adamleigh

4 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  2     

To be honest the only thing this place has going for it is its location with close proximity to the footy grounds or if something is on at the Hordern.
As pub grub goes it is overpriced and certainly doesn't deliver. 200gm rump steak ordered medium rare turned up medium-well and was tough as a $5 steak. Crumbed lamb cutlets were tough and full of gristle and the kids menu at $12 didn't get rave reviews either.

Service was very haphazard and it was a quiet Sunday lunch time and not a busy pre football crowd so there was no excuse. We watched an extremely dry and overcooked chicken schnitzel sit on a plate for over 5 minutes before it was finally collected and delivered to a table.

Overall if you are there before a game and need to eat, get a sausage off the BBQ they normally do or leave earlier and go elsewhere in the area.

Mar 16, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Went here as part of a big group on a Saturday night and couldn't have been more impressed.

The $45 banquet menu has ample food with 5 appetisers and 6 mains with the steamed fish and salt and pepper mix among the favourites, but all dishes failed to disappoint and it's not often that in a big group there is food left over but tonight there was and we had some big eaters (and drinkers) in our group.

Service was also fast and efficient and very friendly and we even had a vego amongst us that was catered for as well without any hassle. BYO of both beer and wine at $3 a head is fantastic value and there is a reason this restaurant has been a Balmain staple for so long and is always busy when so many mediocre ones over the years have come and gone or are hanging on by a thread.

Feb 06, 2012

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

What a shambles of a place this is...Basil Fawlty would be proud. We had the nice but not too bright waitress, a senior staff that kept coming back to apologise so many times it got uncomfortable and the rock star kitchen staff who thinks there is absolutely no way anything could be wrong with his cooking.

To start we ordered an oven baked schnitzel that when it arrived was still raw in the middle. When this was pointed out and returned to the kitchen we could see the kitchen staff start arguing with the waitress who then went off to the senior staff. This is where things went from the sublime to the ridiculous. The senior staff then came over and proceeded to lecture us on the different cuts of a chicken and that unlike breast the thigh remains pink even when cooked.

After pointing out that there is a difference between raw pink and cooked pink I am pretty certain he still thought he was right and we didn't know what we were talking about. After that I decided to stay well clear of chicken and ordered a veal schnitzel. When it was delivered the nice but dim waitress gave me a message from the kitchen staff letting me know that it would be pink in the middle when I cut it. When I asked if he was trying to be a smartarse I got the reply that "no - he's a really nice guy".

In between all this the senior staff had been back 2 more times offering us a dessert and it was getting all too weird so we finished as quickly as we could and legged it.

Overall one of the weirdest eating experiences in some time where you're not sure whether to laugh or cry. A final word to the kitchen staff, you fry precrumbed schnitzels in a chain restaurant and that's all...get over yourself. On a positive the caesar salad was apparently nice.

Jan 06, 2012

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

Had lunch here on a Sunday with a mate and our two 10year old boys. Ribs are big enough to share between an adult and a boy (just) but certainly not for 2 adults and are roughly $47 a plate. Chips were also very stingy on the plate with basically a small handful and nothing else.

The whole experience felt extremely rushed, with the ribs arriving on our table within 5 minutes of ordering so would be fairly certain they had been renuked to warm them back up. Plates disappeared pretty much as soon as the last rib was eaten as well and even taking into account it was a busy afternoon it would have been nice to take a breath and not feel like we were being pushed out the door.

On the plus side the kids had a ball making a mess with the ribs and it is loud and noisy so perfect again if you have kids with you. Overall not great but not terrible either but definitely one for the tourists (but what isn't in Darling Harbour?).

Dec 19, 2011

3 Below Average

Food  4      Drinks  2      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  2     

Have to agree with some of the other reviews on here, especially on the food as it is nowhere near the quality of other pubs in the area. Service for drinks from the bar was ok but there is a real air of nonchalance throughout the whole place.

The menus are printed on A4 paper with no protection so are torn and covered in food and drink stains. That is after you have to go and find them yourself. Food when delivered was also just dumped on the table without a word and off they went. The food and drink prices charged just don't add up to decent value. If you were paying for the $10 lunch menu during the week it wouldn't be a problem but you expect a bit more when forking out $32 for ribs.

