The Rocker

Reviews

Restaurants, European, Serves Breakfast, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining

Overall 5.3 14

4 Below Average

Food 5 Ambience 6 Service 1 Value 4

What stood out most from our visit to Aubergine today? The bloody awful service.
This is not the lasting impression that any restaurant should wish to leave upon its patrons but Aubergine was successful in leaving a bad taste in our mouths.

Upon arrival, we were told that we were late, despite having called ahead to change our reservation time, a wasted phonecall it appears. Already the atmosphere was rushed and unaccommodating.

We had brought along a voucher we'd received in an email from the restaurant, which offered two courses plus a glass of wine, which we thought was an excellent deal. However, this in reality consists of a choice of either soup or garlic bread as your entree, plus a small choice of dishes that qualify as a light meal. If you'd rather the seafood pasta, steak or lamb, you will have pay $10 extra to choose these.

I chose to start with soup (without knowing what it was, we were never told) and my partner started with garlic bread, which were 2 sad little pieces of white toast smeared with garlic butter. Water glasses were chipped and still had lip marks on the edges.

The mains were nice, just average for a restaurant of this price range. I opted for coffee instead of wine and was charged extra for soy, despite coffee obviously being a cheaper choice than wine. Thanks Aubergine. During peak lunchtime when tables were full, we were given very rushed/stressed service, with the distinct feeling that we were being hurried out to free our table.

As soon as the crowds dissipated, we were literally ignored. And I mean literally. At the end of our meal, empty wine glass and coffee cup on clear display, we were craning our necks and leaning around to catch the attention of the waitress, who walked past us every 5 minutes to clear other tables. There is no other explanation as to why she didn't ask us if we'd like to order further, or if we'd like our bill, or even make eye contact, she was quite shamelessly ignoring us. Recently, we have learned that this waitress is actually the area manager! Yikes.

All in all, I will never again visit this restaurant, nor will I be recommending it to friends or family. Disappointing special offer/voucher masquerading as a great deal when is basically just a free drink and bit of toast, teamed with totally disappointing service.

What a shame its predecessor "Moltofino" had to close, it was a much more deserving restaurant of this fabulous location. Give it a miss.

Apr 25, 2012

Sushi Kenzo, Dee Why

Restaurants, Japanese, Family Dining, Hip and Trendy, Air Conditioning

Overall 6.1 3

5.5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 6 Service 4 Value 6

My original review for this restaurant was highly complimentary, we were really happy with the range of dishes on the sushi train, the atmosphere and most of all, the fantastic value of their Tuesday night all-you-can-eat special offer for $19.50 per person.

However, this first impression has quickly faded. Since returning to this restaurant, the service has slackened, the dishes offered on the train have become increasingly basic, boring and cheaper to make, the special has been limited to between 6-8pm only And the price has gone up to $22 per person, after only 3 weeks!

As more locals have learned of the Tuesday night special, it now takes half an hour to get a seat. Sushi Kenzo should consider hosting this offer on more than one weeknight to spread out the crowds. One night for 2 hours makes for a very squashed and hectic meal with almost no service, as the waitstaff are occupied with directing crowds at the door.

When queuing to pay at the end of our visit, we overheard a couple in front of us telling the cashier that normally they were happy with their visits to Sushi Kenzo, but that this time they were very disappointed (our sentiments also). This was met with a blank face and no apology or helpful response whatsoever.

Also, I hate to report this, but, perhaps, due to overcrowding/rushed service etc, this may have impacted the quality of the food preparation because both my partner and I fell ill.

Sadly, we've been put off returning to what we hoped would be a reliable mid-week option. The price-hike, limitations and disappointing service has really ruined it.

Apr 04, 2012

Kansai Japanese Restaurant, Sydney

Restaurants, Japanese, Family Dining, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy

Overall 6.6 72

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 9

Definitely one to keep in mind for a bargain meal. At first glance upon descending the escalator to the lower level where Kansai is situated, we were worried we'd come to the wrong place, as all we could see from afar was a sushi counter. But behold, around the corner was a huge Japanese restaurant absolutely packed to capacity! And with japanese customers no less, always a good sign!

