Elena's kitchen

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

We had a perfect experience at Elenas Kitchen on a Saturday night, the place was hard to find but thank the Lord we found it. The service was by far outstanding the ambience was great but not perfect due to location but the food was someting else.

We were a party of 8 people and I will take my hat to the chefs because the food was superb its heaven under the sea so to speak. The seafood platter and those salt and pepper prawns and the grilled octopus was excellent cooked to a perfection.

As for value I tell you what, nothing comes close and the lamb souvlaki was so tender yiam yiam. I don't know what the previous reviewer talking about surely nobody fries octopus as I have a background cooking knowledge. I suggest everyone to go and try Elenas kitchen for themselves.

Well done and thank you all for your hospitality and we will be back very soon .

Oct 07, 2011 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

After seeing the cost of the seafood platters I was expecting fresh, tasty quality seafood and not the oily morsels we were served. The prawns were not fresh but had been frozen, floured and fried. They were tasteless. The salt and pepper squid was so very spicy it was barely edible. 2 fresh oysters each, fried calamari rings, fried fish pieces and fried octopus served with french fries was the rest of the platter. Much too oily.

I was embarrassed that we had invited others to come with us. No tablecloths, more like a cafe than a restaurant, but charging restaurant prices. We certainly would have had better value for our money if we had gone elsewhere.

Sep 25, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  7     

I booked for dinner at Elena's Kitchen after reading some good reviews on Eatability.com.au. My expectations were moderate, as I knew the restaurant was not in an ideal location, and I am always a bit skeptical about the reviews I read. Of course the real test is always your own experience.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we did not get the immediate warm greeting I would expect when entering a restaurant. We had to wait a little bit to gain the attention of a waitress, however, we were finally greeted by the senior staff (I think?), who sat us down at a table. I think a good tip for Elena's is that they need to train their staff to at least acknowledge people as soon as they enter the restaurant, even if they are busy with another customer at that point in time. It felt a bit awkward just standing there waiting for someone to acknowledge us.

I guess this initial impression carried through the experience, as the service level was not up to my expectations. For the prices they are charging for their food, Elena's Kitchen really need to pay more attention to servicing their customers appropriately. We were given food menus and began to look over the list. The waitress came back very shortly after and asked if we would like drinks to start, but we had not had a chance to look at the menu yet.

We then realised that there was no drinks menu on our table. We had to then catch the attention of the senior staff and ask for the drinks menu, to which the reply, after a brief glance around the room, was "sorry, they seem to be all taken". But she managed to find one on another table.

By the way, the restaurant was probably only 1/3 full, so I think they definitely need to order some more drinks menus! We ordered our meals and a bottle of house wine. I ordered the Chicken Kiato, after reading good recommendations for it here, and my mate had the Chicken Risotto. My meal was quite good, and I could recommend it to others. Not sure it was as fantastic as others have claimed in their reviews, but to be fair I did have a bit of a cold and so my sense of taste was probably not 100%. My mate said the risotto was a little bland, but ok.

The atmosphere was better than I expected. They have done a reasonable job of the decor, and you don't really notice that you are in a bit of a back alley area. Overall, I think it was quite comfortable.

I think the biggest disappointment of the experience was the lack of service. The restaurant was not busy at all, but there seemed to be a very noticeable lack of available wait staff. I don't expect to be waited on hand and foot, but I think the fact that we sat at our table for about 20 minutes after we had finished our meals, and no-one thought to come and offer us the dessert menu!

In the end we had to get the attention of the senior staff?, who was busily cleaning tables, and ask for the dessert menu. It really should have been offered to us as soon as our plates were collected after our main meal.

My overall impression of Elena's kitchen was, unfortunately, tainted by the lack of service on the night, however, the food was good, and I will probably give them another go. Value for money was probably also a bit tainted by the lack of service. Their prices are not exactly cheap, so they really need to provide service to match. I think you need to attend a restaurant more than once to get a proper impression, as there is always a chance that you attended on one of their off days.

Hopefully the senior staff will read this review and take steps accordingly so that next time I dine at Elena's Kitchen I get the warm greeting and good service that I think is essential to a good dining experience.

Jul 15, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  7     

Its fair to say my partner and I have developed an addiction to Elena's chicken kiato, we haven't tried too much of the menu as we had it the first time we went there and its so good we can't not order it. Though its not cheap you receive a large serving and its full of flavour. Though the location isn't ideal I find the service great, really very friendly.

Feb 17, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I organised a family dinner there about a month ago to try out the food, heard so much about it through friends. The food and service is just tops. I have been there every single Saturday since! I can't get enough of the Kiato's Chicken (think thats how its spelt) their other meals are great as well but the chicken is too good! Its so children friendly as well because of the outside area so feels like the kids aren't even there and us adults can enjoy our dinner and chats! If you're looking for real quality in food its a must try! Thire dishes are amazing and big servings. Cheers guys.

Jul 08, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Last night I been there with my friends. Food was fantastic. Specially pizza was great. Octopus salad, lamb souvlaki very good.

Jun 02, 2010 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

Was pretty busy but I shouldn't have to wait an hour and more for food and be only tended on once (when they took our order) food was ok but the pizzas crust was burnt and it left an insepid flavour in my mouth all night and they did offer to redo it but we had to get the kids home. I will give them another go as some of the dishes I saw going out to the other diners looked good but tonight was a real fizzer for me.

Mar 08, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  9      Value  7     

After reading the other reviews, was really looking forward to trying this restaurant. I must say I was disappointed. Kids had pizza, which they enjoyed. I had chicken schnitzel with wild mushroom sauce. The chicken was nice, but the sauce was gravox with a couple of mushrooms tossed in! My husband had spaghetti with prawns and scallops, which was not great, but not fantastic either. The food was better than a club bistro, but you paid accordingly. Give it a try, but don't expect anything exceptional.

Dec 15, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

Had dinner at this cafe last week and it was amazing. Not only was it affordable, it is one of the best cafes I've been to in the area. It's unfortunate that it is hidden behind a building, but at least there's a car park underneath it so you don't have to fight for a car space with westfield shoppers.

The food was amazing! Loved the chicken souvlaki. I've been trying to find a place that makes it really authentic and this place does it! The service is fantastic! Always paying great attention to your needs. Definitely will be back and will definitely recommend it to friends!

Oct 13, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Food was very delicious when I been there with my friends on my birthday party we enjoy alot.

Oct 12, 2009