Lime Cafe

3.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  2     

We had vouchers to redeem and tried over and over to call them for a reservation. The only way to make a reservation is online. After reading the reviews, we even printed out our confirmation email just to be sure.

The service was ok. The waiter and the waitress were very polite. The entrees and mains came out well timed, however, after that I think they forgot about us for a while and we had to wave them down to get our table cleared and to get our desserts.

For entrees we ordered salads, the chicken caesar was quite nice but the salmon salad was drenched in oil and salmon wasn't fresh. The portion sizes were good but the food is not worth the $17 they charge.

For our mains there was no lasagna or steak left, they served beef fillet in a white wine sauce, 3 cheap cuts of beef in a not so special sauce. Their fish of the day (brim) was over cooked, dry and under seasoned. The fish was horrible and the beef was blah.

For dessert, we had semifreddo and panna cotta, both delicious, a nice surprise.
This place is in a nice location with plenty of potential, they just need someone with a knowledge of food.

May 17, 2012 

4.5 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  3     

There were ups and downs to this restaurant.

My partner and I went there with a Groupon voucher and, like many other voucher-users, found it practically Impossible to book. I called their phone a million times and they never picked up, and when I asked them about it in person, the rude waitress said (in an accent, tone and volume that was near impossible to understand) that it was because they were busy and unable to attend the phone. My partner and I gave each other looks, the restaurant (at lunch time) was half empty.

The worst part was this, I had made a booking (through the Medina Hotel next door, call them and they'll put you through) a week in advance for lunch at Lime St, and when we got there after an hour of travelling, the waitress told us that no one had written our booking down, and that they couldn't fit us in at all that day! I was so infuriated, my boyfriend had to stop me from going off at her for being so rude and inconsiderate. It was so unprofessional, and she didn't even apologise for the extreme inconvenience!

What kind of restaurant leaves their phone unattended, speaks to their customers in such a rude way and doesn't properly write down the bookings made?! I couldn't even get through with the online booking, it wouldn't let me book any day because it was unavailable. Nonsense. We had to reschedule to a week later and I made sure that she wrote it down.

When we arrived for the second time, our image of the restaurant had already been tainted. Such terrible service means that the restaurant can only come so far in terms of customer satisfaction. We ordered a chicken caesar and chorizo salad, prawns, chorizo pizza and pasta. The food was surprisingly good. The portions were generous and the dishes were very flavoursome. For dessert, we had semifreddo and panna cotta, both of which were very delicious.

Overall, I think the restaurant is average. If you're successful with your booking then it's a good place to go for good food. However, food is a little overpriced and the horrendous service just overshadows the positives of the food.

May 12, 2012 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  3     

Dined here using a scoopon on Friday night. I was very cautious after reading reviews. We booked online and received a response almost immediately.

The waitress who attended to us was very pleasant and told us there was no lamb skewers for entree and no scotch fillet for main. We ordered the bruschetta and calamari salad. The bruschetta was Ok, the calamari was cooked good, but the salad was just rocket lettuce with no dressing.

For mains we had seafood risotto and snapper. The risotto was Ok, nothing to rave about, and I definitely will not have it again, I do not recommend! The snapper was 2 small fillets and they were very, very dry. Don't even try this.
For dessert we had the pannacotta which was surprisingly good. Service was quick and attentive.

Prior to leaving we noticed that people were being served lamb skewers and scotch fillet steak, I think whoever had a voucher was not offered this option. I think this is wrong, I will not ever visit this establishment ever again!

May 07, 2012 

3.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  3     

Do not bother! This business is a rip off, you won't be able to book it, they don't answer their phone and deliberately avoid bookings. I had to go in there and book in person only to encounter a rude woman who insisted that they were "run off their feet" and used that as an excuse as to why they didn't answer the phone (or emails for that matter!).

She also blamed punters for leaving it to the last minute to book, incidentally, there were 3 waitstaff there at the time and only 3 tables, just after lunch! (Busy? I don't think so!)They have offered this voucher a number of times and obviously are getting money for nothing as they make it impossible to redeem. I'm surprised Dept of fair Trading hasn't stopped this sham!

