Fresh User Reviews for Outdoor Dining in Gold Coast

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Excellent food, price is fair, friendly services and clean, what else can we ask for? We always take our friends there for the meals. Fish with pineapple and basil sauce, beautiful.

May 17, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

This restaurant was recommended by a chinese friend. We had the Yum Cha for lunch, we enjoyed it very much. We will be back there again. Love the Yum Cha.

May 10, 2012

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

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 Their outdated menu (2011) on this site, says $140pp.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

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Must give 2 big thumbs up to our waiters they were great both funny and on the ball. Wish we had a Garlands back home.

Apr 20, 2012

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Recycled food. Staff tried to give me my takeaway order that had been returned by another customer. No food health and safety standards.

Apr 15, 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  5      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  3     

We had the worst evening possible to uncontrolled screaming children, 3 children under 3 screamed all night, plus a really rude waiter made our night hell, he queried mustard and salt and obviously did not understand butterflied steak.

Apr 07, 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

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

One of the best Yum Cha restaurants I've been to on the Gold Coast. The service is friendly and personable and the food is definitely comparable with the Yum Cha I've had in Hong Kong. You can tell if a yum cha place is good by trying their prawn dumplings, Dim Sum Delight's prawn dumplings are fresh, the prawn has a little bite in them and the skin is nice and thin. Their soy sauce stir fried noodles definitely has the 'wok hay' that you are looking for in Canto foods. I've been to most of the Yum Cha restaurants on the Gold Coast and I definitely think this one is the best.

Mar 28, 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

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  10     

My not so hungry buddy and I used a pre paid discount coupon costing only $27 for the 2 of us for a pleasant and fresh 4 course lunch.

The location is small cafe in arcade type, with a few tables also out side the shop in the arcade. Ambience inside is very casual and relaxed cafe style, no table cloths and, simple table accomplements.

The interior is decorated with the usual japanese bits and pieces to set the mood. The young waiter in traditional but casual costume greeted us in a charming manner, and as we had brought our own cold beers, offered us chilled glasses from the frig, and placed our other beers in the frig to stay cold.

The set meal started arriving via same waiter promptly, starting with a chilled and fresh green salad with an unusual dressing I could not identify. Next was a small entree of soup with large pieces of Tofu, very tasty.

The main course arrived next with a bowl of plain Rice each, a Miso soup each and a large plate of their speciality Teriyaki chicken in chunks to be shared, it was moist and tasty, but not in the BBq style I was expecting of Yakitori but still was plentiful moist and pleasantly garnished. I have had tastier Miso.
Tea and dessert were offered but we passed on those, as what we had already was very filling.

Chilled Local and Japanese Beer $5/$8, also saki etc are available for sale.
Overall, good value, fresh tasting food, very casual a place, and as I noticed the waiter later handling a stringed musical instrument, perhaps, a live performance on occasion.

Mar 22, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

I ate here about a week ago on a friday night, and ended up hanging around for a few drinks well into the night for their 'Ladies Night' not only was my food amazing but the service from both restaurant and bar staff was great.

Since the new owners have taken over (who introduced himself to me and our table!) the service has improved incredibly. I'll be going back there!

Mar 14, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

Absolutely the best Avo/Salmon Eggs Benedict I've had anywhere, everything was fresh and perfectly prepared, even the presentation was lovely! Next time I'll take a pic before I start enjoying it!

Mar 14, 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

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

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

We tried their valentines day 3 course menu. It was ok, until we found a hair in my girlfriends chicken. Pretty gross and ruined the overall experience. When I showed the hair to the senior staff, they really didn't seem to care. I won't be eating there again.

Feb 14, 2012