High St Bistro

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Since my first review of this venue in January 2012 when I brought my husband to the restaurant for dinner and we had such a great evening, We have gone onto use the restaurant for a family function and tonight we had the opportunity to have the most of the restaurant for a 21st - Jeff and Xanthe as well as all the front of house and kitchen staff could not have been better, a great night had by all.

Thank you again for making it such an easy event. This is one of the best local restaurants in the area. Thank you from all in the family, our menu was a hit with everyone and allowed good choices for even the pickiest of diner, the wines were fantastic and the service was attentive, nothing was too much trouble. We will be back.

I, however, would like to maintain my original review so it follows. We shouldn't tell anyone about this great local restaurant, then we could have it all to ourselves. The menu is beautifully balanced to allow for the pickiest of diners to find something they will love, serving sizes are great to allow someone like me to have three courses and not feel like a blimp. After being here now several times I am constantly plotting to find an excuse to go back, Thank you to both front of house and the magicians in the kitchen.

May 12, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

We ate here a couple of weeks ago and the food and service was amazing. We had vouchers and were pleasantly surprised with the service (previous experience at other restaurants with vouchers has always been hit and miss).

The food was amazing, the zucchini flowers were the best I have ever had. We have already planned another lunch here, definitely recommend.

May 07, 2012 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

The first time I came here in march and the lunch was beautiful, but today everything was atrocious, our orders took ages then one of them didn't even come out even after asking where it was twice, I wouldn't go back in a hurry.

Apr 28, 2012 

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  2     

We were a table of four for dinner last night. When we first arrived we found the senior staff to be full of his own importance and not friendly.

The fish cooked in a bag was dry and not enough sauce. The zucchini flowers were hot but tough as if they had been reheated or been sitting for awhile. We didn't mind the $10 corkage but what really upset us was no-one poured our wine. In fact we found the service very second rate. We only saw the wait staff when they delivered our meals and still they did not pour our wine.

As we got to the door our friends realised they left their bottle of wine that only had 1 glass taken out of it behind and we saw the waiter walking to the kitchen with it on a tray. As they went back in to ask for their wine - they weren't even asked if they wanted to take their bottle with them.

Even though HSB is a convenient place for us to come and eat we will not be going back and I will not be recommending you to any of my friends.

Apr 05, 2012 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Thanks for a lovely night out. My husband and I treated our teenagers to a night out at High Street Bistro.

We had dinner vouchers, About $50 for 2 x 3 course dinners. Although some restaurants seem to treat you as a second class citizen when you present a voucher, I found High Street Bistro went out of their way to impress us.

Initially there was a problem with our booking, but the staff quickly found us a table anyhow, despite being a busy Saturday night. We ordered Zucchini flowers and Gnocchi for entree. Both delicious and the Gnocchi surprisingly generous for an entree.

Fish in a Bag and Lamb Backstraps for mains. Lamb, melt in your mouth. Fish delicious also, but sadly undercooked. Again, quickly rectified. Dessert, chocolate Pudding and Brulee, both lovely.

The food all tasted great and beautifully presented. Although, with teenagers in tow, it seemed the menu could do with a few 'simple' meals, in order to please a younger palate!

Ambience nice, decor lovely and service friendly and relaxed. Better than cafe standard you get at a lot of so called restaurants, but being a bit old-school, would have been nice to have the full service, napkins on laps etc.

All in all, nicely done and will be back.

Mar 17, 2012 

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  6     

We live near to HSB so we have eaten there several times, having been regulars at its predecessor, Maitre Karl.

What prompts us to write a review is the standard of service now provided by HSB, for the service is driving us away.

The manager or maitre d' is a man who seems to consider himself a service "pro", but who actually comes across as self-important.

On our most recent visit for dinner we were a table of 4. We had entrees, mains, desserts, drinks and coffee. At 11pm, we were one of 2 remaining tables at HSB when the manager ostentatiously pushed open the front door and put our bills on our tables.

Both tables continued speaking and paid their bills, ours with an above-average tip. Shortly thereafter, the manager came and stood between the tables and said in a loud voice, "Ok. Goodbye! See you another time."

Now, if they have licensing constraints or something else pressing, then we might understand a polite, quiet explanation of this. But to push us out without so much as a "sorry, but" - that's just crass.

For the other servers we've had a dark-haired waitress and a fair-haired waitress.

The food is good. We had good salmon and a good dessert on this last occasion. The sardine entree is very good. Unfortunately, the stuffed zucchini flower entree ($21) arrived with only 2 zucchini flowers, each the size of a grape. That's not good.

The general ambience is good - much the same as Maitre Karl - nice for a neighbourhood cafe.

This was a very convenient place for us to have regular nights out - we are sorry the servers now cause us embarrassment when we invite friends.

Mar 13, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  7     

Recently, my wife and I visited High Street Bistro in Willoughby on a miserable rainy day for lunch. How pleased we are we did! The entrees were memorable, the mains a gourmet's delight, and the desserts an experience that deserves to be repeated. The food was equalled only by Mine Host who was obviously intent upon ensuring that our lunch was to be a 100% enjoyable experience. (Thank you!)

Mar 07, 2012 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  8     

After making a booking a few days prior the 2 of us arrived @ 7pm on tuesday night, restuarant was quite empty at this point but we were seated in a tight corner on the outside part next to a family with a small child. This was bad planning on the waiters part.

Apart from this the service was very good for us, although after the family left next to us the table was not cleared of dirty dishes for about half an hour which did not add to the ambience of a pleasant dining experience. In a cafe ok - but not a dinner restaurant.

The food was excellent and came just at the pace. The waiters were knowledgeable and polite, we both did feel the ambience lacked that of a bistro. perhaps some music or we may have felt different if we were seated inside the restaurant. We will definitely return based on the food and service.

Sep 28, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  8      Value  3     

The restaurant is not geared up for lunch. All the previous owner's lighter lunch choices seem to have vanished, there are no pizzas, salads, quiches, sandwiches. The remaining choices are more suitable for dinner. The restaurant has also lost its warmth. Fortunately, some of the waiters have been retained, a saving grace in an otherwise disappointing visit.

Sep 25, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Visited on a recent Winter Saturday night. Place was full and buzzing. Great atmosphere - the room itself looks fab- they've done a really nice job on the decor. Food was fantastic - the yamba prawns were so good, and my duck main was rich and beautiful! And, the grand finale...The blanc mange for dessert was amazing! All in all, a nice step-up form the usual neighbourhood dining experience.

Jul 17, 2011