The eventual dinner (that they were reluctant to book) was "tres ordinaire" and not worth all the trouble. Yet again, an example of a voucher rip off. When are these businesses going to be stopped from this kind of rort?

Apr 29, 2012 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

My husband and I booked this lunch for my daughter and her partner, with their 4-week old baby. We looked forward to a pleasant first outing after our first grandson was born. The experience turned out very 'unpleasant'. Never again will I set foot in this awful place! When we were served our main meals after waiting for nearly an hour after our entrees, my daughter requested that we be served our desserts right after the mains which the waiter agreed.

After waiting, my husband asked if we can pls have our desserts, to which the rude waiter answered in an 'aggro' manner, "it's coming". When he finally came with the desserts, he was almost tossing the plates on the table! My son in-law did not bother eating his nor drink his latte. We left in disgust! Stay away from this awful place.

Mar 02, 2012 

1.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Not worth going there! I had a scoopon voucher but it was impossible to make a booking over the phone as they never pick up the phone. I then decided to do an online booking, with success. But an hour before arriving I received an (unfriendly) email telling us, the restaurant was booked out. Already on my way from Liverpool I went there anyway. And the restaurant was half empty!!

The waitress was rude when we turned up, telling me I can't have a table because I didn't book over the phone. What's the purpose of the online booking then? We got a table but they didn't take the order for another half an hour (not even for a drink). Portions were extremely small and not worth the trip there. It took nearly 2 hours to get entre, main and dessert. Maybe it would have been quicker if the cook wouldn't have been outside smoking all the time! The waiter looked grumpy and more like he was forced to work there.

The salmon wasn't cooked well, still raw inside. I have pointed that out to the waitress but she couldn't even bother apologizing or offering a new main. We were very thirsty, our glasses very empty but they never came to check if we want a second drink. What a horrible place, they don't have any idea how to service customers. Stay away from that place.

Feb 20, 2012 

1 Not Recommended

Service  1     

Well where do I start?.. trying to make a booking is almost impossible and an experience in itself as the number given (and checked) does not get answered! I purchased a voucher deal last October (2011) and the only way I could finally secure a booking was by email (which I was quickly advised you are not supposed to do as per voucher booking details), so after finally securing a booking in January by email we looked forward to a pleasant evening to enjoy the meal.

On arrival we were advised that there was no meat dishes available that nite as they ran out of meat over the weekend?.. well hello it is a Monday nite so obviously no resupply procurement was conducted that day?. After viewing the menu that evening, and as I do not eat seafood nor pasta dishes, I decided to cancel the booking for another occasion.

I was advised by staff to make another booking by phone to which I duly advised them that this is virtually impossible as the phone will 'ring off the hook' as nobody answers it and was advised that "We have had some problems with the phone lately" (you are telling me!)I then advised them that I will book by email where again I was told that you cannot do that!.

Well here we go again as since that evening the phone still rings out and once again I have had to utilise the non-permitted email booking facility (dare I do that?). BTW I cannot comment on the star ratings for the Food/Ambience nor Value, as I have not been permitted the privilege of experiencing that to date. I just hope that I may finally get the chance before my voucher expires!.

Feb 16, 2012 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  7     

We were a party of four that dined at Lime on saturday lunch, we were one party of many using scoopons. The waiter was friendly and informative, it took a little while for our order to be taken but when the entree arrived it wasn't too bad. The longest time spent waiting was from entree to mains, pretty close to 40 minutes. With the arrival of the mains, it was worth the wait the dishes were excellent. I do not know why people complain about the size of the desserts, I found them just right after consuming the mains. Would I go again? Definitely, but only with scoopons I found that full price was a little expensive.

Jan 16, 2012 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  10     

Used voucher and made an advanced reservation. We arrived there to find the booking in place. Main course excellent. Salads superb more like a main course. Waitresses charming and efficient. Most enjoyable experience. Will go back there another time.

Dec 21, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

Used voucher to go for lunch not expecting much after reading reviews. Pleasantly surprised. Food was superb with more that reasonable sizes. Salad entrees were delicious and more like a main meal. Would go back tomorrow especially if the Italian waiter is still there.

Dec 19, 2011