budulinek

Reviews

Le Gobelet, Leura

Restaurants, French

Overall 7 56

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4 Below Average

Food 2 Ambience 9 Service 3 Value 2

We decided come here for a special occasion. As a number of previous reviews on this website stated, a large amount of sense of humor seemed to be an essential pre-requisite to really enjoy this place, including the hints about the Fawlty Towers.

The atmosphere is definitely totally different to any other establishment on Leura Mall drag. This place has atmosphere and the displayed menu was the most appealing and interesting . Soft background music was enjoyable and non-intrusive, not interfering at all with your conversation. So far so good.

Despite of the “ being squezzed-in”, the restaurant was half-empty on Saturday night. Mireille is very French, friendly, very helpful and entertaining, but she was totally at mercy of her offsider – the chef. The interesting and salivation-inducing menu was rapidly losing its appeal when our entrée (escargots a la bourgignonne) was served one hour after the order was taken .

We were prepared for some delays after reading the warnings on the restaurant menu and recalling some of the reviews. As we were getting very close to our point of walking out if the main meal would be not served within 150 minutes , the chef just made it. The main meal arrived two hours and twenty minutes after the order was taken.

The fillet mignon de veau with morel mushrooms was not cooked as requested (medium rare, but it was overdone and dry), the sauce was more than heavy on the cream side. Not impressive. The duck a l’ orange suffered the similar problems. The sauce was over-reduced to the point of being burnt and bitter, the duck skin was cooked beyond the golden crisp point, getting closer to be carbonized. As the evening progressed, we no longer felt the desire - or even dared - to order the desserts.

Some moments – like the chef frequently banging something twice (a pot or the bench) to signaling that some meal is ready - were entertaining for a while and leading us to a guessing game who will be served next time. Yes, you definitely need the sense of humor - and the patience of Mother Theresa as well - to get some pleasure out of this place. However, we went there to have a good evening with the hope to enjoy the quality French food. This establishment in its current form would fail to succeed anywhere in Paris or French countryside.

On the whole , with the exception of the ambience, our experience was disappointing . Some of these problems could be hopefully eliminated by reducing the menu to fewer dishes to accommodate the chef’s coping abilities, or to call Gordon Ramsay’s Hell Kitchen for assistance.

Dec 21, 2010

Tollgate Hotel, North Parramatta

Pubs, Bistro/Brasserie, Has Bar

Overall 7.2 21

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Drinks 9 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 10

I am going to this pub for its food for quite some time (helps if you work locally). The place is friendly, quiet (unless you choose the night of State of Origin footie). The service is very unobtrusive and reliable. The food is good, simple, wholehearted, totally unpretentious and tastes great. Where you can get a decent 400g rump steak and chips for $13? You do not get a fancy food ikebana on your plate, but I had never left this place hungry after just one course meal. The drinks are cheap, the parking is no problem. In regards of value for money, this place beat any fancy restaurants for miles around. Enjoy it as much as I do!

May 30, 2010

Sofie's Greek Restaurant, Balmain

Restaurants, European, Greek, Mediterranean, Vegetarian

Overall 8.5 118

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 6

After researching this website, Sophie’s rating 7 perfect scores of 40 points out of 12 ratings, proved to be irresistible to us. We made a booking without any difficulties and on arrival we were seated according to our choice. The staff were very very friendly and helpful, service was very prompt (you may even say “too fast”).

The food was fresh and tasty, but the servings were somehow less generous than in other Greek restaurants. The entrée of char-grilled octopus was not very good value compared to crisp baby squid. We were disappointed that lamb kebabs so much praised in other reviews were replaced on menu by chicken kebabs. The setting after recent renovations was very friendly and soft carpets had pleasing effect on the noise levels.

The belly dancing floor show towards the end of Saturday evening was an unexpected bonus. The very unusual aspect of the printed menu was the request for the feedback and suggestions for the menu improvements, something we had not experienced in other restaurants so far. On the whole, it was pleasant outing, but at $110 for two without drinks, the value was questionable.

May 30, 2010

Dai's Golden Crown, Cremorne

Restaurants, Chinese, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 7.3 17

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 8

After attending several restaurants in the “catchment area” of Hayden Orpheum Cinemas we discovered this place, after its renovations. It was very pleasant surprise. Subtle décor, soft carpets, attentive service without unnecessary intrusion.

The food was very good, fresh and tasty, with the generous servings, far better than usual Chinese restaurants. The unexpected bonus of this place and highly enjoyable aspect, it was blissfully quiet, so our conversation was not drown in the unwanted background music and the rattling of metal chairs and the stilettos on hard flooring. We just wish that would be more restaurants like this around. We will be back.

