Boatshed Cafe

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  3     

Disappointing day, we had a mothers' day lunch there, it was windy and our table was stuck directly in the line of a windy cold door, it took about 1/4 hour to encourage the staff to sort this out, they seemed to want us to move the tables.

The front sliding door to the restaurant would not open properly, it kept getting stuck and at one point actually fell off completely with my son and a few other customers trying to put it back. At one point my poor mother was stuck outside in the cold after visiting the toilet, unable to get back inside.

The service was pretty hopeless, there were about 4-5 waitresses, but none of them really seemed to be working, quite content to leave dirty plates and glasses on the table for 1/2 hour between entrees and mains, the restaurant was not even busy when this happened, lots of "standing around" very unprofessional. The girl who seemed to be in charged was the only one really trying to work, it seemed.

Though the orders were taken promptly, the staff had No Idea who had ordered what, so drinks kept being plonked on the table without anyone knowing who had ordered them, and the food also suffered the same fate.

Entrees were Ok, but my mushrooms which were supposed to be baked were raw. My snapper fillets were tough and underseasoned, they were supposed to have a sauce but mine had none. The profiteroles for dessert were sloppy. The salad felt like it had just come out of the refrigerator, and had no dressing.

The best part of the meal was the garlic bread. At least the mothers who were there were at the warmer part of the table and had a better experience. As for the toilet, you have to go outside, then find a ramshackle small toilet (only one for that restaurant? seems odd), directly next to the opening of the kitchen and the coolroom. I wonder if it is all up to Australian standards?

It is a shame, the venue is nice, it is well positioned, but needs attention to detail, better service, better food, and the staff need to be trained to care for the customers. Sadly we could not bring ourselves to leave a tip.

May 16, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

We went last night, whilst not really a place for evening dining, the spot was superb. Service was fast, courteous and attentive. The dishes were well done, served hot, and very very tasty. We going back for lunch with a larger group to take advantage of the vista. Water lapping up underneath the floor, was Divine.

Apr 08, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

We booked this restaurant from Canberra not knowing what to expect. The staff were terrific, we were welcomed like we were part of the family and truly made to feel at home.

Service was great as was the food. Will definitely return and recommend this restaurant to our friends. However, be warned for those who do not know the area give yourself plenty of time to find a parking place.

Jan 07, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

Went to dinner on friday night at the Boatshed, it is now under new management, it was very relaxing sitting on the deck and listening to the ocean, service was great our waitress was very helpful.

We had the oysters, stuffed mushrooms, scallops and salt and pepper calamari for entrees and for mains we had balmain bugs (to die for) and prawn salad. Everyone enjoyed the dinner and we would definitely recommend you try the Boatshed for Lunch/dinner.

Dec 21, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

We have been to the Boatshed a number of times over the years but was pleasantly surprised today when we visited to find it under new management. The place has been freshened up inside and the menu and food were absolutely fantastic. We will definitely be returning asap.

Dec 17, 2011 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Food greasy and of a poor standard. Waitresses appeared dirty and untidy.
Staff reasonably friendly, however, not professional at all. Happy to slop a plate down in front of you.

The worst of all, however, is that the toilet is next to the kitchen where you can see straight in and oh my gosh. That kitchen is soo dirty and the staff working in it are just as bad. I saw a staff member use the toilet then return to make food with her hands after not washing them. Very dirty.

Oct 10, 2011 

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  3     

After a nice 3 hour bush walk with friends around the Cape Banks Circuit in the Botany Bay National Park it was time to treat one of our friends for a birthday lunch. We decided for convenience to check out the Boatshed Café nearby which seemed to have water views from the restaurant balcony section. Keep in mind the restaurant has a more expensive menu than the café located inside and the dishes are served from the same kitchen.

The Garlic Bread ($3.50, 2 pieces) was OK and as expected. Our birthday friend ordered the Prawn cocktail ($13) for nostalgic reasons served in sundae glassware. The prawns seemed decent quality but were cut into small pieces rather than being served traditionally whole and lathered with cocktail sauce on top with a bed of lettuce underneath.

The Prawn cutlets ($20, 5 pieces) were deep fried to a decent crisp although I’m suspecting they were of the frozen variety due to their texture and lack of prawn flavour. Chips were nice enough and of the frozen pack variety. The Deep fried whiting fillets ($24) looked as expected and seemed OK. My Grilled Trout Fillets served with chips and salad ($23) was singular rather than plural but decent sized with basic presentation and I only found a few small bones to contend with.

