Mat from Lilli Pilli

Reviews

Cafes, Modern Australian, Steak House, Hip and Trendy, BYO

Overall 6.5 33

3.8 Below Average

Food 1 Ambience 5 Service 4 Value 5

Went to Cafe Naked today for lunch or that is, attempted to have lunch there. At no time when we were seated were we informed of a staff shortage. Ordered coffees, milkshakes for kids and meals. Coffees took 15 minutes to arrive. Milkshakes arrived 15 minutes after that and waitress said they'd taken a long time because they'd had to wait for glasses to free up! Then nothing.

After a further 25 minutes with no food in sight, and 3 enquiries as to the whereabouts of our meals, we were advised that they were a chef down, and food would be another 15 minutes. By this stage we had been there over an hour and kids were starving. Gave up in disgust and went for fish and chips instead, which incidentally, was great.

Jan 02, 2012

Stonefish Tapas & Wine Bar, Cronulla

Restaurants, Seafood, Tapas, Restaurant Bookings

Overall 6.2 50

6.3 Average

Food 5 Ambience 7 Service 9 Value 4

I've been here a number of times in the last year and have quite enjoyed it. Food is pretty average, but the steak on the hot rock is the sort of thing that I could eat every night for dinner. Went again this week and now I do have a problem, the cost of the garlic bread! We had 4 servings of garlic bread at $9.50 per serve. Each serve is 4 small slices of bread and so $38 of garlic bread!

I don't mind paying $34 for a steak that I have to cook myself on the hot rock, but I really really object to paying $9.50 for a small serve of garlic bread. Will think twice before going again and kids will Not be eating garlic bread! Should add that our waitress was absolutely delightful.

Aug 13, 2011

Cipri Italian, Paddington

Restaurants, Italian, Citibank Dining Program, Has Bar, Licensed

Overall 7.1 14

6.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 2 Value 9

Came here back in September 2010 for the first time, and it was absolutely beautiful. This is a seriously sexy looking restaurant, with great food and that night, really good service. We went with our 2 children who are 8 and 11 and they were made to feel special and welcome, as were we. Kids ordered off the menu but I did ask about a kids menu earlier. They don't have a kids menu, but they were willing to make them schnitzel or calamari to keep them happy. We didn't need it, but it was lovely that they offered.

There were 7 of us and all agreed that food was beautiful. I ordered a tuna carpaccio which was absolutely divine and snapper for main, which again was beautiful. Those who had dessert loved it, and the coffee was great. I wrote at the time that we would definitely go back and as for value, this puts so many restaurants and even cafes to shame. For the quality, the food and the service, the value was fantastic.

That was then. We went back last night, and I stand by every word I said about the food. I actually ate exactly the same thing I ate last time, which I didn't realise until I reread this review. Food is lovely. However, the service last night was woeful. Actually it was almost non existent. We arrived, were seated, given water, and then didn't get any service until we begged a waiter to take our order almost an hour later. And that was the tone of the service all night. When we wanted to order coffee, we had to flag down a waiter to order it, ditto dessert, ditto the bill. Also, if you're going to allow friends of the chef or staff to hang around at the bar, then make them do it so they don't have their bum literally on the back of my chair. This went on for about an hour. Real shame as this is a beautiful restaurant which is seriously good value for the quality of the food.

Sep 12, 2010

Sabbia Italian Restaurant, Brighton-Le-Sands

Restaurants, Italian, Good For Groups, BYO, Child Friendly

Overall 5.4 16

4 Below Average

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 2 Value 1

This is a lovely looking restaurant, with beautiful views. Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends. We went there yesterday, after being to Cipri Italian the night before. What a disappointment Sabbia was.

The food is quite nice, but my barramundi was tiny (and I'm only a tiny person who doesn't eat much anyway!). Heaven help a man eating it. The service initially was dire. Rude, abrupt, and generally lots of attitude. Um, last time I looked I was the customer and I'm really polite. To be fair, once the lunchtime rush was over, the service did get friendlier and the rudeness stopped, but it shouldn't have been there in the first place.

And this restaurant is expensive for what it is! I know they'll trot out the line about paying for the views, but that's nonsense. I don't mind paying $35 for a piece of fish, but compared to a lot of far better restaurants in Sydney, this is seriously overpriced.

Sep 12, 2010

Red Lantern, Surry Hills

Restaurants, Vietnamese, Licensed, Outdoor Dining, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.1 247

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 9

Went last night and loved it. Food was absolutely gorgeous and service was attentive and prompt. Yes, it is pricey, but it was beautiful and husband and I thought it was worth every cent. Will definitely go back soon.

