Churinga Cafe Restaurant

1.2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Having just come back from lunch there with a scoopon voucher! It was the worst service I have ever encountered and I work in the industry, we were meet by the chef on entrance, I said I have a table booked, he replied, voucher, then took us tour seats, gave us the piece of paper with the menu on it, a sub class menu for scoopon. He came back took our order, served the wine then served the food, I had the dry salmon with a little veg and cool rice, no sauce no condiments nothing! Nobody came near us for drinks, he came back to clear the plates and didn't even ask if we injured it, surly if they take part in a voucher system they would want the business, I felt we were intruding and not felt welcome at all. I don't believe there chef should be waiting tables cooking ect, one to miss. Really not worth the $32 voucher price, I feel cheated!

Apr 18, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Drinks  7      Ambience  10      Service  10     

My husband and I went for lunch on Saturday 31/3/12, and were greeted with so much warmth by a lovely waitress. We were an hour early with our booking and I asked her if that was alright. She told us not to worry about the timing and took us to our seat and gave us our menu. We didn't wait long for drinks nor food. Food was good, service was amazing and the setting and views beautiful. I would highly recommend this place and am so glad, we went there despite some of the negative reviews. Thanks staff of Churinga esp the waitress who served us. You made our day and we will be back again. Ann

Apr 02, 2012 

2 Not Recommended

Ambience  3      Service  1     

We had the worst service I have ever experienced at this place. We decided to stop for afternoon tea here at 3:15 pm. Nobody attended to us when we entered the place and we just stood around waiting to be seated, even though more than half the restaurant was empty! The waitress was just standing at the cashier (she wasn't attending to anyone else).

When we were finally seated, she didn't give us the menus so I decided to get it myself. There were no smiles, no welcomes. We waited for 10 minutes but no one came by to get our order. When I finally managed to get the waitress’ attention, she was really curt. We ordered a devonshire set and fries.

After waiting for 20 minutes, we were informed there were no more scones. We changed our order to an apple strudel and proceeded to wait another 20 minutes. When the food finally arrived, I asked her why our food took so long when the people who had arrived after us had already gotten theirs.

These were her exact words "You came at the end of a busy day and you have been showing me attitude since you got here". When I told her she had been showing us attitude, she started shouting at us. She said the guys who had arrived after us had made a booking with a Spreets coupon so their food was ready when they arrived (Seriously? Even when they hadn't placed their order? I haven't ever seen a coupon which gives you only one option on a menu and I sure wouldn't want to be eating something that's been prepared and is just sitting around.)

Everyone started staring at us and she just kept saying we were just being rude (because we had to wait 40 minutes for our food and we asked why?).

We decided to put an end to the scene and leave. We had gotten a cup of tea and I wanted to pay for that. When I put the money for the tea at the cashier on my way out she said, pretty rudely - "don't worry about it". We didn't go in there for a free meal or to be treated so terribly.

I have travelled all over Australia and the world and I have never experienced such attitude. If you can't serve with a smile, you shouldn't be in the service industry. This restaurant really doesn't deserve any positive reviews and I would strongly advise everyone to steer clear of the place. Its horrible.

Feb 19, 2012 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Drinks  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

After a lovely day in the Dandenongs we decided to stop by here for some afternoon tea before heading home. What a disappointment. Something must have been amiss here that day. Not a smile to be found. Service was slow, coffee was tepid at best and scones were doughy. Don't think I will be going back here.

Oct 27, 2011 

1.6 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  2      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

Slow service and poor quality food, wouldn't return.

Mar 29, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

Went there for a Sunday afternoon tea. The place was quiet. The service was very slow. I was Ok with that, as these things happen. When I was asked "how was it?" when paying the bill. I politely mentioned the issue with a staff member. The senior staff overheard me and firstly tried imply it was my fault. She then went on to give me a display of arrogance and attitude worthy of faulty towers.

There are plenty of other places to eat up there which understand customer service and will treat you as a paying customer.

Response from Management:
Churinga Closes Between 4 - 4:30 daily and you arrived at about 4:30 , hence the reason we were quiet.

Thank you for your review, I have discussed this with my staff, there was confusion as they didn't realise you were a new customer as we close between 4 - 4:30 and you arrived at about 4:30, most staff had finished and staff that was still there were juniors and they had both assumed that one of the girls that had left for the day had already taken your order as the girls that were still working said they did not seat you.

The time on your order docket said 4:35 and you paid at 4:50, you also received your coffee and scones within 5 minutes of each other, which is a time frame we strive for.
I will admit I did not handle the situation as professionally as you expected but I also did not supply you with any pathetic excuse... just the truth, I never implied at anytime it was your fault I simply asked did one of the girls seat you or did you seat yourself and I was hoping you could tell me which staff member it was that you suggested "wasn't good" and because you said it took too long for you to be served... I left it open for you to respond... and I replied with an honest answer.
Unfortunately the only result is the whole thing ending in this...

Oct 03, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  8     

This place used to be filled on a Sunday lunchtime. This time only handful people, soon found out why. Our coffee was only luke warm. When soup came that also was only just warm. Toast served with it was stone cold. Did not order meal to go with it as looked like they could not heat food or drinks up. Will not go back again.

Response from Management:
In response, Churinga is still packed on a Sunday lunchtime, I can assure you that the soup was the correct temperature as was the coffee which should not be heated past 65 degrees to make the perfect Barista coffee. You sent your coffee back and it was tested, and shown to be the correct temperature, as explained to you when your replacement coffee was made, if you require scolding hot coffee you must ask for it because the milk becomes over heated... and the result will be a bitter coffee because it burns the freshly ground coffee, and we make ours the correct way.
We are sorry that you had an unpleasant experience however we don't over heat our coffee or burn our soup. It sound to me that you like extremely hot things.
You also were there late in the afternoon and Churinga Closes between 4 - 4:30 daily.

Jul 18, 2010 

3.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  4     

Disappointing to say the least. Although the ambience and surroundings are great the food is average and the service about the same. After waiting 50 minutes for our order which was "misplaced " .. not "lost", we were told it has been "found" but when it arrived, my partners was the wrong order. After sending hers back and waiting another 15 minutes it finally arrived with the chips raw.

We were at no time offered a drink while we waited, and were made to feel it was our fault that they lost the order. Once is understandable but to send a dish back 2 times only to have it arrive inedible, something is wrong. When the Manageress asked if "was everything okay" as we paid. When we stated "no" the Managements only concern was that we weren’t local.

Jul 10, 2009 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Just the best place, you have to get their garden is just sublime and the scones and coffee are to die for.

Feb 14, 2009