Square Waffle

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  4     

I went here for mothers day with my mum and I was so underwhelmed. I initially had a very good impression, the live music was amazing. But there are very many points to be improved on starting with:

Service. Within the first ten minutes, two waitresses and the door man came up to us to take our order, check if everything was okay, and generally harass us, after barely even being seated. I think the guy who came to take our drink order came over the second we sat down, we hadn't even looked at the drink menu, if there had've been one. At one point I was so annoyed by their constant interrupting, I felt like it would be easier to just invite them to join us for lunch, so they didn't have to walk back and forward and could annoy us just as adequately.

Then when we did want service, they ignored us for twenty minutes. We sat there with almost empty plates, napkins in them, cutlery together before we had to stand in front of someone to get our food boxed, and then he didn't offer us desserts, more drinks or the bill. He just walked off.

There is also a very obvious lack in communication. The waitresses kept running backwards and forwards because they didn't know which table needed orders, needed bills, needed to be cleaned etc, and when one did tell another, they told the wrong table number. Throughout our lunch, I also saw a waitress walk down five times with a plate of food, only to walk back because she had no idea where it was to be taken to.

Menu. I am vegetarian, and I am quite reasonable with my expectations, normally I see one or two meals that I can eat and half a dozen entrees. The entrees had a large variety and seemed quite decent, but the vegetarian main meals were all the same, just served differently. The three main ingredients of each were eggplant, mushrooms and capsicum, just done as pizza, pasta and a 'vegetable stack'. What happens if I'm allergic to any of those, or generally just don't like that? All three meals based on the same ingredients, c'mon are you kidding me?

And all the salads had meat/fish. The taste of my fettuccine was not really appetising and the sauce was way too running so every time I twirled the pasta, it splashed.

The value was also not very good. I paid $18 for veggies, I'd hate to know how much the ribs would cost. The week before, a friend and I went to a restaurant in darling harbour, and we spent less on food there, with a waterfront view, than here.

Also just as a tip, if they want people to spend more by getting dessert, don't make the main meals so large. I am probably going to eat this meal for three days.

And the cherry to top the cake was that I was almost charged $100 for two people because after we got ignored after our table was cleared, we had to get up and go to get our bill ourselves and the guy barely looked at the bill before handing it over, not even thinking that a meal for two people without any alcoholic drinks couldn't add up to $100.

I then had to correct him three times before he gave me the proper bill. It was our bill that he initially gave us (not just another table's), but four mains and two entrees were on there rather than two mains and one entree. I just don't understand how two people can eat four mains so how could he not have seen the mistake?

Then I finally paid $50, for bad service, bad food and for really bad value.

May 14, 2012 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  1     

A Mother Day to remember for all the wrong reasons. Made booking, don't know why had to wait for table, waited long time for service, drinks, meal, bill came quick! The mixed grill, raw sausage, raw steak, raw chicken, did ask for well done. Barri was undercooked. We sent the mixed grill back and said not replace the meal, they still tried to change, no apology, no discount, when I asked for complimentary drink to make up for the bad meal, they laughed. Be warned Don't Go There, and Happy Mothers Day!

May 13, 2012 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  3     

Our experience started out ok drinks arrived straight away, meals came at expected time although my burra was over cooked with very little butter sauces on it to keep it moist But our biggest gripe is when we ordered the desserts we waited and waited and waited so much so we had to get up and leave.

They were never ordered even though the plate with the spoons were placed on the table. Very Disappointed with the entire outcome. Even the girl seemed to be disinterested when taking our money Not the way to run a restaurant. What is your enticement to get us back. Regards D Dean

Apr 29, 2012 

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  6     

Firstly I'll start with the food. I had a steak which was very average. It was tough and tasted extremely watery. I also had chips with my steak and salad. The chips were ok but it was nothing more than a handful of chips on my plate. Serving size for the entire meal was embarrassing to say the least.

Inside the place wasn't so bad. Nice and roomy, great to be able to walk up to the bar and grab a drink without people pulling their chairs in. Very clean and felt good. However, the Jazz band that was playing was ridiculously loud so you had to shout at your mates to talk.

Service wasn't too bad, nothing I could knock. Food came out relatively quick.
As for value, Wasn't bad, but nothing to rave home about. Due to the smaller serving sizes, the meals could have been cheaper.

