In Situ

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Brought my best friend here for dinner and we sat right up in the back corner of the garden terrace. It was a lovely, private spot but we were never forgotten by our waitress.

The food was lovely and the cocktails we ordered were superb, although we did order a couple that couldn't be made due to lack of ingredients which was a little disappointing.

Food was lovely, really enjoyed the lamb skewers with mint yoghurt! Our waitress was very accommodating, she helped me organise a surprise candle on my friends dessert and had a very pleasant and bubbly attitude. Thank you for helping me make my friends birthday special.

Apr 05, 2012 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

A great little spot for a drink or dinner. I think the atmosphere is better in the bar area, the restaurant depending on where you are seated can leave you feeling a little out of the action. Food was generally good and the cocktails were made by friendly waiters.

Jan 12, 2012 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  5     

Well, what to say? The food shows signs of promise: salt and pepper squid with lime aioli and lamb both quite well cooked and presented. The ambience is also not bad, laid back and a couple of singer/guitarists helping things along.

The problem is the staff, or at least what appeared to be the senior staff. To be fair, a young bloke and one woman were quite helpful. The trouble is that the waiters don't appear to have assigned tables and if the helpful couple don't get you, the too hip to spit, too cool for school cat in the hep hat and thongs (who I took to be the senior staff) and his mates aren't going to help you any time soon.

Admittedly it was Christmas Eve, but if it's too much trouble to bring a menu, take a drinks order, bring the bill or pick up the payment, you're probably better off not opening. We noticed that the senior staff had time to drink and smoke with people he knew, and at two separate tables seating two women there was no shortage of attention from the male waiters, but the rest of us might as well have been invisible.

Someone has no doubt invested hundreds of thousands in this joint and is flushing it away by employing children to run it as their private hang. Oh and guys, if you want to risk being mistaken for professionals who give a damn, lose the thongs. Real professionals turn up to work in real footwear.

Dec 28, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  2     

Nice food, nice ambience, pity about the terrible service. The waiters here are try hard thong wearing hipsters with attitude. Its all very "yeah man we are just like having this place for all our mates to hang out dude". So irritating. I don't want to see the waiters having a drink and smoke outside when I'm struggling to get their attention and on a very quiet night.

Its not cheap either. When I pay 30 dollars for a main, I want better than this subpar level of service. Needless to say we didn't leave a tip. Disappointing.

Read more on my blog

Dec 24, 2011 

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

The evening senior staff was incredibly rude and arrogant. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. No paying customer should be treated the way myself, and other people I know that have been to this establishment! Food was average, service was terrible. Will never return.

Jul 20, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  3     

Went here on Easter Sunday for a coffee, and considered a snack if it looked nice. We got a table easily enough, but no one wanted to serve us for a long time. Decor was interesting, but there were loads of flies in the place. Cool/ trendy look type place. Coffee was Ok, but no rush to return.

Adding another review because for some crazy reason we returned, I guess hoping for the best. Went back for breakfast on the weekend. We had to wait a really long time for our coffee, and then our breakfast arrived. I only ordered toast as I wasn't after anything huge, but it arrived Cold. And one piece looked like it was straight from the loaf and they couldn't be bothered toasting it. If you're paying $5 for two pieces of toast you expect it to be cooked and preferably warm at least.

On top of that there was a tiny morsel of butter provided on which to spread over my cold bread and no hint of vegemite, jam or anything at all.
Following the cold miserable breakfast we were game enough to order another round of coffees,. I guess to warm us up as the food definitely didn't. 25 minutes we waited for our next round of coffees. Not impressed at all. Save your money, go elsewhere. Anywhere but here!

Jul 18, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  2     

I'm a manly local and was meant to go out for a nice romantic meal with my boyfriend. When we arrived the atmosphere was great. It took a couple of minutes for us to be shown to our table. We were seated beside the smokers corner and a heater which was way too high and literally burning our skin so we took it upon ourselves to change tables. The waitress acknowledged that that was okay and it took around 10-15 minutes for our drinks order to be taken, and another 15 minutes for them to arrive!

At this point a waitresses drunk friend stumbles into the courtyard kissing her on the cheek and telling everyone how 'wasted' he was. Then he went to the smokers corner and fell over, everyone in the courtyard were staring at him. All the staff seemed to think that this was hilarious, however, it was very annoying. This wrecked our 'romantic' dinner. Very Very disappointing service. Will not return.

Jul 11, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I am a Manly local and went here this weekend with some friends. The service was rude, appalling and dismissive. Worst of all, the coffee cups, glasses and teapot that was brought to our table were filthy! No apology when we brought this to the staff's attention. Prices were ludicruous for the quality of the coffee and we were wise not to eat any food there. Like many places in Manly, this used to be okay but now, I wouldn't take my dog there.

May 30, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I love Insitu. It's perfect for a weekend breakfast and a bloody mary or glass of champagne. Either that or a romantic night with my partner. Listening to the live acoustic musician, the carefully selected wine list and the new dinner menu (they've been doing $10 pasta nights on tuesdays which is a nice little surprise). I'll recommend it every time any of my out of town friends come to the beaches.

Apr 12, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Great breakfast place but underrated for its drinks (expecially the happy hour). Decently priced and worth visiting for a place away from the Beaches bogans flocking to the Steyne. Great bartender service.

Apr 04, 2011