Idler

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

This seems like a relatively authentic Thai experience, right down to the toilet with the mercifully unfindable light switch. Tuna on betel leaf was tasty and had crunch and bite. Jungle curry with prawns was salty and sour and duck with chilli jam was sticky and succulent. For a little shop across from the station on the old side of Hornsby, this was not bad at all.

Dec 28, 2011

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  5     

Well, what to say? The food shows signs of promise: salt and pepper squid with lime aioli and lamb both quite well cooked and presented. The ambience is also not bad, laid back and a couple of singer/guitarists helping things along.

The problem is the staff, or at least what appeared to be the senior staff. To be fair, a young bloke and one woman were quite helpful. The trouble is that the waiters don't appear to have assigned tables and if the helpful couple don't get you, the too hip to spit, too cool for school cat in the hep hat and thongs (who I took to be the senior staff) and his mates aren't going to help you any time soon.

Admittedly it was Christmas Eve, but if it's too much trouble to bring a menu, take a drinks order, bring the bill or pick up the payment, you're probably better off not opening. We noticed that the senior staff had time to drink and smoke with people he knew, and at two separate tables seating two women there was no shortage of attention from the male waiters, but the rest of us might as well have been invisible.

Someone has no doubt invested hundreds of thousands in this joint and is flushing it away by employing children to run it as their private hang. Oh and guys, if you want to risk being mistaken for professionals who give a damn, lose the thongs. Real professionals turn up to work in real footwear.

Dec 28, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Food is billed as home style and is a cut above the average. In particular, the steamed eggplant and tofu was a great subtle, smooth foil for the crisp chilli chicken and the richer duck plate. Duck san choi bau entree was fresh and crisp. Banana spring rolls were perhaps always going to be problematic but the lychee ice cream with them was not over the top - just fine. Attentive, genuine service. A decent night out.

Aug 07, 2011

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

Can't really rate the food since it never came, so let's just talk about the lack of service. Takeaway order, one burger, as described on the menu, no tricks. Admittedly it was Friday lunch time but this is a burger joint, so should be Ok right? Wrong. Three people waiting for their takeaway orders to come out ahead of me. After 25 minutes of waiting, the third gets his and I figure I'm next.

After another 5 plus minutes I enquire. No record can be found of the order I watched the guy behind the counter put into the computer and which I'd paid for. I accept that everyone can have the odd mishap and lose an order. Thing is, this wasn't an isolated event. Four or 5 times while I was waiting I watched food go out to the tables and be brought back because either the waiter couldn't find which table it was for or the order was wrong.

If you're going to run a high turnover restaurant charging premiumish prices for burgers, you need to have the systems to cope with the volume and you need to employ floor staff who are up to the job. These weren't.

Aug 06, 2011

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

Lots to like: an attempt at something different, some honest spices and flavours, warmth and a bit of atmosphere on a cold night with a fair crowd in. The mixed dips were a high point for the food, smokey, sweet and salty. Niggles: The plates weren't warmed so the mains went cold quite quickly. One of the wait staff was the standard Manly backpacker with little knowledge and limited English, but was willing enough and the others were good. Worth a visit or two.

Jul 17, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

This seems like a relatively authentic Thai experience, right down to the toilet with the mercifully unfindable light switch. Tuna on betel leaf was tasty and had crunch and bite. Jungle curry with prawns was salty and sour and duck with chilli jam was sticky and succulent. For a little shop across from the station on the old side of Hornsby, this was not bad at all.

Dec 28, 2011

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  5     

Well, what to say? The food shows signs of promise: salt and pepper squid with lime aioli and lamb both quite well cooked and presented. The ambience is also not bad, laid back and a couple of singer/guitarists helping things along.

The problem is the staff, or at least what appeared to be the senior staff. To be fair, a young bloke and one woman were quite helpful. The trouble is that the waiters don't appear to have assigned tables and if the helpful couple don't get you, the too hip to spit, too cool for school cat in the hep hat and thongs (who I took to be the senior staff) and his mates aren't going to help you any time soon.

Admittedly it was Christmas Eve, but if it's too much trouble to bring a menu, take a drinks order, bring the bill or pick up the payment, you're probably better off not opening. We noticed that the senior staff had time to drink and smoke with people he knew, and at two separate tables seating two women there was no shortage of attention from the male waiters, but the rest of us might as well have been invisible.

Someone has no doubt invested hundreds of thousands in this joint and is flushing it away by employing children to run it as their private hang. Oh and guys, if you want to risk being mistaken for professionals who give a damn, lose the thongs. Real professionals turn up to work in real footwear.

Dec 28, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Food is billed as home style and is a cut above the average. In particular, the steamed eggplant and tofu was a great subtle, smooth foil for the crisp chilli chicken and the richer duck plate. Duck san choi bau entree was fresh and crisp. Banana spring rolls were perhaps always going to be problematic but the lychee ice cream with them was not over the top - just fine. Attentive, genuine service. A decent night out.

Aug 07, 2011

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

Can't really rate the food since it never came, so let's just talk about the lack of service. Takeaway order, one burger, as described on the menu, no tricks. Admittedly it was Friday lunch time but this is a burger joint, so should be Ok right? Wrong. Three people waiting for their takeaway orders to come out ahead of me. After 25 minutes of waiting, the third gets his and I figure I'm next.

After another 5 plus minutes I enquire. No record can be found of the order I watched the guy behind the counter put into the computer and which I'd paid for. I accept that everyone can have the odd mishap and lose an order. Thing is, this wasn't an isolated event. Four or 5 times while I was waiting I watched food go out to the tables and be brought back because either the waiter couldn't find which table it was for or the order was wrong.

If you're going to run a high turnover restaurant charging premiumish prices for burgers, you need to have the systems to cope with the volume and you need to employ floor staff who are up to the job. These weren't.

Aug 06, 2011

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

Lots to like: an attempt at something different, some honest spices and flavours, warmth and a bit of atmosphere on a cold night with a fair crowd in. The mixed dips were a high point for the food, smokey, sweet and salty. Niggles: The plates weren't warmed so the mains went cold quite quickly. One of the wait staff was the standard Manly backpacker with little knowledge and limited English, but was willing enough and the others were good. Worth a visit or two.

Jul 17, 2011