Emma Parker

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

We were excited to try Cotton Duck having heard good things. But this is not a place to go on a weekend as they do not have the ability to service a busy restaurant. We waited 1 hr 20 minutes to get the wine we ordered, it sat on the counter warming as we waited, the entrees took a further 10 minutes to arrive.

The pasta in all pasta dishes was watery and overcooked and to top it all off there was a fire in the restaurant, which they blamed on paper. However, we saw the fire department removing things from the kitchen and the whole restaurant filled with smoke. We cancelled dessert. The senior staff blamed our poor experience on booking a table at 8.30 pm which is "changeover". What? If you can't service a table don't let us book it. Quite simple. We left hungry and exhausted and will not recommend this to anyone.

We weren't the only table complaining of poor service. Everyone around us had the same complaints. They knocked a bottle of wine off the bill as an apology, but this is probably the first time when really I just didn't want to pay at all. If you are going to go, go for lunch and go when it is half empty and sit right near the bar (the further away you are the worse the service seem to get).

Dec 05, 2010

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6.3 Average

Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  8      Drinks  8     

We have now eaten here 5 times, and there are definitely stand outs on the menu, the smoked eel starter is great as is the steak for main (tip -order medium if you want medium rare). We come back again and again because it’s consistently good and they use great fresh ingredients.

The only thing I loathe about this place is the service, it is terrible and you have to be lucky with who you get as most of them act like you're lucky to be there and you have to almost stand up to get service, even then the male waiter treats you like you're an arrogant fool for even asking to order. I expect that in Paris at some idiotically overpriced gastrohole but not at a cute bistro in Bronte.

If they really want to build a sustainable restaurant then they should consider a change of floor staff as it’s just not good enough and it can spoil what would otherwise be a perfect evening time and time again.

Mar 28, 2009

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  7     

We love this place and always come back for an early evening dinner, it is expensive so we generally skip starters, and head straight for the mains which are always great. Perfect time to go is 6.30 to 7.00ish when the sun is setting and the bats streak the sky as they leave the botanical gardens. Simply beautiful.

Mar 28, 2009

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Excellent service, we turned up originally to check out the guys, they weren't in the kitchen but no matter. The service was excellent and food was great, not too much and not too little. We will definitely be recommending this to others.

Jul 18, 2008

5 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  3     

We visited (with a lot of expectations) last week. And we were hugely disappointed by the standard of the steaks. So much so that we couldn't eat it and were forced to complain, we were informed that this hadn't happened before. We hoped it was true & they were gracious about it and gave us free desserts.

However, since eating there we have found many who have said the same about the quality of the steak (and sauces which are terrible). All I can conclude is that they a) buy poor quality meat or b) do not have the fat hot enough when it's cooked (hence no flavour) or c) regularly change kitchen staff hence some good experiences... so maybe you will be lucky or have enough money not to care.

Review below concludeds that it's good value, I don't think flavourless steak for $50 with no sides is good value. However, the bar and decor are great and the bar snacks are pretty good for lunch and less than half the price.

Jun 14, 2008

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

We were excited to try Cotton Duck having heard good things. But this is not a place to go on a weekend as they do not have the ability to service a busy restaurant. We waited 1 hr 20 minutes to get the wine we ordered, it sat on the counter warming as we waited, the entrees took a further 10 minutes to arrive.

The pasta in all pasta dishes was watery and overcooked and to top it all off there was a fire in the restaurant, which they blamed on paper. However, we saw the fire department removing things from the kitchen and the whole restaurant filled with smoke. We cancelled dessert. The senior staff blamed our poor experience on booking a table at 8.30 pm which is "changeover". What? If you can't service a table don't let us book it. Quite simple. We left hungry and exhausted and will not recommend this to anyone.

We weren't the only table complaining of poor service. Everyone around us had the same complaints. They knocked a bottle of wine off the bill as an apology, but this is probably the first time when really I just didn't want to pay at all. If you are going to go, go for lunch and go when it is half empty and sit right near the bar (the further away you are the worse the service seem to get).

Dec 05, 2010

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6.3 Average

Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  8      Drinks  8     

We have now eaten here 5 times, and there are definitely stand outs on the menu, the smoked eel starter is great as is the steak for main (tip -order medium if you want medium rare). We come back again and again because it’s consistently good and they use great fresh ingredients.