Kansai is a noisy, bustling, casual eatery and is a great option for those wanting to stretch their dollars. A set price of $29.50 will get you unlimited dishes, chosen from a wide range on a set menu, including hot dishes such as spicy baby octopus, udon noodles and teriyaki salmon, as well as sashimi salad and various sushi rolls, plus favourites like chicken karage, soba noodles and gyoza. Not just your average limited choice of dull repeptive sushi rolls going round and round on a train - this place offers value with variety!

I agree with others though on the Dragon roll and Volcano Roll - the Dragon was lovely but the Volcano was a disappointment - drowned in sweet chilli sauce, no! Why? Ask them to leave it off if you order this! The service when we visited was very stretched because they were filled to capacity. But gladly this didn't stop our waiter from being very friendly and welcoming. He recommended a few dishes and prompted us to "order more, order more, as much as you like" - great!

The dishes from this menu are quite small, so order a few at once. Also, the wait between each dish was quite lengthy. The quality of food from this all-you-can-eat menu was quite good, but not great. However, from what we could see of the sushi and sashimi dishes being specially ordered from the regular menu, this place certainly can deliver the goods, as they looked fantastic.

I think I only just filled my quota in reaching my 30 bucks' worth, as I filled up quickly, but my hungrier companion, who ordered more than me, felt that this restaurant offered very pleasing value for money.

Don't come here expecting a comfortable, intimate dinner, as the atmosphere is busy, loud and casual. But I will say that it is a step above your average all-you-can-eat Japanese and must be tried at least once. A good value option.

Response from Management:
Hi The Rocker,

Thanks for your compliments and also your positive criticism on areas we need to work on.

As of 1st February 2012, we have started a new upgraded menu. We've also looked into all the areas we need to improve on and made positive changes.

Look forward to seeing you back!

Best regards,
Management

Jan 07, 2012

Buena Vista Hotel, Mosman

Pubs

Overall 6.8 15

7 Recommended

Food 7 Drinks 5 Ambience 8 Service 5 Value 10

The Buena Vista cannot be beaten for value, this is an outstanding option for lunch or dinner and $7 for a filling meal is just fantastic. I visit this hotel solely for its incredible value and it were ever to change it would be doing itself out of business... the beauty of this place is that you could afford to come here for a proper meal every night of the week! (The cook-it-yourself option is what I am referring to by the way).

This consists of a choice of either chicken breast or rump steak, cooked at a communal grill yourself, then teamed with self-serve carrots, peas, potatoes and mixed leaf salad. (The salad used to be Greek, complete with fetta and olives but this has since been stripped back to just leaves, shame).

The ambience here has always been friendly, comfortable, great for groups and couples alike and since their recent refurbishment, the dining area has moved to the rooftop for a more modern, young/trendy feel. Overall, this is a place for everyone. Go here for the unbeatable value, it's my absolute go-to for those waiting-for-pay-day budget dinner nights. Buena Vista, don't go ruining it with a price increase, whatever you do!

Jan 07, 2012

Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why

Bars, American Express

Overall 6.5 9

7 Recommended

Drinks 6 Ambience 9 Service 5 Value 8

The new Dee Why Hotel is now a world away from the dinge-hole it used to be! You would never believe it was the same place. What an incredibly successful transformation this hotel has undergone - I absolutely love it here now! The fitout and ambience is top-notch - well done DYH, you've pulled it off with flying colours and you've actually brought some class and style back to the beaches.

Drinks: These are reasonably priced and the bar is massive - an attractively constructed circular bar that has service from every side. There is a decent cocktail list and also happy hour on weeknights.

Ambience: Massive space with high ceiling, plenty of lounge areas, a fireplace feature, loads of lounge seating for the restaurant and also semi-outdoor terrace seating - all extremely pleasant and beautifully decorated. As the new DYH appears to be constantly busy on evenings, it can get very noisy but it is a bar after all.

Service: Sometimes a bit lacklustre and complacent...the majority of staff serving in the restaurant area are quite young and perhaps not so into providing service with a smile...

Value: Overall, quite good value. The dishes upon first reading of the menu appeared a little pricey but after trying many of the mains here, I can verify their worth - excellent. A favourite I've gone back for is the barramundi, with the beef rigatoni a close second.

Dee Why Hotel is a great choice for making a night of it, be it with a large group or just a dinner date for two. It's lovely for a meal and also makes a great drinks venue, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when after around 9 or 10pm, the DJ gets cranking and the whole place turns into a huge party hotspot. Check out Saturday nights for international DJ acts. Awesome makeover for DYH, impressive.

