aloveaffairwithfood

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  7     

Note: I actually wanted to give 6.5/10 for food but couldn't seem to do so, so I'll round it up to a 7 giving it the benefit of the doubt. I was excited to try this place for dinner, given the wonderful reviews and scarcity of good Spanish restaurants on the North Shore.

The meal started off promisingly. Our sangria was light and fruity, delicious! We ordered several entrees to share. First was the white anchovy fillet on potato tortilla topped with shavings of cured tuna. The flavour of the anchovies was nicely subtle, tempered by the tortilla. The beef empanaditas were divine and came with a delicious tasting sauce. The croquetas were nicely fried, not too oily, an also came with a nice sauce accompaniment.

The charcuterie board was disappointing in terms of the jamon (perhaps, an acquired taste?) but the cheese, bread and olives redeemed it. Mains were less impressive. The prawns were nice but not outstanding, but I wish we had skipped the meatballs (which the waitress had told us were a house specialty). They were soggy and the sauce didn't sit well with either of our taste buds. The pan-fried potatoes were flavoursome but quite oily.

The worst was dessert, which was very disappointing. We ordered the churros and crepes and both left the impression that they were done in a hurry with no care. I felt I could've whipped up something better in my kitchen at home!

I have to say that the service there was amazing though, even when we shattered a glass water jug. I am tempted to go back to try some other dishes but on this occasion I have to say I am surprised by the other much more favourable) eatability reviews.

Mar 28, 2011

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  4     

I went to Bacco in Chifley for lunch yesterday, we were a group of 6. Prior to sitting down at the table, we asked one of the waitresses if it would be alright for one person in the group to sit down with the rest although she had brought lunch. The other five would be eating. The waitress said this would be fine and seated us.

The group all ordered salads, which were a decent serving size, the only positive aspect of this review. All was fine until another waitress came by and told the person in our group eating a sandwich from home that this was "not polite". (Note: this person had also ordered a coffee, take what you will from this.) Needless to say, it was a rather awkward and embarassing confrontation because of the conflicting responses and misleading initial representation we had received. One explanation might be that Bacco tends to hire European staff who do not always have a good grasp of English.

The worst part came when we asked for the bill. Service was slow and when the bill arrived, the group had been overcharged by about $3 per main. It was later realised that we had been given an old copy of the menu (with old prices), so the restaurant agreed to let us go with the cheaper price on the old menu "just this once".

For some reason, the tone of the staff was as if we were somehow in the wrong, when it was their mistake. It took about 15 minutes for them to amend the bill, and it only happened after one member of the group walked up to the cash register. I noticed at least 4 staff members working the floor, and no-one else was paying a bill at the time, so the delay was quite inexplicable.

I normally like eating at Bacco, especially from the take-away coffee cart. If only the restaurant staff were more attentive and polite.

Feb 17, 2011

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  7     

Note: I actually wanted to give 6.5/10 for food but couldn't seem to do so, so I'll round it up to a 7 giving it the benefit of the doubt. I was excited to try this place for dinner, given the wonderful reviews and scarcity of good Spanish restaurants on the North Shore.

The meal started off promisingly. Our sangria was light and fruity, delicious! We ordered several entrees to share. First was the white anchovy fillet on potato tortilla topped with shavings of cured tuna. The flavour of the anchovies was nicely subtle, tempered by the tortilla. The beef empanaditas were divine and came with a delicious tasting sauce. The croquetas were nicely fried, not too oily, an also came with a nice sauce accompaniment.

The charcuterie board was disappointing in terms of the jamon (perhaps, an acquired taste?) but the cheese, bread and olives redeemed it. Mains were less impressive. The prawns were nice but not outstanding, but I wish we had skipped the meatballs (which the waitress had told us were a house specialty). They were soggy and the sauce didn't sit well with either of our taste buds. The pan-fried potatoes were flavoursome but quite oily.

The worst was dessert, which was very disappointing. We ordered the churros and crepes and both left the impression that they were done in a hurry with no care. I felt I could've whipped up something better in my kitchen at home!

I have to say that the service there was amazing though, even when we shattered a glass water jug. I am tempted to go back to try some other dishes but on this occasion I have to say I am surprised by the other much more favourable) eatability reviews.

Mar 28, 2011

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  4     

I went to Bacco in Chifley for lunch yesterday, we were a group of 6. Prior to sitting down at the table, we asked one of the waitresses if it would be alright for one person in the group to sit down with the rest although she had brought lunch. The other five would be eating. The waitress said this would be fine and seated us.

The group all ordered salads, which were a decent serving size, the only positive aspect of this review. All was fine until another waitress came by and told the person in our group eating a sandwich from home that this was "not polite". (Note: this person had also ordered a coffee, take what you will from this.) Needless to say, it was a rather awkward and embarassing confrontation because of the conflicting responses and misleading initial representation we had received. One explanation might be that Bacco tends to hire European staff who do not always have a good grasp of English.

The worst part came when we asked for the bill. Service was slow and when the bill arrived, the group had been overcharged by about $3 per main. It was later realised that we had been given an old copy of the menu (with old prices), so the restaurant agreed to let us go with the cheaper price on the old menu "just this once".

For some reason, the tone of the staff was as if we were somehow in the wrong, when it was their mistake. It took about 15 minutes for them to amend the bill, and it only happened after one member of the group walked up to the cash register. I noticed at least 4 staff members working the floor, and no-one else was paying a bill at the time, so the delay was quite inexplicable.

I normally like eating at Bacco, especially from the take-away coffee cart. If only the restaurant staff were more attentive and polite.

Feb 17, 2011