Rum Diaries, The

4 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  3      Service  6      Value  3     

Used to go to Rum Diaries a lot when it first opened but decided to try it out tonight for the first time in about 2 years. How disappointing. The food was bland, the wine was overpriced and while the wait staff were friendly, the place totally lacked any atmosphere. I can only assume it's changed hands and in the process lost all the staff that made this restaurant successful in the first place. Shame.

Jan 28, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  4     

Always enjoy the food here, I find the place to be quite uncomfortable though. The tables are so small to the point you have to put your drinks on the floor. A few cocktails and dinner, ends up costing you the same as most fine dining restaurants.

Jan 02, 2012 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Loving the new Rum Diaries! It's always been a local favourite of mine but had a reputation for being a bit overpriced. The new menu is amazing and much better value for money. The haloumi cigars and rum smoked barramundi are the standout dishes for me but everything I've tried there has not disappointed. The service is still amazing and the cocktails are still potent. Will be recommending to all my local friends!

Dec 16, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

When we arrived at The Rum Diaries, there was no sign out the front, so, it being our first time there, we tentatively walked in and recognised the place from the pictures on the website. It was smaller than we'd anticipated, but very cosy. Almost like stepping into someone’s home.

Immediately we were greeted by a friendly waitress, who remembered our booking for five without having to consult a book. She showed us to a round booth table which was comfy and intimate, however, had a rather dangerous outcropping that one of my friends lightly grazed her back on, as she struggled to exit the booth.

The wine was expensive, at $10-11 a glass, but it's a price I'd expect for this sort of establishment. The Malbourgh pinot gris was fantastic. We ordered the scallops, poached chicken, lamb and a haloumi entree. All dishes were a bit on the small side, but each was delicious and cooked just right. It's what I'd expect for tapas, and I was pretty happy.

Although we ended up being given the beef instead of the chicken by mistake (the girl took our order without writing it down), we were happy to eat it, and I got the feeling that we wouldn't have had a problem exchanging it, if we'd made a fuss.

All through the night our water was topped up, there was never any pressure to move on and we were politely asked if we would like any more drinks, when a dish was bought out or taken away.

All in all, it's a "special occasion" outing, but I'd definitely go there again.

Nov 17, 2011 

3.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  3     

I am compelled to write my first restaurant review this evening after going to The Rum Diaries. We are local residents who have been to this restaurant on numerous occasions and had a great meal, although small portions.

Tonight I have to say there were only 2 of the 5 dishes that were okay. The current menu is just trying to hard to be different to have a sort of Avante guard appeal. Well it doesn't! The food was bland, no flavour whatsoever except for the Scallops and the Heirloom tomatoes. Please avoid the bliss wedges and Pickled Beetroot. I am not sure what the Beetroot dish was supposed to be but it didn't work and the Ceviche was a disappointing dish. Ceviche I have eaten all over the world and this would be one of the worst interpretations of the dish.

Oh, so you are also aware you have to ay a 10% surcharge for Sunday dining for the privilege of eating there. I have heard of this on Public Holidays but certainly not on Sundays and it's not stipulated on their menu. Overall, it was an incredibly disappointing experience and I wouldn't go back even when they change the menu. No wonder it's not packed anymore.

Nov 06, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Went to RD's last week and was very excited to see new menu - and it didn't disappoint – fantastic food and better value that it used to be!

Oct 10, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  7     

We also had the voucher. Yes it is not what we expected but nonetheless it was good food. We were given the vegetarian entree tasting plate and we chose the meat main tasting plate. We happily finished all the food!

The downfall was that we were not treated the same as other diners who were paying full price. We noticed this straight away as we were asked to wait while our table was being prepared while a couple who came in after us were directed to their table immediately. They also brought out our mains before we had finished our entrees. That was annoying and a reminder that yes we were not paying full price.

I wouldn't go back as there are better places to eat for the same price.

Jun 28, 2011 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Had the voucher for a 4 course meal and bottle wine, what a Terrible restaurant! We were given tapas not a 4 course meal as we had purchased! when we asked we were told we were given a 6 course meal as we received 6 tapas choices from a set menu! Misleading and very unhappy never going back be warned all that nought vouchers, you don't get what u paid for!! We had to go Thai up the road later to eat a proper meal! End result, tapas is not a 4 course meal!

Jun 19, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Had dinner on Saturday night with 6 girlfriends and we were seated in a sort of circular booth which was awesome. Really fun cocktails, great menu for sharing with friends, good wine and service. Very trendy restaurant but not pretentious. Would def recommend it for a date or with friends, looking forward to taking my husband there soon.

Apr 20, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I went to this restaurant on a Friday night to celebrate my friends birthday, the waiters were just fantastic! polite, talkative, funny and well dressed. The food was delicious along with the cocktails. We brought our own cake for our friend, the waiters surprised us and all brought out the cake while singing happy birthday! it Made our night! I'll be back for sure for the great service And yummy food.

Mar 03, 2011