Bower Restaurant, The

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  1     

What a magical location! Such a shame it is let down by the poor service, poor menu, over the top pricing and terrible coffee.

Our lunch took ages to arrive. My pregnant friend who asked for her dressing on the side didn't get what she asked for and when questioned they said "it wasn't ordered like that".

The coffee was quite well made but I'm not a fan of the flavour, very sour and with an unpleasant aftertaste!

May 24, 2012 

4.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  2     

Went with hubby for a Sunday lunch, asked for outside table when booking but none available when go there and no one had a recollection of our request when questioned.

Food was good, very basic but terrible value for money. Thirty bucks for grilled fish with a few chips and a tiny salad is too much in our book, this restaurant is counting on the view alone to get customers in, which yes is beautiful but not enough to make me come back.

Every waiter was off the boat and didn't speak English that well, which tells me the owner is using backpackers to save money on wages. Didn't bother with dessert or coffee, was already up to over $80 for a meal shared entree and two fish and chips which didn't leave us feeling particularly full or satisfied. This place used to be good when the previous owner ran it.

Decor is white with not so great paintings on the wall, better suited to a caravan park reception.

Mar 13, 2012 

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  5     

The only problem with the Bower is some of the staff service. I've had the wrong order delivered before and when I said this I didn't get an apology but rather the humph for sending the plate back. Service is everything and lets The Bower down. On another occasion I needed to split the bill and got a very frosty reception from the waitress. Needless to say, she lost her tip.

Mar 02, 2012 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  4     

The Bower is placed in a fantastic spot for breakfast in Manly and whilst we've not always got exactly what we have ordered the food is good and great coffee. Shame there is a particular waitress there who has been consistently rude and abrupt on the last three occasions to the point we will no longer eat there. The rest of the staff are pleasant.

Feb 28, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Went to the Bower yesterday from breaky, and the location, food and experience is outstanding. The restaurant is litterally metres from the ocean and you can watch the surf from any table. The friendly staff provided good service, but even better food. The breakfast menu is very comprehensive and the food is to die for. They serve a quality cup of coffee too. 10/10

Dec 14, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Been to The Bower Restaurant last week. The place is really magical! You have a great view and excellent food. The staff was very friendly and I got the best coffee in Sydney there.

Jul 23, 2011 

1.3 Not Recommended

Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Unfortunately, I am unable to rate the food as it never arrived. After waiting for 35 minutes, we decided it is time to find out what happened to our order but it was easier said then done. The waitress, who originally took our order, was never to be seen, so the next five minutes were spent waving and calling in an attempt to attract the attention of at least one of the 5 other wait staff swerving around, but to no avail.

Finally one of the other patrons took mercy on us and pulled a waiter passing by and pointed in our direction, but the waiter only looked our way and went into the opposite direction towards a senior staff (we assumed) standing next to the computer. There both men got engrossed reading some information on the computer screen and that was when we realised that our order hasn’t been put through.

We called the waiter and asked him to come over, which he reluctantly did with a smirk on his face. We asked him if he could be kind enough to check our order that made him very unhappy. My husband then got up and walked to the senior staff (we assumed) trying to get to the bottom of this, by this time the rest of our group decided that it is good time to leave and get food from someplace else.

When I came up to my husband and said that we are ready to leave, the senior staff said that he did not care whether we were staying or leaving. When we asked him why our order is not ready yet, he said that the waitress who took our order got sick and went home about 10 minutes earlier. We then asked what happened in the first 20 minutes of our 30 minutes wait, but he could not come up with any comprehensible explanation, except blaming the girl that she didn’t put the order through.

None of the staff made any attempt to rectify or diminish the situation, clearly they do not care. Why should they indeed. Hopefully, the new business across the road, once up and running, will wipe the sickly smirk off their faces.

Jul 03, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Best spot! love coming here for brunch!

Jun 30, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Very warm and friendly staff and the food was really beautiful, fresh and beautifully presented. The barramundi in curry sauce was divine and the scallops were really delicious. All other diners were also very happy with their meals. We will be back.

Jun 27, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Love this place! not only amazing food and the best ambience but the service was amazing! Great experience and I can not wait to go back!

Jun 05, 2011