The only thing I loathe about this place is the service, it is terrible and you have to be lucky with who you get as most of them act like you're lucky to be there and you have to almost stand up to get service, even then the male waiter treats you like you're an arrogant fool for even asking to order. I expect that in Paris at some idiotically overpriced gastrohole but not at a cute bistro in Bronte.

If they really want to build a sustainable restaurant then they should consider a change of floor staff as it’s just not good enough and it can spoil what would otherwise be a perfect evening time and time again.

Mar 28, 2009

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  7     

We love this place and always come back for an early evening dinner, it is expensive so we generally skip starters, and head straight for the mains which are always great. Perfect time to go is 6.30 to 7.00ish when the sun is setting and the bats streak the sky as they leave the botanical gardens. Simply beautiful.

Mar 28, 2009

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Excellent service, we turned up originally to check out the guys, they weren't in the kitchen but no matter. The service was excellent and food was great, not too much and not too little. We will definitely be recommending this to others.

Jul 18, 2008

5 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  3     

We visited (with a lot of expectations) last week. And we were hugely disappointed by the standard of the steaks. So much so that we couldn't eat it and were forced to complain, we were informed that this hadn't happened before. We hoped it was true & they were gracious about it and gave us free desserts.

However, since eating there we have found many who have said the same about the quality of the steak (and sauces which are terrible). All I can conclude is that they a) buy poor quality meat or b) do not have the fat hot enough when it's cooked (hence no flavour) or c) regularly change kitchen staff hence some good experiences... so maybe you will be lucky or have enough money not to care.

Review below concludeds that it's good value, I don't think flavourless steak for $50 with no sides is good value. However, the bar and decor are great and the bar snacks are pretty good for lunch and less than half the price.

Jun 14, 2008

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  5     

We ordered takeaway here as the venue was almost empty when we visited (Monday evening) and lacking in atmosphere. We ordered two starters (prawn in coconut was very good) and two mains (essentially butter prawn and lamb korma), both were okay and as good as currys we have had on Cleveland St.

However, the price for the take away was $75 which seems very very expensive for an indian meal that wasn't worlds apart from other much cheaper venues. Not good value for money.

Mar 08, 2007

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  6     

Great weekday lunchtime yum cha. I can't comment on weekend as I have never ventured in to try it. The service is crabby but that's part of its charm, you do have to be insistent about what you want, but once you have found it, it is worth the wait.

The food is well prepared (considering the enormous portions prepared) and in particularly the steamed spinach, fried rice and crispy duck are very good. Average weekday cost for lunch with green tea is $18 which is great value.

Feb 27, 2007

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  6     

I love eating here, great position and fun menu. It is certainly not the best sushi in Sydney but it is the most varied and mixed up version of Japanese food at a very reasonable price.

The service is terrible and it seems to suffer from a high turnover of staff that do not quite have the knowledge of the menu or waiting skills (I have found this is common with most of the dining places on the wharf areas).

Kobe Jones is a fun, middle of the road gastronomic experience which will not hurt the credit card too much.

Feb 27, 2007

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I visited this restaurant for dinner about two weeks ago with two friends. We all chose varied dishes (meat and fish) and we were all extremely happy with the quality and the ambience. The tables are very comfortable (this is important if you want a long leisurely meal).

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food here, but be warned it's not cheap so do not visit expecting bistro prices.

Feb 27, 2007

7.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

This is the venue that I take all visitors to, mainly because its cheaper than Icebergs but has the same vista.

The starters are always great (I always get the ocean trout) and the mains are always a little disappointing so I always set me sights low on this. Or I recommend ordering two starters. The only exception to this is if the special roast meat dish (which changes according to the day) does vary in standard from just right to over cooked. I have not worked out if this relates to who is in the kitchen.

The wine list is excellent with a well priced selection. The dining room is great it feels comfortable and relaxing despite the number of people at the bar eyeing up your table in the hope you will be leaving soon.

The wait is long (sometimes too long) and we have left many times over the year I have been visiting the venue starving and stumbling into a mediocre Bondi venue to eat unable to wait any longer.

If you hate waiting you have to dine early. But maybe thats not such a bad thing as its better for us and the view is worth it.

The average cost of a meal is very cheap considering the location, approx $70 for starter, main and good bottle of shared wine.

Feb 27, 2007