Fresh User Reviews in Newcastle

2.2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Drinks  2      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  3     

I have not been back to the Albion in over 12 months but thought I'd take some friends in for dinner and all I can is I was so disappointed with how it is now. The staff really need to be trained properly the customer service it use to have has gone.

I also felt like even though they are now a craft beer pub that the staff needs to be much nicer to patrons when they are ask for a normal beer n not made to feel like bogans (by the publican also).

The food looks good on paper but you are quite disappointed when you get it. They are trying to be something that they aren't. I hope that the Albion returns to how it was a good 18 months ago because it was really what a family pub should be back then.

May 29, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

I went to the Surfhouse for dinner with my boyfriend I hadn't heard the best things about the Surfhouse's menu value for money and the quality of meals but I must say that we were very surprised to see that they have changed their menu and the prices seem very reasonable and the food was great. It was a great night and would highly recommend this place to friends and family.

May 29, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  5     

The food is good, however, the service is bad. We were sitting for a while and no one came to serve us. My husband had to go and get the menu. Then, we ordered Vanilla ice cream and 2 hot choc. We thought we had them together. They brought the ice cream first then nothing came next. We waited so long for the hot choc. We were not happy and my husband said we should leave because we were forgotten.

We also saw that people came after us, they had their orders, they finished and left the cafe. Another couple left without paying the bill but waitresses and waiters did not even know about it. We do not know there is a manager at this cafe to manage the service. People go out for dinner because they want to enjoy the food, however, nothing is worse than a bad service.

May 27, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  7     

Lovely spacious but warm atmosphere, good for conversation. We visited last night and had the 4 course degustation. Main took a while to arrive. Food was bursting with different flavors and beautifully presented. Dessert was nothing special though, coconut and chocolate brownie with sauce. Service excellent.

May 13, 2012

5.8 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  5     

Look I loved the atmosphere but was very disappointed with the food. I ordered the waffles to share with my wife and a hot chilli chocolate for myself. The waffles were dry and cold (like they had just been taken out of the fridge and put on the plate). And my chilli hot chocolate was lukewarm and I could barely taste the chilli. So very disappointed.

May 13, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

There are two schools of thought. Do you read the menu first, decide and then pick your wine or do you read the wine list, find an excellent wine and then find a suitable dish to go with it? At Silo you are spoilt for choice because no matter which way you start you still arrive at excellence.

This harbour side restaurant is back to its gastronomic best with Head Chef John Rutherford leading a great team. We were lucky enough to attend a 5-course banquet that allowed the chefs to show their talents. On the day it was chef Hannah Lancey in charge.

The floor staff are wonderful being able to mix knowledge of the dishes with chatting with efficient service. My tricky questions about the food were relayed to the kitchen for an answer. We tasted caramelised yellow fin tuna to seared scallops, chorizo and pea mousse to barramundi with sautéed gnocchi all perfectly matched with white wines.

The arrival of a pinot noir heralded the duck. This was my first taste of duck cooked in the sous vide method and it was so tender. Mushrooms and sticky orange completed this taste sensation. The two meats presented with the Italian styled red were a slow cooked wagyu beef cheek and roast beef.

Unfortunately, I am a bit over braised meats no matter what their pedigree. The roast beef was perfection that sliced beautifully and the light rim of brown complimented the pink centre. The truffled potato foam did have the haunting taste of truffles.

The dessert of salted caramel tart and popcorn ice cream was doubly great due to the absence of any chocolate. The Australian obsession with chocolate often substitutes for quality dessert creations. Not so at Silo.

We chose not to have an “Enhanced Coffee” but it was tempting. The barista did not let the team down and our coffees topped off a gorgeous lunch.

Remember the wine list? Silo’s is a cracker! (Take note Gourmet Wine Traveller). There are 19 wines by the glass and a wide selection of quality wines sourced eclectically from premium wine growing areas. A vintage list is also available. If you happen to enjoy beer with your meals then you will find the beer list is as extensive as the wine list. Cider too. If you enjoy chef prepared food with wines from your own cellar then book on Thursday night and BYO wine.

Newcastle is a busy, working harbour so relax, watch the trawlers, the tugs and the colliers and enjoy one of Newcastle’s real treasures. Silo Restaurant and Lounge.

May 10, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  2     

Meals took too long to be served. My main meal order was processed incorrectly (processed as an entree and not a main), I ordered an entree and a main meal size for the Sizzling Garlic Prawns. They brought out two entrees at differing times (about 30 minutes apart in time), where my mum ate them both, thinking they stuffed the table service. I left with eating no meal, even when I ordered the meals, I had written it down on paper, and gave it to the staff member who was taking the orders. Her attitude was unprofessional and very condescending. I will not go back there.

