Cottage Point Inn

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7     

Whenever I have overseas visitors or clients in town, I make sure I take them here. It's better than harbour views because it's so relaxing and magical to people who are not familiar with Sydney. Too often the harbour restaurants cause you to feel like a tourist even when you're not, whereas this place evokes a wonderful feeling of intimacy.

The waitstaff are a great bunch and what I like about the food is it's creative, not just the same formula too often trotted out around Sydney. Their choice of wines is second to none also, doesn't matter what I've had, it's always delighted my companions.

Dec 01, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

I recently dined at Cottage Point with some friends from the US. We caught the ferry from Palm Beach which was a charming Picturesque way to get there. What a special place, great food and service, we would have stayed longer if we could have. Next time our friends return we'll book the apartments and make a weekend of it. Go there treat yourself.

Nov 24, 2011 

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  3     

I was not particularly impressed by my dining experience. It is not that I have a single significant complaint, rather a string of moments that detract from the pleasure of eating. For example, we were served by multiple waiters, who were equally inattentive. The waiter interrupted the conversation in an intrusive manner, once when wiping crumbs off the table, then again by presenting the wine menu by shoving it under my elbow.

Staff pestered us on 3 separate occasions to take plates away, when we were clearly mid-course. I asked the sommelier the character of a French white wine variety I was not familiar with, the response was "it's like sauvignon blanc...but stronger", with no mention of flavour, balance, length or if it would match well with what I had ordered.

The sommelier would present the bottle for inspection, then recite the variety and vintage as it was poured. Inspecting the bottle allows you to identify it as the one you ordered, however, I was left wondering why the wine was also formally introduced to you as though meeting royalty.

The mains was entree size...literally. My dining partner voiced her dismay to the waiter over the small portion. The portion was in fact entree size. An oversight which was apologised for. The rather amateurish and disappointing experience was, however, juxtaposed by the million dollar view. Unfortunately, however, the view did not distract me from the parochial experience and fine-dining prices.

Nov 20, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

Good lord. Cottage Point Inn is one our favourite restaurants in Sydney. Look at all these voucher people complaining, it really looks as if they are a double edged sword. I must say, we did eat here on an afternoon where it was full of voucher customers and I was a bit miffed that we, as regular and loyal Cottage Point visitors, ate pretty much the same food as the others, but paid twice the price.

The portions looked the same size and, naturally, the quality was identical. And I didn't notice any difference with the service we got and the voucher customers (I have availed myself of at least 20 voucher deals, so please don't accuse me of being anti-voucher). All I'm saying is that businesses need to weigh up carefully the pros and cons of voucher deals, by the look of these reviews they seem to attract the more "touchy" and "particular" customer, who, perhaps, aren't used to fine dining.

All I can say is, that having eaten here on at least 10 occasions (and stayed the night at their accommodation), I have never been able to fault the service to either our table or any other I have seen being served. The setting is beyond parallel and the food is always excellent.

Oct 30, 2011 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  5     

Agree with most of the recent reviews. Cottage Point Inn has a lot of potential to shine, but is ruined by its awful, pretentious service which leaves a foul taste in your mouth and straight away spoils any romantic/happy occasion. We came with a voucher. As soon as we mentioned it, we were treated like uninvited guests and service was very cold.

The waiter was snappy, demanding to see our credit card. To make you feel even more cheap, they provide you with a laminated A4 paper as the menu and quickly remove the elegant menu from your hands ("Everyone look at them, they are using one of our deals!"). I don't understand why they offer promotions if they pooh-pooh people who use them and make them feel cheap.

This is such a shame as the location is intimate and romantic. The cottage is hidden, secluded and has gorgeous water views. Quite perfect. However, service really lets them down. I cannot emphasize this enough. If they were friendlier, I would recommend them. However, rude service is unacceptable. If you don't want to risk ruining a special occasion, don't go there. I am a frequent business traveler and dine out very often... in terms of service, this is one of the poorest.

Sep 29, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

This place is heaven on a stick, feels like going on holiday for the day, what a sublime setting, everything about this place is gorgeous, we had a delightful lunch, beautiful matched wine with very helpful service from the sommelier if we didnt have to get home to the kids we wouldve booked in for the night. We will definitely be bringing our friends to this lovely hidden away gem.

Sep 29, 2011 

5.8 Average

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  1      Value  5     

Food was very nice. The salmon and the souffle were great. Value was good only because we came with a voucher. Otherwise, the food is definitely on the pricier side.

Sadly the service was just plain rude. Once I mentioned that we had come with a voucher (not printed, but still available in full view on my iPhone) and that we had arrived via ferry, the waiter promptly stormed off complaining that we hadn't informed him we arrived via ferry and we hadn't brought a printout. He also referenced the printout Again. Absolutely unbelievably rude and almost ruined what was meant to be a special day.

Firstly: What is available on a printout of the voucher that is not available on the electronic screen of an iPhone and why can there not be a simple workaround for it?

Second: What difference does it make if I arrive via ferry? Nothing on the website or the terms and conditions state that I need to inform the restaurant of my method of arrival. I understand we need to be out of there in two hours, so how about politely informing me of that fact, if I miss the ferry, it's my fault for taking too long to eat my meal.

Overall, the manner in which we were treated was rude and cold. This is one voucher where they've absolutely destroyed the value associated with any future visit as well as any residual marketing value they might have received from recommendations to friends.

Sharpen up your attitude, be more adaptable to customers who haven't brought a printout (I have never been asked for a printout at any other business which I've bought a voucher from, showing the code has always sufficed), don't storm off raging at the slightest sight of the unexpected.

You've left one customer extremely unsatisfied. Judging by some of the reviews below, I wouldn't be the only one.

Sep 27, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  1     

The staff are very cold and detached. And the value of the meals could be compared to highway robbery. A tiny piece of bread for some starters was $3 each. My goodness...and the servings were of course, small, with bits of fluff like a stem of coriander and a few swirls of sauces here and there and ta-da...you pay close to an arm and a leg for a main. Wouldn't bother going out of my way to have dinner here. You'll be sorely disappointed.

Sep 23, 2011 

4.8 Average

Food  8      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  8     

We had a Spreets voucher deal for dinner which meant that the value was very good and the meal was fine. Sadly the attitude of the staff (at least 3 different people) was not overly friendly once you mentioned the 'coupon deal.

I thought the purpose of a voucher would be to promote the business so you would want to come back another time. You would imagine one should be treated the same as guests that do not come with a voucher. Sadly this is not the case so if you have a voucher don't expect to be treated the same as the other customers. We will not be going back.

However, we were not given a choice about where to sit and were seated at the far back away from the other diners and the heaters. It would have been nice to have been asked as there were plenty of empty tables.

Sep 12, 2011 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Terrible service, on a busy day you"ll be waiting hours, to the indifference of the staff. And their speciality is losing your order all together.

Jul 31, 2011