Oct 05, 2011

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Last updated on 1st Jun 2012

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Displaying: 1 - 10 of 11 reviews

Aubergine, Dee Why Beach

Restaurants, European, Serves Breakfast, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining

Overall 5.3 14

4 Below Average

Food 5 Ambience 6 Service 1 Value 4

Apr 25, 2012

Sushi Kenzo, Dee Why

Restaurants, Japanese, Family Dining, Hip and Trendy, Air Conditioning

Overall 6.1 3

5.5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 6 Service 4 Value 6

Apr 04, 2012

Kansai Japanese Restaurant, Sydney

Restaurants, Japanese, Family Dining, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy

Overall 6.6 72

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 9

Jan 07, 2012

Buena Vista Hotel, Mosman

Pubs

Overall 6.8 15

7 Recommended

Food 7 Drinks 5 Ambience 8 Service 5 Value 10

Jan 07, 2012

Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why

Bars, American Express

Overall 6.5 9

7 Recommended

Drinks 6 Ambience 9 Service 5 Value 8

Oct 05, 2011

Rialto Restaurant & Bar, Narrabeen

Restaurants, Italian, Pizza, Family Dining, Good For Groups

Overall 6.6 12

4.8 Average

Food 4 Ambience 7 Service 4 Value 4

Nicely updated space, makes for a more pleasant dining experience in Narrabeen... but in the larger scheme of things, is just a very average restaurant, not one i'd go out of my way to recommend.

Once again, not enough staff serving on a busy weekend evening. Waitstaff are friendly enough but unfortunately spread too thinly and not thoroughly trained, so mistakes get made and service becomes slower than necessary. Even basic things like replacing cutlery when having cleared it from entrees - this shouldn't have to be requested...

Perhaps I just ordered the wrong dish and the others are better but I found the chicken stuffed with ricotta and spinach ($25ish) to be dry, overcooked, very bland and lacking in any real flavour or texture. I don't think the cut was the best either.

My companion's rigatoni with lamb was very tasty though - well-cooked lamb shoulder slivers that were tender and flavoursome. The sauce was simple but sometimes that's all that's called for.

Ambience is nice enough, probably better than many in this particular suburb. The interior has been updated since the last Italian restaurant in this spot and is now quite modern and tasteful.

It seems the dishes are a bit hit and miss in their execution. Perhaps the head chef needs to get some more feedback on dishes when creating the menu?

Service needs attention - some more formal training for waitstaff would go a long way. Professional service is just expected when you pay for a meal in this price range. (Most mains are around $25-$30).

Overall... just alright, nothing to write home about. Give it a go if you're a local but not really special enough to go out of your way for.

Sep 02, 2011

Stitch, Sydney

Bars, American Express

Overall 5.7 8

8.3 Highly Recommended

Drinks 10 Ambience 10 Service 7 Value 6

Yes. Finally. Someone's got the right idea.

From the moment our group arrived we were impressed. I'd heard good things about this bar and it was everything we'd hoped for and more. The guitar-strumming doorman was ultra-friendly and accommodating, a pleasant change and a good indication of the calibre of patrons.

Whoever selects the music at Stitch, please, keep doing what you're doing, your taste is impeccable! What a great vibe. All night we were treated to music by Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Doors... this place is my mecca.

We ordered a few different things to eat, including the dip plate (which, to be fair, was, perhaps, a little skimpy for $14, or a little expensive for a light snack, whichever way you want to see it) with some curly fries, as well as some more substantial meals like the hotdogs (the menu here focuses mainly on the very original selection of hotdog creations) and these were delicious! Very filling and also comes with curly fries, for $17.

Now, the cocktails... Very original, made with finesse and a delight to drink. Most of the original concoctions are priced between $18-$20 with the traditionals for a little less. My favourite pick? A must-try is The Purple Haze.

The bar staff are very knowledgeable and informative, so rest assured, you will be in the company of some expert cocktail makers. The mood and atmosphere is seductive and enticing. Dark, sexy, candle-lit bohemian paradise. Curtains and retro floral lamps and cosy booth seating with an old-world feel. It would be very easy to hide out and while away hours on end in Stitch Bar.

