Epoque Belgian Beer Cafe

3.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  3     

Went for dinner, it was extremely noisy as drunken men (3) were making so much noise that we couldn't hear each other talking. The ambience is anything but a belgian ambience. The service is not the best as not very welcoming, waiter don't even say goodbye and don't open the door as they would do in Belgium being so refined. The food was good but I would not go back for dinner.

Nov 04, 2011 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  1     

Over priced, food quality is very disappointing. Has definitely gone down hill in the last 6 months. Won't be coming back.

Oct 09, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I went to Epoque with a friend and we had mussels/fries/aioli, 2 beers/ciders each and shared a waffle for dessert. The mussels were lovely and there are a number of variations to choose from. I had my mussels in vegetable broth and my friend had hers in blue-cheese and both were great. The fries were crunchy Belgium delights and the aioli was nice and dense. The waffles were fresh and the chocolate sauce was ok but a darker chocolate than what I would have preferred.

Because we were sitting in the elevated area we didn’t get a lot of attention from the first waitress. When she wandered up she didn’t check on us so we waited a long time to order the second beer. When the second waitress was allocated to our area she was terrific, knew the food and beer menu inside out, and resolved requests with speed and a smile (young English girl with auburn hair, try and sit in her section). For 2 the bill came to $75 (because it was Wednesday).

Sep 01, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  3     

Visited the Restaurant for Sunday lunch. We (two of us) entered the restaurant at about 1230. We were the first customers for the day, the restaurant was empty. The ambience of the place, even when empty, shows a lot of potential, and they are famous for their beers, but I did not have a good feeling regarding their food output (otherwise their restaurant should have been packed).

Anyway, we ordered a pot of mussels ($28.50) between us for entree, and we both ordered the Porterhouse Steak, medium rare, with chips and salad for mains ($30.50). Both the mussels and the Porterhouse steaks are advertised as house specialities!

The mussel pot arrived with chips and mayo, and we lifted the lid of the pot with great anticipation only to be repulsed by the pungent smell. We bravely ate a few but could not go on so I called the waiter and asked him to have a smell. He explained that there was nothing wrong with the mussels, the reason why they had such a pungent smell was because mussels smelled and tasted like that during spawning season.

However, he accepted the fact that we could not possibly stomach them and took them back and wiped them off our bill. Then the Porterhouse steaks arrived, big plate, lots of chips, medium size piece of meat (certainly not porterhouse steak) well to very well done.

We expected a medium rare juicy piece of meat but instead received an overcooked dry piece of tasteless meat. The chips were ok and the salad was all right, so we ate them. We were of course tremendously disappointed, however, we did not complain again.

The only thing that saved the day was the beer. The total bill for 4 beers (two each) an unedible entree and two less than mediocre steaks came to $102.00
Naturally we will never ever visit this place again, but thought it necessary to share our experience with anyone contemplating visiting Epoque. Avoid the food.

Jul 03, 2011 

4.8 Average

Food  1      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  3     

Avoid the food, its not worth the price. The service, beer and ambience is good. 5 chances for food over the last year and all bad. I'm surprised at the difference to the CBD location.

Mar 26, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

This is one of my local favorites, in recent times the food has changed a little for the worse I think but it is still great and the atmosphere and the beers are Awesome. I love this place, especially when finishing work early and going for a beer in the big windows on the road. A little taste of Belgium here in Sydney.

Mar 22, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  6      Value  7     

Shame they don't have a section for Beer rating as this is still the Belgian's greatest contribution to mankind. Steak tartare is always a great complement to a sizeable glass of Duvel, Chimay or Leffe. Service is solid if not stellar however the bar area could be roomier.

Jan 21, 2011 

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  3     

I have long heard about Epoque and was looking forward to a lunch visit, however, was bitterly disappointed. We had salt and pepper calamari and garlic prawns to start, which were nice, but nothing special.

For mains we ordered the mussels provencal and moules mariniere, which were rubbery, small and tasteless. Also 50% of the shells were closed and the waitress insisted they could 'steam' them open, however, it was a bit off-putting. The following Sunday I had mussels at Sydney Fish Markets and the difference was amazing, fresh, tasty and delicious. I won't be visiting Epoque again.

Nov 19, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  7     

We went here on 1/2 price mussel wednesday after two fail attempts at Heritage. Ambience was loud but thats what you would expect with a pub at the front. All in all very hearty food will always come back here as I still haven't sampled all of their beers that have to offer!, for mussel lovers or beer fanatics this is the place to go!.

Oct 18, 2010 

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  3     

We received a different experience from the below reviews, hardly a smile was received from the staff and we wouldn't call the food cheap, quite pricey for what you receive! A bit disappointing but great beers on offer and can't go past the mussels.

Sep 05, 2010