May 30, 2010

Simply the Best, Five Dock

Restaurants, Chinese, Vietnamese, BYO, Child Friendly

Overall 7.7 48

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.5 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 3 Service 5 Value 3

After searching through this web site we chose “Simply the Best” due to its high rating and very suggestive name. However, after our visit we felt that the restaurant should be renamed “Very Average at Best”.

The service was prompt and friendly, but the food was very very average. You can get better quality food in other places for the same price. The lime beef, so highly praised in so many reviews, was very disappointing to us as it was too much on acidic side with poorly balanced flavours. The pork belly was just absolutely unexciting. It cannot be denied that the senior staff was welcoming and very friendly, but, unfortunately, to the point of being unnecessarily intrusive. He was frequently vocal as much as the guests, which did not match our idea of quiet relaxing dinner. We will not return.

Apr 25, 2010

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Reviews

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Displaying: 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Le Gobelet, Leura

Restaurants, French

Overall 7 56

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4 Below Average

Food 2 Ambience 9 Service 3 Value 2

Dec 21, 2010

Tollgate Hotel, North Parramatta

Pubs, Bistro/Brasserie, Has Bar

Overall 7.2 21

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Drinks 9 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 10

May 30, 2010

Sofie's Greek Restaurant, Balmain

Restaurants, European, Greek, Mediterranean, Vegetarian

Overall 8.5 118

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 6

May 30, 2010

Dai's Golden Crown, Cremorne

Restaurants, Chinese, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 7.3 17

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 8

May 30, 2010

Simply the Best, Five Dock

Restaurants, Chinese, Vietnamese, BYO, Child Friendly

Overall 7.7 48

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.5 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 3 Service 5 Value 3

Apr 25, 2010

Road to Goa (St Ives), St Ives

Restaurants, Indian, BYO, Wheelchair Access, American Express

Overall 7.2 54

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 5 Service 8 Value 7

We went to this restaurant twice within one month, both times without booking. There were absolutely no problems as the staff were very friendly to seat us and very helpful with their advice about the dishes served. We had tandoori chicken breast as entrée, lamb feojiada and temperada, chicken Xacuti and prawns Galmo. Every one of these dishes were very tasty, full of flavor, good size serving and absolutely nothing pretentious.

The service was prompt, without any unnecessary intrusions. The quality of food and service were very consistent on both of our visits. The ease to park the car was a bliss. The only inconvenience was the acoustics of the place, especially when some guests at next table got more lively and vocal, so, weather allowing, it is better to sit at the outside tables.

Apr 25, 2010

Radio Cairo, Cremorne

Restaurants, African, Vegetarian, BYO, Has Bar

Overall 7.5 107

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 7 Service 9 Value 9

We went to Radio Cairo by now several times and never regretted it. Ambience is fair, gets bit crowded and noisy as it always seems to be busy, but this is all counter balanced by the food and friendly service. The staff was always friendly and were putting an effort to find a seating for us. The food is very exciting, with large variety of exotic flavours and somehow you would like to get everything at once.

All dishes we tried were very highly memorable (in very positive sense), the memory of the lamb fillets Morroccan style and steak disguised as Cajun slippers still producing Pavlov's dog reflexes. Definitely one of the more and excitingly satisfying place! And we shall return!

May 03, 2009

Fook Yuen Seafood, Chatswood

Restaurants, Chinese, Yum Cha, Child Friendly, Private Room

Overall 5.9 104

5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 4

We went there without booking on week night. Staff were friendly to find us place to our liking. However, despite a significant number of staff on the floor, service was rather slow. Furthermore, staff was rather intrusive, frequently popping up trying to take plates away despite the fact we did not finish eating yet. Food was good, but not memorable, the servings were adequate. When you include service and ambience into the account, it was not really good value for money.

Oct 28, 2008

Portico Restaurant and Bar at Greengate Hotel, Killara

Restaurants, Comfort Food, Fish and Chips, Modern Australian, Steak House

Overall 7 45

6 Average

Food 5 Ambience 7 Service 9 Value 3

We went there on Saturday evening without having any booking. Staff were very friendly and very helpful to accommodate us, adding an extra table for us despite the place being really full.

The setting was OK, food was classical pub fare, served on very large plates, but not at usual pub prices, drinks and wine per glass rather overpriced. Summing it up, it was very friendly, very fair, but food - steak and grilled fish - was not really memorable and not good value for money spent.

Nov 25, 2007

Royal Cuisine Thai Restaurant, Lane Cove

Restaurants, Thai

Overall 7.2 15

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 10

Superb !!! Delicious food, fresh and very tasty. Menu with so many alternatives that it is a pleasurable agony to chose from. All our chosen dishes were excellent (duck with hot chillli and basil and king prawns with ginger and shallots). Very generous servings (we underestimated the size of entrees to our distress later), service very good, staff not intrusive. We shall return.

Aug 19, 2007