How nice to be able to write a rave-review about a Sydney venue. Very impressed, we had a great time. Please Stitch Bar, don't ever change! I would recommend this bar to anyone but I selfishly want to keep it a secret, bestowed only upon those that deserve and appreciate it! That's also part of its charm - it's so tucked away and easy to miss on street-level that to be there feels like an exclusive treat. And at the risk of sounding snobby, I think that to let the masses in on the secret would damage its appeal.

Hopefully it stays that way, what a brilliant place. Stitch has just become my new regular haunt.

Jul 04, 2011

Konnichiwa, Mona Vale

Restaurants, Japanese

Overall 6.7 13

7.8 Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 5 Service 9 Value 8

Easily one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. Looks are deceiving, the decor and atmosphere is basic but the food is magnificent. The senior staff/ owners are incredibly friendly, gentle and accommodating. Lovely place, we will always return. Excellent Japanese food, every time.

Jul 01, 2011

Ging Sushi Cafe, Dee Why

Restaurants, Takeaways, Japanese, Street Parking

Overall 3.9 7

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 7 Value 6

I would recommend this restaurant. I have been at least eight times now and I can say that the service is consistently friendly and yet never overbearing.
Even when packed out to capacity, service to tables has always been instant and arrival of dishes has always been prompt.

Perhaps, other people's experience with non-Japanese staff has been an unlucky one-off, as I have not yet experienced this. Staff have always been attentive and polite. Decor is very comfortable, just about formal enough for a more refined evening out. Tables are a dark solid wood, a Japanese kimono adorns the wall and the lighting is not the usual stark bright of many Japanese/sushi places these days.

Although, if you're reading this Ging Sushi, it must be said, the flatscreen TV on the wall is definitely a downer and an ambience-killer! Not needed! Ging Sushi is certainly above the current standard of restaurants on the main road in Dee Why and would be perfectly at home amongst the nicer places by the beach on The Strand, if that's any guide.

Every dish I've ever tried here has been excellent. Salmon Carpaccio is tender melt-in-your-mouth slivers dressed in a light Japanese dressing. Gyoza is not just your usual pork variety but also comes as a prawn option and is ever-so-slightly crisp, not soggy. Teriyaki salmon is beautiful: plump, piping hot, perfectly cooked and served on a sizzling hotplate with capsicum, onions and plenty of sauce.

We always order a mixed sushi and sashimi plate and the quality is absolutely consistent and the serving size is satisfactory. I stand by the quality and presentation of the food here, delicious. I think they are doing things right here. Overall, recommended.

Jul 01, 2011

Jazz City Diner, Surry Hills

Restaurants, American - Californian, American Express, Street Parking

Overall 6.5 23

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Food 7 Ambience 4 Service 4 Value 4

Ahh...well...this place was just ok. The American diner-style is a fantastic idea that I love, I adore these sorts of places and miss them sorely after returning to Oz from NYC. But, unfortunately, the Americana vibe is just not totally achieved in this case. But then again, no one in Sydney has nailed this particular niche as yet.

Food - excellent, delicious, different and very good quality. Thoroughly enjoyed the food here and it appears to be made with love and care. The burgers are definitely the stand-out order here.

Ambience - a little stark and quiet, not very lively, quite a small space and very bare. Sometimes they play old-style jazz music, which is great and is essential to creating the right mood. Casual and relaxed. The fitout is 1930's art deco yet the waitress uniforms say 1950's. One table is almost in the kitchen entranceway so be sure to book ahead for a decent table. Happily features booth seating which is a must for anywhere boasting American fare!

Service - only one waitress on a weekend, therefore, service stretched too thinly. Also, phoned ahead to request booth seating, but upon arrival were told we could no longer have it as it was kept for groups. No one was waiting but us. Not very impressive.

Value - only ok. Continuous free coffee re-fills are great and true to American diner protocol, so a big thumbs-up there. Prices for everything else are pretty steep though, considering the product and surroundings. A burger with small side-portion of fries will cost you $17. A milkshake; $10.

Overall, it sadly misses the mark as far as American diner-style food, service, atmosphere and hospitality goes. I'm not too sure of the intentions of this diner either. Does it actually want to be a truly authentic American-style eatery or is it just shyly touching on the idea?

By all means come here for the food, because it really is good (though a little over-priced) but the atmosphere needs more attention. With a bit of improvement, a revision of pricing and a little more character/direction, this could easily be a favourite. But just so-so for now!

Jun 30, 2011