Surfers Paradise. Instead it turned into a nightmare.

The food was disappointing to say the least. We were asked do you want sparkling water or still water and we asked for tap water and was hit by a $32 water bill at the end of the night. This was for 4 bottles of 500ml water we supposedly drank. The bottles were never left on the table and our glasses were just refilled at anytime without letting us know that it was bottled water that cost $8 a bottle.

I refused to pay $32 for the water and said I would replace the water bottles. When I purchased the water to give back to the restaurant we bought another bottle for ourselves and we were very surprised because it was not what we had the night before because it was sparkling water and we had still water on the night. I was able to buy 5 bottles of the water for $14.

Mar 24, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  1     

This place wouldn't get a michelin star from me if I took my tyres there! The degustation was at best, fair, but the usual fair sized main course had a piece of chicken the size of a walnut. Tried the wine flight (not in the deal), $15 for a SSB, $5 a bottle on line, served at room temp followed by a "Se Australian" wine of dubious origin and taste billed as a coonawarra shiraz! Tasted like the label too!

Didn't wait to try the sticky. Senior staff was surly from the start, when I complained even more so. Only good thing was he refunded my 2nd voucher. I have never been moved to write a restaurant review in oz before but people need to be warned about this place.
.

Mar 05, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  3     

We knew this was a little more expensive than similar style restaurants so waited for a special occasion to try it out. Disappointing. I had a half rack of pork ribs ($31) and fries. I was given a very stingy serve of fries. Hubby had full rack of beef ribs and fries. My teen had a burger (which she loved) and my 6 year old had the kids meal with a burger, which was served with more chips than my rib meal. The kids enjoyed their meals.

The ribs were average, we've had much better. We had a drink spill at our table which I apologised to the waitress for, to which she said, "That's okay" but then did nothing about it. As we had no napkins, it sat there until the next time she wandered past and I asked for it to be wiped. So two ribs, a burger, a kids meal, 3 soft drinks and one cocktail was over $120. Probably won't go back.

Feb 21, 2012

2.8 Below Average

Quality  1      Food  1      Drinks  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

Don't Bother! This restaurant used to have fantastic food and lovely management, we were frequent customers. Sadly that has changed for the worse.

We booked a birthday dinner and our night was spoiled by the terrible food, which was tasteless and took 90 minutes to arrive at our table, terrible service, slow, unfriendly staff, who completed the credit card transaction at our table (how rude) and took forever to take our orders, and the other staff - who forgot 2 meals and they said the kitchen was small, that's why things were taking so long. Totally unbelievable! There were only about 15 people in the restaurant!

At the end of the night, the only compensation made was not charging for a meal that was forgotten (I should think so!) and giving us 2 bottles of water free of charge, how pathetic. The management did not even come to apologise and tried to ignore us as we left.

The Birthday dinner was a total disaster, our night was ruined and I was embarrassed for inviting everyone there. After one of our party contacted the management about our poor experience, he was given a short sharp reply that was a personal attack, rather than an apology or explanation. Clearly the management have no concern about the quality or reputation of their restaurant.

We will never go back there again, and I urge any potential customers to stay away. If you want good food and exceptional service, go somewhere else at Sanctuary Cove.

Feb 21, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  3     

As it is often said it doesn't matter how nice the food is if the service isn't there it spoils the whole experience. This was definitely the case for us. I never write reviews and quite honestly do not have that high expectations but our experience was far from good and feel its necessary.

I had first booked for a party of 9 to celebrate my partners 25th birthday, I called about an hour ahead to add 1 more person only to get a call back saying because we now had a group of 10 on a Saturday we would have to order from the set menu, we mostly didn't mind except one couple who were not expecting to have a large meal but what restaurant cannot accommodate for 10 people a la carte?

We arrived to find the place not very busy. When we asked if just 2 of our guests could order off the main menu the reply was "no it will be too difficult for us with the bill"! (how hard could it be).

When we sat down with only half of our table there (5 minutes past the time we reserved) our waitress came to the table and asked if we were ready to order? we said no as not all of our party were here yet (obviously) and she rudely asked how long the rest will be. Once the rest of our group arrived, straight away as soon as they sat down she came over and asked if we were ready to order to which one person replied "I have just sat down, can I take a look at a menu first please?".

