Vaby's Mediterranean Grill

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  10     

Would definitely recommend Vabys Picton. The service is great, food is perfect. Great value for money.

Mar 20, 2012 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  5     

Always great service and food, little pricy.

Oct 04, 2011 

5.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  2      Value  5     

We visited Vaby's the eve of Father's Day. The restaurant was really busy but staff were friendly in seating us. We were a table of 8, we ordered mains right away (no entree), we ordered a Seafood Platter for 2, Steaks, Pastry fillings, Chicken Snitzels. 1 hr and a half later our meals arrived. This was very disappointing. The child's meal was brought out fairly quickly, however, we had to wait another 1 hr for ours.

When our mains were brought out, we received another child's meal, to which we looked puzzled and the waitress immediately walked away with it, not even asking whether we wanted it seeing we had waited so long for our meals. I assumed it only got thrown out. I had the Seafood Platter which was a mixture of pros and cons. The prawns were beautiful, and the BBQ octopus was tasty and well cooked.

However, the Kilpatrick oysters were the worst I'd experienced. They were the size of a 5c coin and there was no taste to them. Overall, the service was ok, but as we waited longer for our meals, the waiters seemed to avoid us. (We didn't complain at all).

The Ambience was great, a live guitarist whom remained 'in the background' so the music was great. I don't think I'll go back. The wait on the meals was a real downer to our Father's Day dinner.

Sep 07, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  10     

My family and I eat at Vaby's Picton weekly, and I must say, they have never failed to impress, a quiet calm atmosphere set in a beautiful stonemason designed building, offset by warm friendly staff, outstanding service and fantastic food at good value is the perfect recipe for success, Thank you Dom. Highly recommended!

Jul 13, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  3     

Visited here with extended family for a birthday. Genuinely disappointing experience. The staff were certainly under pressure with a full dining room and only 2 waitstaff on duty. Our drinks took nearly 30 minutes after we waited 15 mins to order them. When arrived, the order was incorrect.

Kids meals arrived nearly 30 mins before the adult mains, leaving the kids bored by the time everyone else was eating. The seafood platter for 2 arrived without the fish, which we received quickly after it being pointed out.

This is an outdated eatery, with poor menu choices. There was a feeling of "whatever" about the place, very little pride in their lovely building and quaint location. I should have picked this up when we received a small garlic pizza-bread and it was garnished with curly parsley, really? I didn't expect a slick city restaurant and I certainly didn't get it!

Jan 22, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

Very predictable fare. We usually end up there for my birthday when no where else is open over the Christmas period. Dom does his best with limited staff resources but I wish they would expand their menu beyond the basic pub food fare, the format is just too 70's, deep-fried and stodgy. Always the same, no variation.

May 09, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

Had lunch, very nice ordered the fettucine bosciolla very nice, also had garlic bread and the lemon and pepper calamari excellent nice lemon tang, service was a little slow but it being wednesday lunch that could be understandable, had the go nuts for dessert, yum yum. Will go back in the future.

Jan 17, 2010 

3.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

If the staff could smile it might crack their face! They stuffed up 4 of our orders poor service won't be going there ever again!

Dec 19, 2009 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  2     

Went there on Saturday night for a family dinner. We were sorely disappointed with the food. One of the dishes we ordered was the Chorizo and Meat on swords that came with a side of wedges and salad. The meat was way over done to the point it was hard to swallow and on top it was completely cold (not luke warm but cold) the wedges tasted like they'd been cooked and kept in the warmer for a few hours. We had to send the meat back to the kitchen and the waiter promised to 'reheat it for us' They did however add a few pieces of stake to the dish when they brought it back out after being reheated (the stake was edible the char grilled reheated meat surprisingly didn’t get any better). The Barramundi didn’t taste fresh and the other dishes were just barely bearable.

The service at the place is the next thing that gets your attention. They weren’t that busy yet it was almost impossible to order a drink or get the waiters’ attention. We asked for a bottle of water twice before it finally arrived about 25 mins later. It wasn’t all bad though they do a very nice garlic bread and a three cheese bread. But unless you are only after starters Vaby’s is really not worth the try.

Aug 31, 2009 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Held my son's 21st birthday lunch here on Anzac Day, we had 25 people including 8 kids! The service was outstanding, Dom is unreal and very, very patient with the kids and their ordering decisions. The kids meals came with the entrees and all of the mains came out together which was good.

I had the steak/rib combo and it was beautifully cooked with lovely vegetables including squash, I had almost forgotten how good squash can taste! Everyone else was happy with the quality and quantity of their meals and Dom also split the bills. Everyone just ordered and paid for their drinks at the bar as they went, so no probs there.

The atmosphere is lovely with all of the sandstone and fireplace etc. The whole experience was just so easy, not always like that at other restaurants. Thanks once again Dom!

Apr 30, 2009