Will probably be back again to give something else a crack.

Mar 18, 2012 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  3     

Our first impression of the exterior was what are we getting ourself into. We walked inside and the place looked quite nice and the entertainment was also nice. We had our drink orders taken almost immediately so it started off great. We then ordered a mixed entree platter and when we received it I couldn't help state with disgust!

The chicken wings were oily. The piece of bruschetta bread was stale and the tomato and onion looked like it had sat there for a week! The calamari had a funny smell and was poly and the prawns were soggy! we then waited half an hour for our waffles which we at least thought would be good. They were extremely average, chewy and who serves strawberry icecream with a waffle? gross! on top of that the service was terrible.

We were not checked on once to see how our meals were nor did the rude waitress ask when she cleared our entree and saw we hadn't touched it! Will not be back.

Feb 26, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Someone from our group recommended the place to us. A group of 10 of us went there on a Saturday. The place is quite big, but cosy clean and pleasant at the same time. More like a city restaurant.

I ordered pork ribs. They were tender marinated – yummy. Not expensive either ($29.95 for a huge portion). Didn’t take long for food to arrive pretty much at the same time for all of us. Waffles for dessert were delicious but too big for one person. Best to order different ones and share.

Staff were friendly and helpful and seemed like they enjoyed working there. There was a jazz trio playing there with a degree of professionalism like they were doing it all their lives – which they probably were. More like a music venue with great food then a simple restaurant. To sum it up – a pleasant surprise.

Jan 25, 2012 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  2     

Thought this restaurant was worth trying after seeing an ad in the local paper. When we arrived we were quite shocked by the exterior - the garden was full of weeds and there was old dirty kitchen equipment under the building at the back. The inside wasn't much better - it was very dark with black curtains drawn over the windows. There was a performance space in the middle of the restaurant with tables clustered together on either side. And I mean clustered - it was very claustrophobic as you were practically sitting with the people at the table next to you. The next thing we noticed was the stifling heat - I guess they are trying to cut costs by not using A/C, but I started feeling quite faint shortly after sitting down. The atmosphere was pretty awful. When we arrived, the 'live music' hadn't started, and everyone was sitting all jammed together on one side of the restaurant, appearing to be waiting for something. You felt like all eyes were on you as you were shown to your table.

Our waiter asked if we wanted drinks, but didn't bother giving us a wine list until we asked for one. He actually seemed quite confused when we asked whether it was a licensed venue.
Our food was nothing short of terrible. I paid $16.95 for a 'Vegetable Stack' which was basically a few soggy bits of eggplant, zucchini and capsicum with a weird tasteless red sauce squirted over it. My partner's pancetta wrapped prawns were soggy and looked straight out of the freezer. The presentation left a lot to be desired. The live music began, which consisted of a few geriatrics playing some unknown tunes with a very quick and inappropriate tempo which made it hard to relax. We decided not to have dessert as the place was too hot, the music terrible and the food way overpriced. We are never returning.

Jan 06, 2012 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Amazing restaurant! Excellent steaks, food presented beautifully, service and atmosphere both excellent.

The name is deceiving, I myself thought it would be similar to Pancakes on the Rocks, but its definitely more like a bar and grill. Very happy to have discovered this restaurant! Will be back at least once a fortnight!

Dec 15, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  7     

Overall the experience was nice. Service is spot on. Food is not bad, had Chicken parma and it was a little burnt, but that could have been a one off. Mash potato was awesome. And.. the Waffles were lovely!

Nov 16, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

We have been to the Square Waffle several times now, so we have had opportunities to sample several items off the menu. The mixed entree is always a favourite. The steak was a bit so so, they should switch to another butcher, I've had a lot better from my local in Ingleburn. The rest of the food is not bad. The biggest surprises here are the service and entertainment. The waitresses are not your typical "can I helpya" types, featured in most Campbelltown eateries. It is all a little up market and very pleasant.

Every time we've been there the entertainment has been outstanding. Firstly a Latin Jazz Funk band, Then a brilliant pianist, THen Don Hopkins doing his tribute to Fats Domino, then a wonderful jazz combo with a great dark lady on vocals.

The food is a little pricey but for the service and entertainment it was worth it. If you're looking for something a bit different in Campbelltown you can't go past the square waffle. We're regulars now.

Nov 14, 2011