May 09, 2012

5.5 Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  10      Value  5     

Good Campos coffee. Nice trendy looking cafe. Awesome staff, however, the eggs benny failed in taste dismally. Disappointing as it scores 9/10 in every other facet.

May 06, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  8     

This place was vibrant! The food was amazing. Nicely presented and even nicer to eat. Service was average, I assume they were understaffed. Overall, a lovely experience and would definitely go back again. Oh, and try the BBQ Squid, it's to die for!

May 05, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Another great experience at Longbench, I can't disagree more with some of the older posts? This place constantly gives me great service and outstanding food. Love it and will spread the word. Keep up the good work and hopefully other places follow your example.

Apr 30, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Had a delightful Sunday lunch here. My husband and I shared 4 entrees and a side of greens, all delicious! Service was very warm and friendly, when a dish wasn't available, profuse apologies were made and a very welcome alternative suggested.

Wine list was good. Ambience was lovely, although there were very few patrons on the day we dined. I can imagine it being quite noisy when full? The only small disappointment was dessert, a cake which was hard on the bottom, but even then the main part was delicious, as was the accompanying sauce and icecream. It would have been 10/10 for food otherwise. A lovely meal and lovely staff. We had a very enjoyable lunch.

Apr 28, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

Ate there for something different, and I hadn't eaten Balinese food before. I was not disappointed. The menu was fantastic and I felt I could have eaten anything there and been happy. I went with the Balinese Tapas and the vegetatian Gado Gado.

The service was good. The lady who served us was friendly and welcoming, and helpful to the point of making sure I knew how to eat my meal after I mentioned I had not had Balinese cuisine before (note: don't eat the banana leaf!)

I hope to go back again and try some more things from their superb menu.

Apr 25, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  9     

I'm not sure if the issues that the others had were because they did not order a set menu but we had a great night. The food was value for money and served on a good schedule. The service was adequate but not above average. The ambience was great though.

Apr 11, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

What a find - terrific food and really good service. The place is a but atmosphere-less; ceilings too high and needs a bit of a decorators touch - but the food is why youa re ther and it doesn't disppoint. Can't pronounce it - but the slow cooked lamb was so tasty and so filling.

Apr 03, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

Lovely simple food in a town where there is a gross deficiency of such establishments. As such this place is in heavy demand and as such getting a booking here is probably the biggest challenge! With mains $10 less than the restaurants in the surrounding streets, reasonably priced drinks and yummy rich food, its no wonder. Just hope they can find some bigger premises soon so more people can experience a bright star in the otherwise dull and overpriced inner city dining scene.

Apr 01, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  7      Value  5     

I ate at Twist when it first opened around 2005 and it was amazing. However, I ate there in 2011 and the quality has deteriorated greatly. Hopefully they pick up their game soon.

Mar 31, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  6     

Pretty good coffee. Great service, efficient and friendly.

Food is of good quality but serving sizes are very small for the price. My husband got french toast which consisted of one medium piece of sourdough and a peach for $20, More expensive than the cafes at Bronte Beach in Sydney and half the size. Therefore, recommend for coffee, but go somewhere else for breakfast.

Mar 29, 2012

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  2     

Ate here on a Saturday afternoon with my husband. The only positive were the happy hour drinks.

The food was very average and extremely overpriced. Portions were minuscule. For example Garlic prawns were $16 and we received 5 average sized prawns that were pretty tasteless.

Service was efficient enough, however, an hour after sitting at the table the waitress came and told us we would have to move in 20 minutes as the table was reserved at 6. I feel she should have told us this before sitting there. So many better restaurants in Newcastle that offer delicious tapas. My recommendation, have a happy hour drink and go somewhere else to eat.

Mar 29, 2012

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  1     

Recently celebrated our anniversary at the Surfhouse bar and grill. We ordered the most expensive meals on the menu ($43 ribeye fillet) and they were barely edibile. My wife and I were devastated by how poorly the meal was cooked and served.

Way over-priced food, poor and limited menu and the staff had little clue as to what the menu actually contained. The dining itself was more akin to a bistro and the table and chairs were circa 1987 David Jones cafe. Couldn't recommend on this outing and can only hope they improve in all areas.

Mar 28, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Dropped in to this BYO restaurant without a booking and we were welcomed pleasantly and seated. It's a small restaurant but has a cosy atmosphere. The food consisting 2 mains and 2 desserts was excellent and the service spot on without being intrusive. If you havn't experienced authentic Balinese cuisine, this is the place to start.

Mar 27, 2012