|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
User Reviews on Chalio's Thai Restaurant
|
| |
|
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 comments
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Overall |
  
|
Below Average |
 |
Food 2 |
Ambience 6 |
Service 6 |
Value 2 |
|
|
Date Dined: November 2008 (Thursday night).
Price Guide – Average to high (given it is Thai food in the suburbs). Two Entrées and three mains came to $77.50 and this was with no drinks included as we took advantage of BYO. Entrée’s - $7.50+. Mains - $16+. Wine is BYO.
First Impressions – I had made a booking earlier in the day and had already been informed that if I wanted to dine at 6:30 pm I would need to be out by 8 pm. Given it was local (and Thai) I didn’t really have a problem with this and was at least given the option of a later time or could have gone elsewhere if this didn’t suit. Upon walking in we were told that they were booked out and we kindly informed the waitress that we had a booking.
She finally found us in her booking sheet and then reminded us that we will have to be out by 8 pm as they are busy. I found all of this a tad rude, even if the waitress personally wasn’t rude. The interior space is small but the owners appear to have done the best of what they can with the space. As a lot of people are suggesting, the tables are close together but to make the space a commercially viable one for a restaurant I can understand why owners would forgo just a tad on leg room in order to seat a few more heads. Being seated by the window reduced our personal discomfort compared to those who were sat in the middle of the floor.
As I am seated my dining partner and I are impressed with the cutlery, its funny how sometimes such small things can stick in your mind and aid in ones impression of a venue, pity it didn’t last. In General – The menu appears to be full of attractive options and we are also given a specials menu that has a few items that catch our eye. We order swiftly and the waitress graciously pours our wine into our glasses.
Our starter of duck rolls and vegetable spring rolls arrive promptly and thus begin the problems. The duck rolls are basically a much poorer version of peeking duck, which I wasn’t aware was Thai. There is little duck and I have a faint memory of seeing carrot in amongst a green vegetable, which I can only assume was cucumber or shallot. I move onto the spring rolls and things aren’t getting any better.
The spring rolls are obviously not made on site and have a very thick outer layer to get through before you get to the filling. Even cutting through them with a knife takes some effort and once the effort has been made you instantly realise it was not worth the trouble. The filling was largely glass noodles with indeterminable vegetables amongst some sort of spicy sauce that my dining partner complains about.
Our first main arrives of prawns and asparagus and for $23.50 I am instantly disappointed in the number of prawns on the plate (five!). We asked them to hold off on the mushrooms and for this they seemed to just add more asparagus, leading to a dish that was a sea of green asparagus end stubs (2 stalk heads only) with a prawn thrown in here and there. The taste was okay at best and had no real discernable appeal.
Now things started to get really bad with the arrival of our two other mains, the Garlic and Pepper beef and the pork bellie (that is how it was spelt on the menu!). The beef had a rather odd taste to it to which my company says made her gag and likens it to the taste meat gets when it has freezer burns! While I try the dish gag free, the colour of the meat does suggest something is not quite right. I am not saying the meat was off but I’d be surprised if it was brought that day and not frozen at some point.
I quickly move onto the pork belly but before I have even put it in my mouth I can see a problem. The pork has been sliced very thin and has been cooked to the point of a crunch in the meat, honestly it is one of the most disappointing dishes I have ever had at any Asian restaurant and instantly puts me off my meal entirely. The sauce it is covered in also lacks any true definitive flavour or bite from the chilli it supposedly possesses.
Our waitress then clears our table and asks if I want to take the remaining pork dish home and the answer was a very quick and simple “No thanks!” We are asked if we want dessert or tea and coffee and when we decline are instantly given the bill as it is about 5 minutes to 8 pm. I couldn’t even bring myself to tip even a dollar after food like that and we pay in exact change for one of the first times I can remember.
What impressed and what didn’t: Not a lot impressed, the staff were fine and seemed attentive, then again I wonder if this was just to ensure we were out on time! The ambience was fine and décor also brings no complaints. Simple but pleasant with a few classy touches such as the nice cutlery and table wear.