It was interesting to note all the main course dishes included salad even though it wasn’t listed on the menu so keep in mind in case you’re thinking of ordering a salad as a side. The meals were pleasant enough and the atmosphere fairly relaxing as we settled in to catch up until am unfortunate discovery.

Now, from time to time we all come across something unexpected in a dish or restaurant that can put a real dampener on the dining experience. I’ve had my fair share like a cockroach at A Tavola, inexperienced service and air conditioning problems at Wang Wang Shanghai Silver Star, unfortunate bad service at Bécasse and even some metal in my ramen at Menya Noodle Bar. But no matter what happens a true test of a restaurant is how they respond to a customer complaint.

Unfortunately when our friend discovered a rather large black hair in the middle of his prawn cocktail the Boatshed Café failed terribly. When I called over the young waitress and explained what we’d found she replied with an unemotional dismissive ‘yep’ as if it was normal and casually took it away to the kitchen — no apology, but perhaps she thought it wasn’t her fault and had other things on her mind, like clocking off work — Strike 1.

Two minutes later she returns to say ‘do you want anything else’. Still no apology or empathy and our friends appetite is now somewhat diminished so thanks but no thanks — Strike 2. Ten minutes passes and the head waitress comes to the table to say she’s heard about the dish but was not shown it and apologises for what happened with some sincerity. She later comes to take away finished plates while others are still eating at the table which isn’t the best thing to do.

The final straw, Strike 3, comes when the bill arrives. We notice the prawn cocktail ($12) is still charged but she says she’s managed to not charge us for the 3 soft drinks totally $9, oh, how nice of her, not! I question the charge when paying and she said the chef owner decided that the dish had mostly been eaten so it should be charged. Gee, I wish would we found the hair on top of the dish so we could have brought it to their attention sooner.

OMG! Perhaps we should have been only charged half the amount then since the other half had a hair in it? They obviously don’t realise the full extent of how badly handled this was. I seriously wonder how they would feel if they were served a hair in their dish. Would they expect to be charged for it without a sincere apology and acknowledgment of the circumstance?

Read more on my blog

May 30, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I went to the Boatshed Cafe on Mother's Day. It was the worst experience I have had in a restaurant (if you could call it that!). I know it was a busy day but we had to wait half an hour to be seated and the waitresses were rude and then when we asked if we could order, we were told to wait 20 minutes. When we were waiting to be seated one of the kitchen staff was carrying the food from the kitchen to the counter where we were standing to be taken to a table with an unlit cigarette in her hand.

Our food was disgusting and we were given one refund for the chicken that tasted like it had been cooked the day before then reheated in the microwave, then we couldn't cut it. We went to the toilet as we left the restaurant, which was right next to the kitchen at the back of the restaurant. One of the people in my group witnessed while waiting to go to the toilet, a plate of food being brought back and the waitress said this is a waste of food it hasn't been touched. The cook said it's okay I will give it to the next person. As I was coming out of the toilet a waitress was sweeping the floor while there was food sitting there ready to be taken to the tables.

I rang the restaurant the next day to try to speak to someone in charge which I was told they cannot tell me who is in charge. I told the person I spoke to what had happened. He said he didn't believe me. I asked for a name of someone in charge which I was given a name. The person I spoke to said he wasn't in charge. The next day I rang and asked to speak to the name of the person I was given and it was the same man I spoke to on the previous day. When I said you are the same person I spoke to yesterday and you said you weren't the manager he hung up on me.

I expected to be able to let the person who owns this business know what is happening but instead one of their staff who was supposedly the assistant manager obviously didn't want anyone knowing what is going on there. I should have been told the name of the person in charge and the matter should of been looked into. I will NEVER go back there again and I advise no one else to go there.

May 13, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  3     

Food was disappointing. Staff rude, prices way too high for the sub standard fare served. The only thing going for it is the view.

Jan 08, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Very disappointing in every respect! Shame you can't eat the view as its the only redeeming feature of this pile of wood on the beach. Fish dry with a "I've been frozen and thawed" texture, bad cooked colour, over battered and greasy, food consistent with people who do not know their craft. If you think you can take refuge with a steak, think again, T-Bones are chewy and full of gristle. Guys trim the meat! Police what you buy, show some interest!

General presentation of tables and utensils unclean, check out the kitchen, disgusting and bathroom speaks for itself. Guys this stuff is not cheap, And as you not licensed don't charge patrons to drink out of dirty glass's.

Nov 10, 2010