Majors Lane Restaurant

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  6     

We booked here after leaving it too late to get into Muse for a Saturday night - and it turned out to be a costly act of laziness on my part. We were seated in the outdoor section for a 6.30 dinner, and the setting is beautiful. The only downside, and not the fault of the restaurant, was the influx of flies in the area that squated in and around our table for the whole 2 hours.

I was intrigued by the smokehouse element to a lot of the dishes, and with that in mind ordered the scallop and chorizo entree. That is exactly what turned up, 3 scallops rested on 4 slices of chorizo - with a little sauce here and there. Very bland, and I have had better chorizo from the local deli. Other entrees on the table drew mixed reviews - the duck prosciutto with brie balls was minimal and tasteless, while the rabbit pastry was complimented from a height.

The mains got the same mixed reception. My lamb was recommended medium - which I ordered - but turned up rare, at best. This is not how I like my lamb, so I was put off from the start. The accompanying asparagus tart, was in fact a circular shaped omelette with next to zero ingredients other than egg inside. No carbs on the plate. This was consistant throughout the main meals, and they seem to be designed to be ordered with a side - which is fine - if the waiting staff had have told us this as we ordered. The salmon seemed the worst main we experienced, while the goat pie was quite nice. The pork belly was also good, but turned up with no crackling. We're not sure if they burnt it and left it off the dish, or if it does not come with the usual top layer - but this is not noted on the menu.

After some very swift service (too quick if anything) for the first 2 courses, we were left waiting about 40 minutes for dessert. For me this was the best course table-wide - although 2 of us did order the apple tart with butterscotch sauce, and one turned up swimming in sauce while the other had barely a smear. They looked wildly different side by side - although both tasted great. Other desserts enjoyed were the fondue (hard to get wrong) and a choc-jaffa mousse - again nice without anything special.

For me, I would not return - considering the wealth of ingredients available on their doorstep, I was disappointed with the offering.

Nov 28, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  3      Service  4      Value  2     

Let me start by first saying that we did not have a bad experience at this restaurant. We were prepared to pay the indicative prices for a meal, however we do not believe our dining experience met the expectations associated with these prices. In summary: Prices were about 15% - 20% more expensive than the quality of the food and the whole experience. If entree was $15 and Mains were $25 this review would be much more favourable. Kitchen prepared and presented 'nice' meals, but not to the calibre of $19 entrees and $39 Mains.

We had a table of 4 on a Saturday night. Restaurant decor and layout is more conducive to lunch time than a white table cloth dinner. Our server was on the cold side of friendly and lacked experience and personality. She was the only front of house staff. For a dinner in a wine region, a waitress should know that when a bottle of red wine is ordered to get the top off the bottle and let it breathe! She did not.

Jul 08, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Came here for lunch during the long weekend. Am glad that I took the waitress's recommendation for the spatch cock, it is very delicious. Very tendered, the sauce comes very well with it and the presentation of the dish is just great! My friend ordered lamb and he said it is very delicious and soft!

The portions are big enough for us, I wish I can have a bigger stomach that can fill the dessert. One thing to criticise is that when my other friend pointed out one of the 'thing' in his dish and asked 'What is it? It tastes very good?' The waitress cannot tell and just walk away. However, the first waitress we have for ordering is very helpful.

I wish I can have the Spatch Cock again now, it has to be another visit to Hunter. But I will definitely come back and recommend this place for my friends!

Oct 05, 2010 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Took my wife here last week, food, service, everything was outstanding. Veal was so tender and cooked to perfection, mash was to die for. My wife had the lamb and thought it was amazing, she hasn't stopped talking about it. Chocolate pudding for dessert was superb, thank God the restaurant wasn't packed so no-one saw us sopping up the chocolate with our fingers!

Jun 01, 2010 

3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  1     

My Partner and I ate dinner here on a sunday evening. The restaurant was empty except for the two of us, a waitress and two chefs in the kitchen and we were seated in a corner near the front door.

The food was poor to say the least. My partner and I shared the seafood tasting plate as a starter. All of the little seafood dishes were drowning in sauce. (exception oyster shooter). As a main I had Lamb, drowning in hollandaise sauce, its all that you could taste. My partner had pork belly, the portion was tiny and consisted mostly of fat. Dessert was better but only just.

Overall I was very disappointed and after paying $180 for two people its extremely over priced. The only good thing about this restaurant is the warm bread roll.

Response from Management:
To say that the components of the Seafood Tasting Plate were ‘drowning in sauce’ is ludicrous since the two items that are accompanied by sauce i.e. the tuna and the scallops are served in ramekins that hold no more than 15ml of liquid once the tuna or scallops have been placed inside. The lamb dish is accompanied by a tablespoon of hollandaise sauce.

At no time during your evening did you make mention that you were unsatisfied with the meals that you had ordered. Had you mentioned something we would have had an opportunity to do something about it to ensure that you enjoyed your dining experience with us. I really have to question your motivation in leaving this review especially in light of the fact that you left a generous tip.

Apr 27, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Top class food. I had the lamb dish and my wife had the steak. Both were very tender and yummy. Nice outdoor area with water features and overlooking the vineyard. Service was excellent. Will definitely come back.

Mar 13, 2010 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I'm absolutely baffled at the absurdity of some of the reviews and low level of appreciation for an excellent Hunter Valley Restaurant such as this one. Having been here five times over the last couple of years I have only ever partaken in the best meals I have ever had in the Hunter Valley! This visit was not unlike the previous four absolutely divine seafood sample plate with the whiff of the ocean.

Duck pate that would put the French charcuterists to shame! Local Barrington Beef fillet cooked to perfection (medium-rare of course) delicate salmon with Asian flavours. And the best part service! Always friendly totally knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients complimentary amuse bouche to begin handmade chocolates at the conclusion of the meal wine that is produced from the grapes you gaze over directly in front of you.

Passionate foodies as my wife and I appreciate the talents of this restaurant I can only suppose you can't teach a person how to respect quality when they obviously don't know what it is!

Feb 23, 2010 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

Chose this restaurant for a lunch on a Saturday, and was met with great disappointment. The restaurant was not busy but we were placed in the corner of the restaurant opposite the toilet door. We had that many flies congregating on the windows next to us that we killed our serviette while killing them. My oysters as an entree were ok but warm which I do not like.

I ordered the chicken as the main and it came out raw. After pointing this out and clearly seeing the demarcation line of cooked vs raw chicken to the waitress, the reply was 'oh, sorry about that'. No explanation, no offer of another dish, no refund etc. So at $160 for two people for lunch I would say, never, ever again and I'm quite happy to tell all my friends, family and work colleagues about this disgusting place.

Feb 14, 2010 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  9     

Shared the curry goat pie as a starter which was absolutely beautiful pie. The curry taste wasn't too overpowering and the goat was prepared well. Pastry was really good too. Definitely went well with the green lentils and mint yoghurt.

Then I had the fillet of beef wrapped in bacon while my friend had the lamb loin fillet. Both dishes were stunning. The only criticism we could make was that the peas in the lamb dish were a little on the mushy side. We were very happy with the service received. Waiters weren't too intruding and always made sure our glasses had water in them.

The look of the place could do some with a more welcoming feel. Didn't like the bare wooden tables.

Oct 04, 2009 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Came here unexpectedly after meeting a couple at Harrigans who had a booking for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. My wife and I only had a main but it was delish. I had the confit duck and my wife the filo pastry. Very filling.

Jul 29, 2009