Ottoman Cuisine

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Enjoyed a lovely lunch here today. There were a few vegetarian choices on the menu, which was great to see for a veggie like myself. The mushrooms in particular were very nice. As for the service, I thought it was good...no complaints from me.

Aug 31, 2007 

6.3 Average

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  7     

We went on a Saturday night (11/8/07) with a large group. We ordered the 10 course degustation (with wine) and to say the food was fantastic is a giant understatement. Every course was perfect and the wine was tasty, unique, and well suited to each course. The low light atmosphere with multiple lights high overhead (like big stars) with glass walls looking out to the water, was lovely. The furniture was classy and comfortable (which was lucky because we were to be there for some time).

HOWEVER, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the service was HORRIBLE. We sat down at 8 pm and didn't get a drink until 45 minutes later, and even then it wasn't what we ordered. Only one course was announced before the staff lost interest (with degustation it's nice to know what food and wine you're sampling). When the wine was poured some people got a decent amount in their glass while others got a thimble-full.

At one point we even overheard two waitresses bitching loudly about another table who had just complained about the service. Although the 10 courses came out in 4 lots, the meal took around 4 hours to complete by which stage we were all exhausted and uninterested. The food, wine and atmosphere was great (as it should be for $130 a head) but, because of the disappointing service it is unlikely I will be going back or recommending it to people I like.

Aug 13, 2007 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  6     

After reading the review below we are expecting a great food but the service need to be improved. I agree with the review below that the food was great specially the Entree Salmon and prawn wrap. I guess the management need to add some extra staff into the roster. Since we were waiting for 20 minutes to get our order taken and the staff also pour the wrong mineral water into the glass. My friend was drinking still water they pour sparkling water and didn't even said a word to my friend. The food is great but staff need to be improved.

Aug 02, 2007 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  4      Value  8     

We decided to wait many months after the initial bad reviews regarding service and were keen to give the benefit of the doubt, as our dining experience in Canberra was wonderful. However, when we arrived, our booking was nowhere to be found on their reservation list. Luckily we were early, and they found a table for 4.

Next, we encountered a waitress who thought she was a 'sommelier'. When asked if a certain riesling from Orange was dry, she flatly replied that 'all rieslings were sweet, full-stop'. We relented in quizzing her further about wine and ordered a S. Aust. Sav. Blanc instead. We ordered the 10 course degustation, which was beautifully prepared and presented. Overall, the food made up for the earlier indiscretions, but the service needs to keep improving.

Jul 15, 2007 

5.5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

I have to agree with the service comments below. It was rather disappointing that that it did not match the food. We were given one menu ( a table of 6) and advised that we should take the degustation menu. We said no and asked to have more menus. After 5 minutes, once again we had the sale pitch for the degustation. This happened a third time after which we insisted on having menus. It's an expensive restaurant, nice food and nice lay out. It's a shame that we were annoyed within the first 15 minutes.

Jul 13, 2007 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I was definitely expecting the bad service reported here so it was with great relief that it did not eventuate on the busy Friday night we visited. Our waiter was great-friendly and knowledgeable about wine and menu choices. When booking I was advised that on Friday it was busy and could have 630 (too early) or 830. We went for 830 which was a good choice. When we arrived the place was packed but as it got later the crowd thinned and we as one of the remaining tables no doubt benefitted from more attentive service. (not that it was bad before, just very busy).

Food is excellent. $90 degustation was an easy choice with a good range. Next time I will choose the filo cigars filled with creamy feta (entree) and the duck legs which were sublime. Please note that the water views are, unfortunately, limited by a large hoarding across the pier. It is best to be on a side table if you want to look out to Luna Park etc. The larger groups are placed towards the centre of the room anyway and the smaller tables around the edges where you have more of a view.

Jul 08, 2007 

7 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  7     

Like everyone says, the service isn't great. We had lovely waiters, but the maitre'd was really rude and off-hand. It's the real downfall of this restaurant with divine food, and could well break the restaurant.

Jul 07, 2007 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Just had lunch at Ottaman Cuisine with 2 friends and are extremely pleased. We shared 4 entrees between us which were beautifully presented and tasted sensational. We followed this with turkish delight, backlava and fresh mint tea. With a glass of wine and warm turkish bread $55 each which we thought was great value. Staff are trying very hard to please, which we appreciated after reading the other reviews!!

Jul 05, 2007 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

I think the floor staff have read the reviews. The service was just fantastic, they were incredibly attentive, not pushy and very knowledgeable when quizzed on the desserts. Whilst we didn't do a degustation, we indicated we were sharing all dishes and the staff served accordingly. We had a wonderful night, and I will definitely be back.

Jun 04, 2007 

7.3 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  8     

I have to say I was so looking forward to this dinner, and the food was fantastic! We had the degustation, and each dish was perfect. I had read the reviews and knew of the service issues, and have to admit that it was a bit faulty towers-like. Sometimes it verged on the absurd, but we were pretty relaxed and good natured about it so had to just laugh. Examples: waited for ages for menus, but I think that's because they thought we were waiting for someone. When we did get menus, they didn't give all of us one. A few people didn't get water until we asked (but some did), the one of us who ordered the wine got a 'taste pour', and when he approved the rest of us got our glasses filled, but the original taster never got his pour and the wine was taken away.

I ordered tea with milk on the side and got the little milk jug on the platter, but there was no milk in it. Again, we didn't really mind as once things were pointed out they were remedied and it was kind of funny. The food was so good that we didn't really care. I did notice that almost every table was a large group (e.g. 6+) and it's clearly a good place for groups.

May 25, 2007