Lighthouse, The

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I took my mum out for a birthday lunch. We ate upstairs, decor is a little blast from the 80's/ 90's which was nice, we ordered the hot and cold seafood platter for two.

It was the best seafood platter we have had in such a long time, value for money seriously it could have fed 3 or 4 people, we grazed for about 2 hrs on it, left very satisfied. The staff were great and nothing too much trouble.

May 19, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

My cousins and I went to dinner at 'The Light House' for the first time on Sunday. We were wanting to test the service and the food, as we were considering hiring a function room there.

The service was fantastic right from the beginning. Really friendly and approachable, yet not over the top. We were served by 'Wayne' who answered all our questions promptly, the food was really impressive, and very tasty.

Wayne took us on a tour of the function rooms, and what they can offer, also gave us the function menu and allowed us to change as we saw fit. The service was so welcoming and friendly, we are definitely holding our even there, and will be back to dine there in the future.

Very impressed!

Nov 14, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

Really good food, try the $39 three course set menu.

Mar 05, 2010 

4.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  2     

Oh dear, I have now been here twice, once as a couple and once at a function. Perhaps, the most over- priced (including wines) menu ever. The Seafood is clearly frozen, old or both.

As a couple our seafood platter was a major disappointment on our anniversary, no sauces, too many melon balls, the scampi was 3-4 days old and the lobster was sent back (chef apologising it was past its best) my partner wanted maccas on the way home. At the function (set menu) the results were less predictable. quite a good antipasto platter, excellent greek salad. Meat course a let down. the (I think it was lamb) was so far beyond well done it was barely brown anymore.

The pasta platter was very ordinary and over-seasoned (the lasagne was repeating on me for hours), yet the desserts were delicious (tho, perhaps, bought in). As for the service, well it was great actually, polite and attentive, if anything wasted at this place.

Aug 17, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

Wow it was a surprise when we first arrived as it looked like it was closed. The Wine bar was dark and not operating, real shame as was looking forward to having a drink in it before dinner. It certainly wasn't as the website said. But the food was great we all did set Menu for $39pp and it was very good and fresh too, prawn entree melted in your mouth, the service was very friendly too.

May 06, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  9     

We went here after the races on a saturday night and order the hot n cold platter, between the 3 of us it was enough food, and personally I thought it was exceptional! The waiter was the best I've ever had! he was friendly and had knowledge of the area, advising us where to go after dinner, he joked around with us and was just a real laid back yet professional guy. But the food was for sure the best seafood I've ever tasted!

Apr 17, 2009 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  3     

Booked in advance for Valentines Day dinner, pre ordered the Hot/Cold Seafood Plater for $150.00. Very disappointed, no taste, no sauces for dipping, limited variety, no seasoning, very loud waiter. Champagne was unlabelled (wonder why, maybe hiding it was a cheap bottle, and selling for $32 a pop). Had room for dessert but chose not to, rather an ice cream in a cone than hang around. Will not be back, better places to try than this.

Feb 14, 2009 

2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  5      Value  1     

All our food was seriously overcooked and unseasoned. I was so disappointed with the first 2 courses, I didn't bother to order dessert. The wine list was limited and full of wines we'd not heard of, apparently so they could charge over inflated prices on very average stuff. Won't be returning ever! Do yourself a favour and don't go here.

Jan 16, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Love the live music. We had a ball at Lighthouse last week!!! Just a perfect location for our hen's night, opposite to Roxy!!! We really think this place offers such a great value to entertain friends and family - lots of space that is!

Aug 31, 2008 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  1     

This is a letter I wrote to the Manager on 23 July 2007.

To The Manager

Having found your restaurant via a website search of "fine dining" in the Parramatta area and reading through your menu, we were looking forward to lunch very much last Tuesday. Your website invites people to "enjoy delicious seafood and modern australian dishes". The food images looked inviting.

It is unfortunate that our experience did not meet expectation and, all in all, was extremely disappointing. Out of 9 diners in my group, not one was satisfied with their meal. While the presentation of your food is okay, the quality of your seafood is, at best, very poor. The shellfish and crustaceans on the seafood platter for the most part were dry and tasteless. All cooked items had been seriously over cooked. The cooked fish and the cooked prawns were what can only be described as awful as they had the distinct amonia taste which comes from being frozen. The lobster mornay was fine, but probably because it was coated in cheese sauce.

The hot seafood platters for one faired no better in taste or quality. The chicken and beef and veal meals were also sub-standard in quality and taste. The main meals took over 1 1/2 hours to be served to our table. This is despite only 3 other people dining in the restaurant during the time we were there.

The waitress kept ignoring my Manager (who paid for the meal) on several occasions when it came to serving wine or food. As the person who organised the lunch at your restaurant, this in itself was embarrassing to witness. She was, however, polite.

After lunch, we were not offered dessert. Perhaps, the kitchen had closed by the time we were ready for it. But as mentioned, had it not taken 1 1/2 hours to serve our main, we may have been offered dessert.

With only 12 diners in the restaurant, it is hard to comprehend why it took so long to serve our meals or why they were so poorly cooked.

The pricing of your menu is one of the most expensive in the area which was a contributing factor in making the booking in the first place as a "treat" to the staff from our Manager. At $135.00 per platter, and roughly $30-45 for all other mains, there is an expectation that fresh quality food would be served, not frozen overcooked tasteless food. We have dined at other restaurants within your price range and have found both the service and food quality to be outstanding.

Given the above, you can appreciate our disappointment at not receiving the fine dining experience. What we got instead was a bill for over $800.00 for a lunch which made 4 of us physically ill that evening with the others feeling nauseaus and off colour.

As you can imagine, we will not be recommending your restaurant to any family, friends or colleagues.

Your thoughts on our experience would be welcomed.

- I have not had a response - not surprising - obviously a reflection of how this restaurant is run.

Jul 26, 2007