Stir Crazy Thai @ Erskineville

2 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  2     

If I could give a nought for service I would. Extreme passive-aggressive behaviour from most of the staff who seem to hate their customers and refused to speak to them except when asking for money! Very uncomfortable atmosphere. This place has become a complete joke locally for the poor service and I am telling everyone I know to avoid this place. Another local cafe owner dined here over a year ago and had the same experience as me. Stir Crazy only makes money because of its good location.

Mar 22, 2012 

4.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  8      Value  3     

Despite hearing some negative comments decided to give Stir Crazy ago. Staff friendly despite no atmosphere. Food well Chicken Satay was overcooked and taste wise bland. Fish Cakes again bland, no heat from the food. Pad thai again very bland. Will not be going back.

Mar 16, 2012 

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  5     

Made me get cash out for 10c by sawbones, Queensland (2 reviews)
August 08, 2011 - Doesn't like it. Tonight was my first time getting take away from Stir Crazy, as I've just moved in the area.

Ordered over the phone, was told $22.80 but not that they only take cash! Got there, no "hello", no smile. Just a "$22.80". I asked if I could put it on the card answer "cash only". I pull out $20 and a grand total of $2.70 in coins. The guy just stares at me blankly. "22.80". I mumble, "I guess I'll have to go across the road and get cash." Another blank stare. Awesome. I come back with $40 and get my change. I mention to them that this isn't exactly great customer service, making people go across the road to get cash for 10c.

Conversation: "Did you realise I put $22.70 on the counter". Reply "It was $22.80!". "I know... but it's not exactly nice to make me go across the road for 10c". No reply to that. On top of that, when I got home, they had kept 20c change!

I normally tip more generously than that, but sure, keep the 20c! I'm sure the food is great, but I haven't even touched it yet, the interaction has left such a bitter taste in my mouth. Top stuff, guess I'll be going somewhere else for my Thai from now on!

Aug 08, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

Food was delicious, well priced, huge servings. Mood lighting but still bright enough to see what you were eating. Wait staff friendly and approachable. Great night was had by our party of 10. More than enough food. BYO. Will go back!

Jul 11, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

I had the pleasure of eating here on sunday night after another restaurant I had booked cancelled my reservation. For a spur of the moment decision to eat there was an amazing choice. We had a party of 8 and so we picked different dishes to share, and I can honestly say they were all fantastic!

On a down note, it was a cold evening and our table was right by the door so we were a little cold, however, the food totally made up for it. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for great food and at a very affordable price. I will definitely be back!

May 10, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  6     

There's really not much to say about this place. It was fairly standard thai fare and the serves were a bit smaller than I expected. The service was fine, though I'm always wary of food coming out less than five minutes of ordering it (partner waited another 10 minutes for his). It's OK for a midweek sit down, but I wouldn't make this a destination for a night out.

Jan 13, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  8     

The good: The food was good and wasn't too expensive.

The bad: There was a smoke detector above our table whose batteries were running low, and so every two minutes it would emit a loud beep. I told the waitress, who response was something like "oh okay" and walked off and did absolutely nothing about it.

Some of the staff are hard to understand, which I have nothing against, but I had to ask one of the waitresses to repeat what meal she was holding in her hand. After she did, and I indicated it was mine, she turned around and as she was walking away let out a loud groan. It was loud enough for everyone at our table to stop and look at her walking away. I was stunned, I've never seen staff be openly rude to customers and get away with it.

I'm not a difficult person by any means and its taken me two weeks to be bothered to write this, but with so many better thai places around, I thought you should all know the short walk will be worth it to Newtown.

Jul 09, 2010 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  2     

Went here for lunch and the place was empty, except for the staff eating their lunch, it was 1.30 pm! I ordered a seafood laksa. But felt the staff were annoyed I interrupted their lunch. The laksa was good but overpriced at $11 and when I queried the bill, because the laksa on the menu said $8.90, I was referred to a completely different section of the menu. The place was empty and I can see why. While the laksa was good, I have had a red thai curry here that was very average. The service was terrible and the wait staff rude. This place needs to lift its game.

Jun 11, 2010 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

The first time I went here with my girlfriend, I was impressed, but I went tonight again and this time we took a friend thinking it was going to be really good food. We accidently ordered too much food, and asked the waitress within 5 minutes o f ordering if we could cancel the Royal Fish dish. She said no and that they'd already cooked it. It then took around 15 minutes for the dish to arrive. When it came it was so dry and the sauce we'd asked for wasn't correct.

We also ordered the Sesame Beef, which was covered and soaked in a thick sickly sweet sauce, sort of like they were disguising the quality of the beef. The vegetable dish we ordered was not hot when it came out, and the five spice duck tasted foul and not fresh to the point we couldn't eat it and left it. I was so unimpressed I had to complain to the waitress and asked to speak with the senior staff.

Unfortunately the senior staff did not care less, and said well that is just how it tastes and he couldn't do anything. They then hit me with a $120 bill for three people. Has to be the worst thai experience I've ever had in Sydney. Maybe they've had a change in management, but I was thoroughly disappointed, complete waste of money.

Apr 29, 2010 

5 Average

Food  4      Ambience  9      Service  4      Value  3     

Went here with my better half and our friend on the latter's suggestion and I wasn't 'wowed' by the place at all. It was quite packed downstairs so we ventured upstairs to an empty floor all to ourselves which was kinda cool, except for the CD being on a repeat skip. Our friend went over and turned it off. Then, knowing we were in a bit of a rush, went downstairs and told the waitress we were ready to order.

They came upstairs together which was relieving. I wasn't hungry so I ordered a Tom Yum which I explicitly asked to have extra chilli in. When it arrived, no chilli whatsoever and the measly prawns. The flavour was nice and sour but not enough to save the meal. I think the other two enjoyed theirs but I tasted one of their laksas and it was far too sweat and creamy for and sort of traditional laksa. What is with all of these Sydney Thai joints putting brown sugar in every one of their meals? Prices are expensive for Thai as well. No way I'm paying over $20 for a beef Larb!

Anyway, the decor is lovely but that's about the only thing. With so much Thai to choose from in Sydney (overkill much!?), I won't be returning to any of the Stir Crazy's.

Apr 21, 2010