The food was lovely and we could not fault it, however, our waitress was not friendly at all and very unprofessional. Drinks were expensive and the wait at the bar was long. After we finished the cake, we were Told they needed to move the tables to make way for the dance floor, poor customer service, we had just spent a lot of money at the restaurant you would think the least they could do is to politely let us know and offer us an alternative like a booth.

We would normally stick around and have a few more drinks and a dance but we finished our drinks and left as soon as we could and went to a different bar. I was embarrassed that I had chosen such a poor place to celebrate my partners birthday with friends, I am local and will not go back and definitely do not recommend this restaurant to any of my friends or family.

Feb 20, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  2     

$300 for 4 people on a so called 1/2 price menu is not what I would call a good deal. The prices are set at fine dining levels yet I would say we were in family style with an up market Pub style menu. Don't be fooled by the menu, it is already at the 1/2 price amount.

Average entree was $15, main $25 and dessert $15. Yes that sounds reasonable and you would happily pay that amount in most restaurants, but what a shock when you choose the place purely because of the advertised deal and receive the bill of $300 for 4 people.

This ended up being the most expensive meal we have had this year and not the best by a long shot. It would have been a much nicer experience to have seen a meal on the menu for $38 and then only be charged 1/2 of that price. I think we would have all left with a much nicer taste in our mouth. Instead we can't stop talking about feeling like we have just been ripped off.

Feb 19, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Dined in Vanitas on Australia Day and was extremely impressed with the food, service and ambience. Having dined at Aria and Tetsuyas in Sydney I would rate my experience at Vanitas as up there with them but without the hefty price tag. Highly recommended it to anyone looking for fine dining on the Gold coast.

Feb 10, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Delicious Thai food. The service was prompt and polite and the decor is easy on the eye and inviting. Great value.

Feb 10, 2012

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  1     

Extremely small portions, very very overpriced, can't recommend.

Feb 05, 2012

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Tonight we tried to celebrate my sisters 24th birthday at your restaurant. My sister left upset and nearly crying after paying a extra $50.00 on top of her food and drinks for some of her guest not being able to get to the venue in time for dinner as they were in the emergency room in Brisbane.

The night firstly started off with the manager telling me that he did not know we were bringing a cake (to a birthday dinner) and that it will cost us $3.00 per person to cut the cake, I accepted that charge and was happy to pay it but when it came time for the cake to be cut a stuff member by the name of Elode or something similar rudely said "No that was not part of your package" to which I replied the manager said that it was okay and that we would just have to pay a cutting fee. She then stormed off immaturely mumbling "fine what ever". The same staff member also started to raise her voice at my sister when she was talking to the manager about a charge on the bill (extremely unprofessional).

Also the floor was extremely sticky around our tables and when I pointed it out I was replied to in a rude manner which the staff said was the cleaners fault they had not buffed the floor.

And to top it off it took them forever to take orders, it was 9 o'clock when we got our food (after a 7pm arrival) and they got one meal wrong, served all three tables at ridiculously spaced out different times and even forgot a meal and had to come and ask the person what they had ordered.

All in all I have never had a worst dinning experience and are completely and utterly disgraced in this restaurant's lack of class and consideration for there customers.

Jan 22, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Amazing food, great service and very reasonable. Couldn't ask for much more. Was empty when we went so a bit lacking in atmosphere.

Jan 15, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  9     

Masterful Dishes, Best Boutique restaurant in Queensland.

My partner and I booked in the new year for our Anniversary. We noticed the media in the local paper highlighting the new A La Carte menu which is focused around different selections of Australia's finest Beef!

I started with the Candied Vine Ripened tomato in Vanilla Olive Oil and Wasabi Ice Cream, then moved onto the Poached Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with seasonal baby vegetables and Coriander Pesto.

If this wasn't enough I finished my divine culinary experience with the signature Vanilla Creme Brulee which I did not share with my partner.

It was an amazing dining experience which started with cocktails in the wine lounge. I don't know why there are so many bad comments about this restaurant?
Its the Best restaurant the Gold Coast has to offer.

And my partner and I have booked his 42nd Birthday Party there with 40 of our closest friends. The Chef and Owner sat down with us and customized our entire dinner menu to suit my husbands love for beer we have customized a 6 course degustation menu with a different beer which accompanies each dish!

This restaurant is rare and unique and is the only restaurant that would take the time to sit down with us and discuss a customized space and menu!

Jan 12, 2012