bowie3

Reviews

Le Gobelet, Leura

Restaurants, French

Overall 7 56

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 8 Service 3 Value 2

Where to start, mon dieu?

The expectation - an authentic French meal in a cosy little restaurant run by a French husband and wife team, in the French tradition.

The reality - is this how John Cleese felt when he stayed at the Torquay hotel lampooned in Fawlty Towers?

We had plenty of time to ponder this as our meals made their way to us at the pace of an escargot. Yes, the antics from the kitchen are amusing and quirky at first. But bonhomie deserts you when you wait two and a half hours for two less-than-impressive meals which were delivered to our table twenty minutes apart. More so, when one did not seem to match the menu description. No apologies. Cést la vie.

With plenty of time to observe, we could see that our's was not a unique experience, but the norm. At a nearby table of eight, one unlucky diner was given her meal half an hour after all the others had finished eating!

In all fairness, the wife/waitress had the job of holding it all together while the non-chef in the kitchen let her down badly. If the food was worth waiting for, or if it could be written off as an inexpensive evening's entertainment, I would not feel compelled to write this review.

So, unless you are researching material for a sit com based on an over-priced, dysfunctional French restaurant in which the spoiling of paying customers' evening is not a consideration, give your hard money to a restaurateur who may deserve it. Pubs in Sydney regularly do better than this.

Dec 05, 2010

Dai's Golden Crown, Cremorne

Restaurants, Chinese, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 7.3 17

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 9

This is a real find for several reasons: it is newly renovated, it is quiet (carpeted, with no compulsory muzak), and has tasty, well priced meals. Added bonus is being just across from Cremorne Orpheum Cinema.

Must say that the service was considerate and attentive, food better than your average suburban Chinese and we could carry on a conversation without having to shout over restaurant noise, the latter being one of our priorities. Remember pre 90's? - this was the usual restaurant experience, not the noise bombardment we are forced to endure today.

We were treated to a complimentary port and will be back again after next movie at the Cremorne Orpheum, conveniently situated across the road.

May 14, 2010

Singha Thai Frenchs Forest, Frenchs Forest

Restaurants, Thai, Romantic and Intimate, BYO, Food Delivery

Overall 6.6 20

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 8

This is my favourite Thai restaurant on Northern Beaches. Food has delicate flavours, generous portions and the staff are gracious and attentive, but not in the intrusive western sense.

But the best thing? It is blissfully quiet! You don't have to shout to be heard across the table and other diners' conversations don't intrude on your's. A spacious, carpeted room, upholstered chairs and linen table cloths mean that the trademark of the ubiquitous minimalist restaurant, the rising crescendo of noise which kills most conversation, is mercifully missing.

If anyone knows of another decent restaurant with carpet to absorb noise, please let us all know! Basil lamb and Padang curry are my favourites. Curry puffs come with feather-light pastry.

May 12, 2010