Simbass

Reviews

Cotton Duck (Closed), Surry Hills

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Serves Dinner, Serves Lunch, American Express

Overall 7.2 31

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 8 Service 2 Value 4

We were impressed with the ambience and the vibe. Initially the wine list seemed impressive with various Spanish, French and NZ offers in addition to local. However, a number of wines by glass were grossly disappointing with imbalances and a deficit of fruit character. One of the waiters admitted this and said that as soon as their stock had run out they would not continue certain wines. Surely someone is in charge of this and shouldn't keep those wines on the list in any case?

Food wise, breads and a small starters were a delight. Starters and mains reflected a desire to display interesting and creative ideas and mostly worked. The fish main was very small and hardly passed as a main size, so really poor value.

Four of us dined there on a Saturday night. We really wanted to like this eating place but were all frustrated with the inconsistencies and worst of all, really patchy service. We decided that, for us, the Cotton Duck is an interesting, characterful midweek feed and nothing more.

Feb 10, 2012

Pony Lounge & Dining Neutral Bay, Neutral Bay

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy, Romantic and Intimate

Overall 7.1 29

5 Average

Food 5 Ambience 7 Service 5 Value 3

Simple fresh clean flavours. Some of the small plate dishes work really well, however, having a wood-fired oven was the only saviour of a poorly prepared lamb rump dish and will someone please teach them what a roast potato is ($9)? Service was quite good, fit out is attractive with good ambience, spoiled by painful noise levels. Would not dine here again.

Best for small plates, desserts and a drink.

Jan 19, 2012

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe, The Rocks

Cafes, Belgian, European, Hip and Trendy, Romantic and Intimate

Overall 6.4 43

4.3 Below Average

Food 4 Ambience 6 Service 5 Value 2

High prices and high promises did not meet expectation. Stick to the pure chocolate items such as hot chocolates. Other than that, the pastries and cakes were very disappointing and eye water-ingly expensive. We also ordered a waffle and a chocolate eclair. The waffle dish tasteless, lacking in substance and not worth eating. My teenage daughter did not bother to finish it. The eclair was very average. As a chocolate lover this was not a great experience. Guylian has a good reputation in pre-made chocolates which, for us, failed to extend to most of the rest of their offer in this good looking cafe which we now feel is no more than a tourist trap.

Feb 17, 2010

Ventuno, Millers Point

Restaurants, Italian, Has Bar, Licensed, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.5 82

5 Average

Food 4 Ambience 8 Service 5 Value 3

Great buzzy atmosphere, good ambient lighting at night and friendly but not entirely organised waiters make for a good atmosphere at this waterside Italian eating and drinking place. We found the food of good quality but really bland. Pasta dishes in the mid to upper $20s do not deliver to this price point, in fact I simply stopped eating my tagliatelle with mixed mushrooms and truffle oil, it was too boring.

This could really be a gem of a place if, in the words of a newspaper critic, "the flavours were brought to the fore". He was being polite. As a meeting place for a drink and a basic feed it is ok. There are too many good Italian restaurants in this town to bother to go back there for the food alone.

Jun 30, 2009

Ripples at Chowder Bay, Mosman

Restaurants, Italian, Modern Australian, BYO, Child Friendly Menus

Overall 7.1 96

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 9

The views of the harbour and the setting are something of a delight. Happily this is one Sydney restaurant does not rest on those laurels. The food is well thought out, flavours are good and well balanced. We thought that the prices were most reasonable considering the quality.

Wine list was also a pleasure with some interesting European options thrown in. All in all a delightful experience that balances ambience with very decent food and service. This one is firmly on the list.

Feb 20, 2008

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Cotton Duck (Closed), Surry Hills

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Serves Dinner, Serves Lunch, American Express

Overall 7.2 31

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 8 Service 2 Value 4

Feb 10, 2012

Pony Lounge & Dining Neutral Bay, Neutral Bay

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy, Romantic and Intimate

Overall 7.1 29

5 Average

Food 5 Ambience 7 Service 5 Value 3

Jan 19, 2012

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe, The Rocks

Cafes, Belgian, European, Hip and Trendy, Romantic and Intimate

Overall 6.4 43

4.3 Below Average

Food 4 Ambience 6 Service 5 Value 2

Feb 17, 2010

Ventuno, Millers Point

Restaurants, Italian, Has Bar, Licensed, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.5 82

5 Average

Food 4 Ambience 8 Service 5 Value 3

Jun 30, 2009

Ripples at Chowder Bay, Mosman

Restaurants, Italian, Modern Australian, BYO, Child Friendly Menus

Overall 7.1 96

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 9

Feb 20, 2008

Watsons Bay Hotel, Watsons Bay

Pubs, Modern Australian, Seafood, Family Dining, Good For Groups

Overall 4.8 42

5.6 Average

Food 5 Drinks 5 Ambience 8 Service 5 Value 5

The setting and the views make this an exceptional local, whether on a sunny day or for a good sunset. A good place to come for a straight forward drink but the food is not anywhere near the standards or value of many Paddington pubs. At around the $20 mark a plate of BBQ prawns consisted of 4 measly prawns strung out on skewers with a neat pile of rice on the side. They can afford to be a little less mean.

Oct 19, 2007

Vue de Monde, Melbourne

Restaurants, European, French, Fine Dining, Bistro/Brasserie

Overall 8.3 73

4.5 Below Average

Food 4 Ambience 9 Service 4 Value 1

This was the surprise disappointment of the year. Vue de Monde sets an exciting pace in terms of ambience and the theatre of presentation. This is badly let down by patches of mediocrity in the food and inconsistency of service. In terms of value, my fish dish was so small it was a disgrace to call it a main course. A case of sizzle over substance.

Feb 08, 2007

Forbes & Burton, Darlinghurst

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Family Dining, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy

Overall 7.5 77

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.5 Below Average

Food 6 Ambience 6 Service 4 Value 2

Dinner: By night this sandstone building takes on a new charm and with soft lighting most will enjoy the ambience, except for those seated near the back who have to stare into a brightly fluorescent lit kitchen that has no door or privacy panel - a rather odd contradiction. The menu was too small and in the opinion of all four diners not very suitable for a winter's night. Starters and Mains were of a reasonable to good quality. Wine list climbed very quickly to the $50 and $60 mark with some very well considered wines. Service was polite, fractured and the delivery of courses from the kitchen was painfully slow. Had we not been with guests, my wife and I would have walked out mid evening and gone somewhere else for a main course. Our Saturday nights are valuable. They are a time to relax and enjoy quality time over good food. As one of our guests commented after "Overall, a waste of time".

Jul 22, 2006

Pilu At Freshwater, Freshwater

Restaurants, Italian, Fine Dining, Child Friendly, Citibank Dining Program

Overall 8 208

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 9

"Yes, the people in the kitchen do have a fine sense for flavours." said the waiter when I complimented him on the best most moist and flavourful whole baby snapper I have had in the last 10 years.

The food was deftly prepared, with a keen sense of flavour and finess. Service was of a kind rarely experienced outside of Europe.. subtle, attentive and connected. All of this in a spacious well appointed relaxed beachside location. This was a fine lunch indeed.

It is always a bit risky to rave about a restaurant for fear of those few people who may not strike it as lucky on the day, however the pleasant attitude and professionalism that we encountered from every server on the floor points to an excellent service culture - and was the best ingredient. Long may it reign.

Jan 06, 2006