Aug 15, 2010

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Member since 2008

Last updated on 1st Jun 2012

Reviews

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Displaying: 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

Cafe Naked, Gymea

Cafes, Modern Australian, Steak House, Hip and Trendy, BYO

Overall 6.5 33

3.8 Below Average

Food 1 Ambience 5 Service 4 Value 5

Jan 02, 2012

Stonefish Tapas & Wine Bar, Cronulla

Restaurants, Seafood, Tapas, Restaurant Bookings

Overall 6.2 50

6.3 Average

Food 5 Ambience 7 Service 9 Value 4

Aug 13, 2011

Cipri Italian, Paddington

Restaurants, Italian, Citibank Dining Program, Has Bar, Licensed

Overall 7.1 14

6.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 2 Value 9

Sep 12, 2010

Sabbia Italian Restaurant, Brighton-Le-Sands

Restaurants, Italian, Good For Groups, BYO, Child Friendly

Overall 5.4 16

4 Below Average

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 2 Value 1

Sep 12, 2010

Red Lantern, Surry Hills

Restaurants, Vietnamese, Licensed, Outdoor Dining, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.1 247

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 9

Aug 15, 2010

Cronulla Zimzala, Cronulla

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Seafood, Tapas, Vegetarian

Overall 7.6 145

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food 7 Ambience 5 Service 2 Value 6

The food here is nice. But that's about it. Our tale of woe started with the booking. There are 2 sittings for lunch - 11.30 and 1.30, obviously so they can get more people through the place. That's fine. We chose 1.30 and an indoor table. I was told an email would be sent to confirm the booking and to disregard the request that we had to vacate by 3.30. No email was received, so had to ring to confirm the booking an hour before we were due to lunch.

When we got there, no indoor tables, so had to take an outdoor table. The 11.30 punters were in no hurry to leave. Ok. But then we get to the real problem, the service was beyond woeful. They try, and they're friendly, but they truly have no idea. Our table hadn't been set, and needed a further 2 chairs. The waiter tried to hand me the chair over the table, so that I could do it. I don't think so.

Would happily oblige in a cheap and cheerful cafe, but when mains are $30+ I don't think I need to hoist chairs. Then there was the wait. We sat down at 1.30 and waited for 30 minutes before we saw the waitress again. Didn't actually eat until 3.15, and then only after I asked about the whereabouts of the food. Just woeful. Glad they don't stick to their rule about being out by 3.30!

But, to be fair, the food was nice. Also, if I ask a waitress whether they have icecream, I expect more than a blank look and a yes. Flavour maybe? Oh, and no toilet paper in the ladies.

Response from Management:
Dear Mat from Lilli Pilli - Ouch!! What can I say... I am genuinely sorry for your less than positive experience last Sunday. Let me try to put you in the picture a little though.....4 weeks of horrific weather saw us waste mountains of food, lose 6 staff members, 4 due to a lack of work, our takings dropped by 80% and we faced a forecast for last weekend of rain, rain, and still more rain (thank you media).......We were caught out badly, ill prepared and I assure you we are also bitterly unhappy with our lack of performance.

All of Sydney had been cooped up inside for four weeks and had decided to visit Zimzala on the same day at the same time. Nobody wanted to leave despite their assurance at the time of booking and we had irrate queues of people wishing to dine with us. We were understaffed, understocked and we definately underachieved!

On a different note ....we have always regarded ourself as a reasonably cheap and very cheerful cafe/restaurant, our mains start at $25 (not $30+) however our lunch menu starts at $12, our coffee and drinks are on par if not cheaper than most cafes and restaurants in the area, so you can see, despite the expensive appearance of the restaurant, we dont have a hefty price tag and do not consider ourselves to be "fine dining" but rather casually chic. (Just thought I had better clear up that point).

To finish up, please, please come in and have a coffee with us we would love to discuss further. Thank you for your review, Kind regards Zimzala Management

Jun 06, 2010

Buzz Bar, Cronulla

Cafes

Overall 6.1 16

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.8 Not Recommended

Food 5 Ambience 2 Service 1 Value 3

Ok so the coffee is fine, but the service here (from I presume the senior staff) was beyond disgraceful. Try rude and arrogant. We were obviously a hassle to him. There are many other cafes to choose from and will not be going back.

Jan 12, 2009

Thai Riffic, Cronulla

Restaurants, Thai, BYO, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 5.9 45

3.5 Below Average

Food 5 Ambience 5 Service 1 Value 3

This has to be one of the worst restaurant experiences I've had. Food was OK - average, but the service was without exception the most appalling I've come across. Problem seems to be that takeaway is given priority to seated customers and the wait for food drags on and on and on. When one dish eventually arrived there was a 15 minutes wait for the 2 other dishes, in which time the rice (which had nothing to do with the meal that had arrived) went cold. Also its overpriced for what is very average thai. $26.50 for 3 prawns is totally acceptable where service exists, but not in a sardine can space with no service.

Jul 26, 2008