Cafe Parlo

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

After getting two movie meal tickets for Christmas my Husband and I and our 2 children decided to try this Cafe. We are locals to the Cronulla area and have tried most Cafes but this was our first time to this one and we were excited to try it.

Before our movie I went to check out the Menu and see how the movie deal worked. The uninterested young girl at the Counter looked annoyed I'd interrupted her even though there was Nobody in the whole Cafe. She showed me the movie meal selection which consisted on 5 not very appealing dishes but she assured me I could order off the actual Menu and pay whatever the difference was. This sounded good so we saw the movie and returned for lunch.

My husband was happy to order something off the movie meal menu and we were ordering lots of lunch and drinks for the kids too. I mentioned to the lady that I'd rather have a salad from the cafe menu and she said sorry but you can only order off the meal deal one. I said I was happy to pay the difference as there was nothing on that menu I could actually eat. She said too bad that was the only option.

The service was very unpleasant and rude so we just went somewhere else and had a lovely lunch with the family at a friendlier cafe.

Jan 09, 2012 

1.5 Not Recommended

Ambience  2      Service  1     

I can't really comment on the food, as it never made it to my table. They left the table uncleaned, forgot to bring water despite asking for it. But strangely some other tables were receiving adequate service. My coffee came in the wrong size, when I enquired, the waitress brought the soy milk carton to show me. I did not understand why. Then she asked me if I was sure I wanted a large soy cap? We waited and waited for our food but realised people who just arrived had the works brought to their table.

I don't believe in making a scene, so politely approached the counter to cancel our food order after waiting for ages. No sympathy or apology, but made me pay $2 surcharge to pay for my coffee with my card. I could have withdrawn money if I only knew that I would not have had the opportunity to pay for my food. Overall, disappointing.

Dec 26, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  3     

On entering the cafe we were told we couldn't sit where we wanted in case a larger group wanted the table even though the only other table was in a direct fraught on a cold day and we had a baby with us and said we were only going to be quick. Then we got attitude when we asked for a high chair which when we got was dirty.

The table cloth (paper) was dirty and hadn't been replaced from the previous people. We stuck it out and ordered breakfast. The vanilla milkshake tasted off so I didn't drink that. One person ordered poached eggs but got fried eggs so they corrected the order but the eggs were hard like hard boiled! So we asked for them to be replaced but when it came back the bacon was stone cold. The dish looked totally unappetizing no garnish no butter for the toast.

We gave up at that point. The whole experience was disappointing. On paying they didn't take American Express when we commented on our disappointment with our experience the lady smirked, real attitude and said we were lucky some places didn't take cards at all. We told her about the food and she continued to smirk turned around and started talking to one of the other staff members with our receipt in her hand leaving us to wait until she finished her conversation!

Disappointing presentation of food, disappointing quality of food, disappointing service and attitude to boot.

Oct 24, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  7     

After reading these reviews I even checked to make sure I have the same place, I have been having coffee at Parlo and recently just started eating there. Obviously under new management, the new staff are always friendly, I have been going during the day time and although sometimes busy they always seem to get to me straight away, they always remember my coffee orders which always makes me smile. I really enjoy the look of the place.

Jul 06, 2010 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Came here yesterday for Sunday lunch and they were reasonably busy, but not packed out. We found a seat inside and waited 20 minutes without anyone coming anywhere near our table. We tried to catch the eye a number of wait staff to get a menu but all were too busy standing around the counter talking.

To top it off another table of 6 came in and were given menus and service immediately, so we walked out. Almost every table appeared to be waiting for food and service in the inside seating area and very little food was coming out of the kitchen. Don't go there if you expect to get served. There are plenty of other cafes in Cronulla to choose from.

May 17, 2010 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

This cafe was awful. I would never return. They advertised 'coffee and cake special' for $7. When I enquired, I was told by the waitress, "we don't have cake, we have a dessert menu'. Everything on the dessert menu stated at $10. When my 'lemon and lime tart with a dollop of cream' arrived, it was frozen solid and did not have any cream. When I told the waitress that my tart was frozen solid, she said nothing and ignored my comment.

When I went to pay for my coffee and dessert I enquired about the coffee and cake special. The waitress told me that if I wanted the coffee and cake special, then I had to have ordered from the cake menu/display. I was annoyed as I had asked when I arrived at the cafe and told that they only had their dessert menu. I felt that I had been deliberately deceived and ripped off.

May 09, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  6      Value  6     

This was definitely one of the best cafes in Cronulla, but after a change of management this place has definitely gone down hill. It has gone from above average to mediocre. The 'homemade' hashbrown has been replaced with a out of the packet frozen one, the scambled eggs are orange and the smoothies are no longer worth paying for. It also wasn't pleasant sharing my meal with many flies.
This place was great and the service is still nice, but please bring back the original food that made this place different to all the other cafes in Cronulla!

Mar 22, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Had lunch on a Monday with my 8 month pregnant wife as I'm on holidays for the week. We shared the mezze plate and then shared the Parlo burger.

The food was quite good, mezze plates always look smaller than they are and by the time we'd finished it we were quite full. It included very nice salt and pepper squid and prawns among other things. The burger was quite nice, as good as a burger can be I guess.

The service was extremely friendly with some very nice, genuine, helpful wait staff. No complaints, so we'll be back.

Aug 24, 2009 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

I have dined at the cafe on and off, however, of late I have been drawn back again. The food as ever is great and I have never had a bad meal. The service is where I am seeing a great improvement. Staff are extremely attentive and this has meant the experience has been really good.

Last week I took a local client there for lunch and we started with the tasting plate and ended with the steaks. The atmosphere was good and you can talk easily. My client was happy, so was I. I'll be back.

Jun 17, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Have to say just moved into the area, tried the tasting plate with a girlfriend and found it to be really delicious great service, comfy settings all around I'll be back.

Jun 16, 2009