On the plus side the fit out they have done out the back is well done but it certainly doesn't make up for the overall lethargy of the place.

Dec 06, 2011

4 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  2     

To be honest the only thing this place has going for it is its location with close proximity to the footy grounds or if something is on at the Hordern.
As pub grub goes it is overpriced and certainly doesn't deliver. 200gm rump steak ordered medium rare turned up medium-well and was tough as a $5 steak. Crumbed lamb cutlets were tough and full of gristle and the kids menu at $12 didn't get rave reviews either.

Service was very haphazard and it was a quiet Sunday lunch time and not a busy pre football crowd so there was no excuse. We watched an extremely dry and overcooked chicken schnitzel sit on a plate for over 5 minutes before it was finally collected and delivered to a table.

Overall if you are there before a game and need to eat, get a sausage off the BBQ they normally do or leave earlier and go elsewhere in the area.

Mar 16, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Went here as part of a big group on a Saturday night and couldn't have been more impressed.

The $45 banquet menu has ample food with 5 appetisers and 6 mains with the steamed fish and salt and pepper mix among the favourites, but all dishes failed to disappoint and it's not often that in a big group there is food left over but tonight there was and we had some big eaters (and drinkers) in our group.

Service was also fast and efficient and very friendly and we even had a vego amongst us that was catered for as well without any hassle. BYO of both beer and wine at $3 a head is fantastic value and there is a reason this restaurant has been a Balmain staple for so long and is always busy when so many mediocre ones over the years have come and gone or are hanging on by a thread.

Feb 06, 2012

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

What a shambles of a place this is...Basil Fawlty would be proud. We had the nice but not too bright waitress, a senior staff that kept coming back to apologise so many times it got uncomfortable and the rock star kitchen staff who thinks there is absolutely no way anything could be wrong with his cooking.

To start we ordered an oven baked schnitzel that when it arrived was still raw in the middle. When this was pointed out and returned to the kitchen we could see the kitchen staff start arguing with the waitress who then went off to the senior staff. This is where things went from the sublime to the ridiculous. The senior staff then came over and proceeded to lecture us on the different cuts of a chicken and that unlike breast the thigh remains pink even when cooked.

After pointing out that there is a difference between raw pink and cooked pink I am pretty certain he still thought he was right and we didn't know what we were talking about. After that I decided to stay well clear of chicken and ordered a veal schnitzel. When it was delivered the nice but dim waitress gave me a message from the kitchen staff letting me know that it would be pink in the middle when I cut it. When I asked if he was trying to be a smartarse I got the reply that "no - he's a really nice guy".

In between all this the senior staff had been back 2 more times offering us a dessert and it was getting all too weird so we finished as quickly as we could and legged it.

Overall one of the weirdest eating experiences in some time where you're not sure whether to laugh or cry. A final word to the kitchen staff, you fry precrumbed schnitzels in a chain restaurant and that's all...get over yourself. On a positive the caesar salad was apparently nice.

Jan 06, 2012

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

Had lunch here on a Sunday with a mate and our two 10year old boys. Ribs are big enough to share between an adult and a boy (just) but certainly not for 2 adults and are roughly $47 a plate. Chips were also very stingy on the plate with basically a small handful and nothing else.

The whole experience felt extremely rushed, with the ribs arriving on our table within 5 minutes of ordering so would be fairly certain they had been renuked to warm them back up. Plates disappeared pretty much as soon as the last rib was eaten as well and even taking into account it was a busy afternoon it would have been nice to take a breath and not feel like we were being pushed out the door.

On the plus side the kids had a ball making a mess with the ribs and it is loud and noisy so perfect again if you have kids with you. Overall not great but not terrible either but definitely one for the tourists (but what isn't in Darling Harbour?).

Dec 19, 2011

3 Below Average

Food  4      Drinks  2      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  2     

Have to agree with some of the other reviews on here, especially on the food as it is nowhere near the quality of other pubs in the area. Service for drinks from the bar was ok but there is a real air of nonchalance throughout the whole place.