However, none of this excuses the fact that the food was simply terrible. Not one of the five dishes we tried impressed or even met average expectations of Thai food. None gave me the impression that the other dishes may be better so as to warrant any concept of returning.
Upon reflection: I wish I had gone to our other local Thai restaurant which is not only cheaper but up amongst the best Thai food I have ever tried. Shame on me for venturing off to a competing venue with the hope of similar quality! Would I return: Never
Suitable For: Proving me wrong that it’s hard to do Thai food badly, as it turns out you certainly can! Rating Category: Casual to Smart Casual dining. Score in this Category: 2/10
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
TheRestaurantGuy -
See my reviews 3 , 29 November 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
|
| |
|
| Overall |
|
Below Average |
|
Food 2 |
Ambience 4 |
Service 8 |
Value 5 |
|
|
|
We went on a busy night and the place was packed. The food was terrible! Pad Thai Noodles a gluey mess, the fish smelt fishy and the other dishes very average. Will definitely not return!
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
send2sue -
See my reviews 1, 11 September 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
Highly Recommended |
|
Food 9 |
Ambience 8 |
Service 9 |
Value 8 |
|
|
|
Went here a couple of weeks ago and I've got to say this was the nicest Thai food I've eaten in a long time. Certainly the best in the area. The seafood curry was divine. Service was attentive and we ate early so noise didn't seem to be a problem. Best restaurant in Beecroft.
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
Gypsygrrl -
See my reviews 2, 12 August 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
Below Average |
|
Food 4 |
Ambience 4 |
Service 4 |
Value 3 |
|
|
|
Small busy Thai, very expensive compared to other great Thai restaurants in the area. Average tasting food, very noisy and tables too close together.
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
fugg -
See my reviews 1, 10 July 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
Highly Recommended |
|
Food 9 |
Ambience 7 |
Service 9 |
Value 9 |
|
|
|
Busy Friday night at Chalio's. Warm welcome at door, prompt service, excellent food, good value, a bit noisy later. Great addition to Beecroft's restaurants, will certainly return.
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
Valdam -
See my reviews 5, 28 June 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
|
| |
|
| Overall |
|
Highly Recommended |
|
Food 9 |
Ambience 7 |
Service 9 |
Value 9 |
|
|
|
Great food, full of flavours great presentation and good service. The grilled snapper in banana leaf was excellent and so was the chicken green curry. The only draw back is the tables too close to each other and gets quiet noisy in peak hours but we will be back because the food is very good.*****
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
spices59 -
See my reviews 2, 02 June 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
|
Highly Recommended |
|
Food 9 |
Ambience 7 |
Service 9 |
Value 8 |
|
|
|
This is my favourite restaurant currently in Beecroft. The food is fabulous. I love the Banana Flower and then again also the mouth watering Lamb Cutlets. Actually I have really enjoyed every dish I have tried (8 mains so far). I have been back 3 times now and will certainly be back again. The wait staff are absolutely lovely and nothing is a trouble. I do agree it is quite loud when the restaurant is full (it is a small restaurant). I don't mind the tables being close together. I have not been bumped into yet!
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
katatwork -
See my reviews 1, 21 May 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
|
| |
|
| Overall |
|
Recommended |
|
Food 5 |
Ambience 7 |
Service 9 |
Value 8 |
|
|
Has appeared at the site previously occupied by Chulio's (note the almost identical name!). Entrees are not much different from the hundreds of other Thai establishments round Sydney unfortunately, they have little flavour. Mains are a little bit better, but still need a little bit of work!
Tables are close together so is noisy when full. Excellent lighting so you can easily read the menu as well as seeing what you eat. BYO is a major advantage.
|
| |
|
Was this review helpful?
|
|
| |
|
rockindoc -
See my reviews 92, 19 April 2008
|
Manage this Listing to respond
|
|
|
|
|
Special OffersRegisterTell a FriendAdvertiseRestaurateursLogin
Hi, Anonymous
Favourites
Map
Weather
Tell Friends
Print
Add to your list
