Lachlan's Old Government House

4.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  4     

Have had great lunches at the past at Lachlans so booked if for my wedding reception. Unfortunately, a dirty marquee (silks inside have not been changed in what seems years), terrible service and very below average food spoiled out night. The building itself is gorgeous and provides a sumptuous backdrop for guests, especially at night with all the up-lighting. However, guests have mentioned having to chase wait staff down for drinks and food. Not something a bride wants to hear when you have paid such a large amount of money!

Dec 12, 2011 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  1     

I booked this restaurant hoping it would make a lovely location for a special anniversary dinner. Instead we were sat on the verandah near the smoking area of a very loud wedding reception.

The menu was extremely limited. My prawn and avocado salad had 3 prawns, some avocado and grated carrot for a whopping $18. The waitress couldn't even pour our wine. The chicken and risotto had gravy poured all over it. And the bread rolls were stale. The side serve vegetables were almost raw. Simple lamb on mash was $42. For a very disappointing meal for two it cost us $120.

The only nice part was the venue. Would not recommend it. In fact would go as far as to say - stay away.

Nov 13, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

Enjoyed a pleasant brunch with some friends and family a few Saturdays ago. Really nice surroundings, food was OK. (I had the olives and fetta bruschetta and sticky date cake) They were also very accommodating to a friend in a wheelchair.

Oct 23, 2011 

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  2     

Very mediocre food and quite pricey. Service was OK. Staff were polite and fairly attentive but were not spectacular (eg they did not know who ordered each dish even though there were only two of us).

There was nothing special at all about the food. The menu is quite boring with no interesting sauces, accompaniments or preparations (eg chicken with risotto, pork chops with sweet potato mash, fish and chips). The risotto was oversalty and the 'jus' was more like a heavy gravy, the 'lamb rack' was only 4 very small pieces of lamb. The crab and polenta cakes were quite tasty but were predominantly polenta and very little crab. The chocolate mousse was nice but the sticky date pudding was nothing special (and not very sticky!).

The setting of the restaurant is OK. It's in Old Government House in the middle of Parramatta Park. The views from the restaurant are of an internal courtyard and not of the park. It doesn't help that there is a musuem on the other side of the courtyard so there are lots of people walking through.

The restaurant is quite pricey. Mains range from $30 (for fish and chips) to $44 (for beef). Total bill for 3 courses for two of us was $180 (including 1 glass of wine) which seemed quite steep for what it was.

May 03, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

We celebrated HIgh Tea for a friends forthcoming wedding. I organised it from the country by internet and phone, so easily, the staff were so helpful. I had never been there and not known anyone who had. We had the most wonderful celebration High Tea, food was so special and the scones were to die for!

Our waitress and waiter were sooo attentive and especially understanding when some of our party were late. Every one of us loved every moment. What was also great was that we had our own private room to have some celebratory games for the bride to be with encouragement from the staff. Great close parking as well, it all made this the exceptional celebration we had wanted for our special friend. Thanks Lachlan's, we will return.

Oct 10, 2010 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  9      Value  6     

Food was quite simple but tasty. No complaints. Service was excelllent and attentive. We will return. Enjoyed the Crab and polenta cakes.

May 10, 2009 

3.3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  1     

Went for a High Tea on a lovely saturday afternoon with mum and sisters to celebrate Mother's Day. First impressions were great, friendly comfortable then we received our first platter of food (canapes), still keeping an open mind the spring rolls arrived (strange for a high tea), then the shock of the sandwiches, I felt like I was at a work luncheon catered for by the local lunchshop.

Then the scones appeared, they were ok nothing special but we also got a platter of danish's that looked like they had been deep fried they had actually been microwaved as they were soggy. It does not end here we finally received our 3 tier platter with an array of small cakes and some larger. We did complain about it all with not much interest from the senior staff. Most of what is promoted on their website is incorrect.

The funny thing about it is we laughed all afternoon as we were in shock over it all. Will never go back still possibly the worst food that I have ever had. Senior staff claims that all the food is cooked on premise, sorry I can't believe that.

May 09, 2009 

4 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  3     

Had dinner one night, the setting was lovely, but that was probably about it. The meals were very expensive, and not worth it. I ordered the vegetable pie, which was what appeared to be steamed (probably from frozen from how tasteless they were) and a dob of mash potato on it and it was $32! I could’ve made it myself! I would not go there again. A picnic in the park is pretty much the same, but better value!

Feb 15, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7     

Loved it!! Perfect sunday lunch!!

May 26, 2008 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  2     

Dinner here in May 2008. Waiter did not menu and forgot drinks. Food very average and expensive. Vegetable stack was $30 and consisted of 2 slice of eggplant, slice of zucchini with capsicums slices and balsamic. Coffee was cold and came before dessert.

May 10, 2008