The menus are printed on A4 paper with no protection so are torn and covered in food and drink stains. That is after you have to go and find them yourself. Food when delivered was also just dumped on the table without a word and off they went. The food and drink prices charged just don't add up to decent value. If you were paying for the $10 lunch menu during the week it wouldn't be a problem but you expect a bit more when forking out $32 for ribs.

On the plus side the fit out they have done out the back is well done but it certainly doesn't make up for the overall lethargy of the place.

Dec 06, 2011

3.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  2     

This is just another very mediocre Thai that won't do a lot to keep customers coming back.

Bland flavorless noodle dishes that a 10 year old wasn't impressed with and even asked if he could get some from across the road. Chicken Massaman curry had no flavour at all and the chicken in it was very ordinary.

Service and ambience are fine as it is just a small size place similar to many others on the peninsula but there are many that do it much better around here though. Again another Thai in the area going through the motions of serving up bland mediocre favorites that just aren't very good. Much better around than this.

Aug 24, 2011

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

We went here as a group of 8 on a Thursday night on the recommendation of friends who are big foodies and we weren't disappointed in the least.

We ordered the $115 banquet for 4 twice for the 8 of us to make it easier and it was fantastic and plentiful as the food just kept on coming. Food was fresh and flavorsome with some very unique tastes. Service in the place is friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is also great especially after a few bottles of BYO.

This is a great addition to the Balmain area especially with the demise of many Thai/Vietnamese restaurants which have become extremely pale and bland in the last few years. We will definitely be back here for more.

Aug 22, 2011

6 Average

Food  6      Drinks  8      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  6     

Have been going here on and off over the years as it is a perfect place for a Sunday feed if you have kids. The area out the back is perfect for them to run around while the dads have a beer.

The menu is either Asian or Western and this time I stupidly decided to go the western side and ordered a fish burger. When it was served up it was a triangle fillet straight out of a cardboard box and what made it look even worse was the fact it was in a round hamburger bun with the pointy end sticking out one side and the flat end out the other. They did give me my money back, but did claim that no one else had ever complained. I would guess I am the first one to ever order one then.

The kids menu is only $5 and does a decent burger and chips but my only gripe is they won't do a kids size serving of any noodle or rice dishes so if the 10 year old feels like noodles you have to go with an adult serving. In all other visits here I have only ever had noodles or curries and all have been very good. The interior is nothing flash, but they do have the footy on the TV’s and if you can jag a table outside on a nice day even better.

This is a very cheap and cheerful type of place and if you just stick to the Asian portion of the menu you should be ok.

Aug 16, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon especially if you can walk home and don't have to drive.

Sunday lunch has a few different options with $25 pork roast that also includes dessert or $29.90 for something else off the mains plus dessert. The 1/4 Golden Roasted Duck was maybe a little bit dry, but that was the only real negative of the afternoon as the red cabbage and sauerkraut with it was excellent. The grilled pork knuckle was huge and got the thumbs up as did the roast pork lunch as well.

Desserts were large, Apple Strudel with walnuts and ice cream. The best way to wash all this down was with some European Ales and the drink menu is quite extensive with beers from many countries with obviously a lot of Czech ones on the list. Krusovice lager out of the tap in a .05l glass is the way to go.

Atmosphere wise this would be perfect if it was cold and wet outside and you have plenty of time on your hands to eat and drink at big wooden tables and chairs. The service was efficient and friendly and will definitely be back at some stage for dinner to try some other dishes. The artistic calendar posters on the wall of the toilet when you first walk in seem a bit out of place, but none of us were complaining.

Aug 08, 2011

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  6     

Ate here on a Sunday lunch time with 5 Adults and 4 kids so we decided to go with pizza's all round to share. The pizzas themselves were actually very good, a bit oily on one of them but still nothing major.

We were seated upstairs and the waiter made enough trips up the very steep stair case to make sure we always had enough of everything. Prices are more expensive than normal but it is in The Rocks and it is right in the middle of a tourist area so that is to be expected. At $28 a pizza and $7 a beer it is certainly not somewhere you would make a special visit to go to for a feed, but if you have something on in the area and are hungry it is certainly worth a visit.

Jul 27, 2011