ice-cream

4 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  2     

What can I say, apart from the reviews are definitely accurate. The food is definitely not worth what they charge. We eat out quite a bit and don't mind paying for good food but the calamari we had for entree were oily and the zucchini flowers are definitely average.

The mains were no better either. My four prawns and minuscule salad were certainly not worth the over $30 price tag. The dessert was also ordinary. Would I eat there again, only if I had to. Save your money and eat elsewhere!

Mar 04, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  5     

This restaurant was a huge let down. I was expecting great food and great service to match. I was wrong on both counts. The service was bad. We had to ask several times for things that we had ordered. Not once were we asked if everything was okay, or if we wanted more drinks.

The duck pancakes were average at best with no duck meat on them, but duck skin only in the majority of pancakes that were served in our group of eight.

The salt and pepper squid was probably the best thing that we ate and whilst it was good, I can't say that it was the best that I have had. For the money that you pay, you can eat Chinese food that is better and have much better service.

I don't think that I would be in a hurry to return based on my experience and all the people in our group agreed.

Dec 16, 2011

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  4     

I think that we must be incredibly fussy as I went here with friends on the weekend and I have to say that I don't think that we would return again. On a positive note, the restaurant has nice comfortable chairs and the staff are very friendly which was nice.

The food wasn't that nice however. The entree was not too bad, I had the szechuan pepper calamari which tasted okay and I sampled some of the prawn cutlets in almond crumbs. Both entrees were sufficient and tasted fine. The main meal and dessert were not very nice however. The bernaise sauce on my barramundi was really gluggy and didn't taste that nice in comparison to bernaise sauces that I have had in the past.

The dessert was the worst thing however. The berries in the basket had a really sour taste that was unpleasant. Even the ice-cream didn't disguise the horrid taste of the berries. Everyone who had this dessert commented that it wasn't very nice at all.

This is certainly not the worst restaurant we have been to, but for the money it is certainly not worth it and we won't be returning any time soon.

Jul 11, 2011

7.2 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

We went here last Saturday for lunch. I had not been here for a few years and we wanted to try it again as the location is just beautiful. The food was nice but nothing to rave about really. We all had the fish of the day which was Bream.

There were two things that annoyed me. As another reviewer has stated, they will not alter the meals at all which is a little disappointing if you don't like one of the ingredients being used. It is a shame as if it was a cheap place to eat, then one can take the fact that they are inflexible, but when you are paying over $20 for your meal, then you expect a little flexibility. I don't think swapping salad for chips is too much to ask.

The other disturbing thing was the ladies bathrooms downstairs. They were on the outside of the building (so I don't know if there are others inside) were absolutely disgusting. The smell in there was that horrendous that it was just nauseating. I cannot believe that they haven't had any complaints about them.

May 24, 2011

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  5     

We ate here dinner here with friends recently and it was the first time that we had eaten here. I hadn't read any reviews so that I didn't have any preconceived ideas on what to expect.

One of the things that we loved is the beautiful location. Overlooking the beach is always a great place to eat a meal especially during the summer. It would probably be better during the day than at night however.

The food was okay but I can’t say that it was spectacular. The eye fillet was edible but I think I would select another main meal if I went there again. It was a bit dry and I definitely have had much better meat. It was probably just a bad choice I think as the others enjoyed their meals.

The desserts were very nice though. I tried some of the banoffee pie and it was tasty. The minestrone of strawberries with summer fruits and mascarpone gelato was also very nice. The coffee was also great.

My main gripe is the staff. What an absolute shame that the staff are average at best, as it is staff that make a place. You can have the best food in the world but if your staff are below par, then it effects your overall dining experience.

I can understand that they were busy but they forgot to bring our drinks out. The waitress only remembered that she had neglected to bring us our drinks when she bought out the main meal. When the drinks arrived, they bought the wrong ones. The service was pretty slow overall and we have eaten at places that are much larger and busier than Zimzala where the food came out promptly and we weren’t left waiting for our drinks.

It really is a shame that they have issues as it has the potential to be a great place.

Feb 17, 2011

4 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  2     

What can I say, apart from the reviews are definitely accurate. The food is definitely not worth what they charge. We eat out quite a bit and don't mind paying for good food but the calamari we had for entree were oily and the zucchini flowers are definitely average.

The mains were no better either. My four prawns and minuscule salad were certainly not worth the over $30 price tag. The dessert was also ordinary. Would I eat there again, only if I had to. Save your money and eat elsewhere!

Mar 04, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  5     

This restaurant was a huge let down. I was expecting great food and great service to match. I was wrong on both counts. The service was bad. We had to ask several times for things that we had ordered. Not once were we asked if everything was okay, or if we wanted more drinks.

The duck pancakes were average at best with no duck meat on them, but duck skin only in the majority of pancakes that were served in our group of eight.

The salt and pepper squid was probably the best thing that we ate and whilst it was good, I can't say that it was the best that I have had. For the money that you pay, you can eat Chinese food that is better and have much better service.

I don't think that I would be in a hurry to return based on my experience and all the people in our group agreed.

Dec 16, 2011

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  4     

I think that we must be incredibly fussy as I went here with friends on the weekend and I have to say that I don't think that we would return again. On a positive note, the restaurant has nice comfortable chairs and the staff are very friendly which was nice.

The food wasn't that nice however. The entree was not too bad, I had the szechuan pepper calamari which tasted okay and I sampled some of the prawn cutlets in almond crumbs. Both entrees were sufficient and tasted fine. The main meal and dessert were not very nice however. The bernaise sauce on my barramundi was really gluggy and didn't taste that nice in comparison to bernaise sauces that I have had in the past.

The dessert was the worst thing however. The berries in the basket had a really sour taste that was unpleasant. Even the ice-cream didn't disguise the horrid taste of the berries. Everyone who had this dessert commented that it wasn't very nice at all.

This is certainly not the worst restaurant we have been to, but for the money it is certainly not worth it and we won't be returning any time soon.

Jul 11, 2011

7.2 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

We went here last Saturday for lunch. I had not been here for a few years and we wanted to try it again as the location is just beautiful. The food was nice but nothing to rave about really. We all had the fish of the day which was Bream.

There were two things that annoyed me. As another reviewer has stated, they will not alter the meals at all which is a little disappointing if you don't like one of the ingredients being used. It is a shame as if it was a cheap place to eat, then one can take the fact that they are inflexible, but when you are paying over $20 for your meal, then you expect a little flexibility. I don't think swapping salad for chips is too much to ask.

The other disturbing thing was the ladies bathrooms downstairs. They were on the outside of the building (so I don't know if there are others inside) were absolutely disgusting. The smell in there was that horrendous that it was just nauseating. I cannot believe that they haven't had any complaints about them.

May 24, 2011

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  5     

We ate here dinner here with friends recently and it was the first time that we had eaten here. I hadn't read any reviews so that I didn't have any preconceived ideas on what to expect.

One of the things that we loved is the beautiful location. Overlooking the beach is always a great place to eat a meal especially during the summer. It would probably be better during the day than at night however.

The food was okay but I can’t say that it was spectacular. The eye fillet was edible but I think I would select another main meal if I went there again. It was a bit dry and I definitely have had much better meat. It was probably just a bad choice I think as the others enjoyed their meals.

The desserts were very nice though. I tried some of the banoffee pie and it was tasty. The minestrone of strawberries with summer fruits and mascarpone gelato was also very nice. The coffee was also great.

My main gripe is the staff. What an absolute shame that the staff are average at best, as it is staff that make a place. You can have the best food in the world but if your staff are below par, then it effects your overall dining experience.

I can understand that they were busy but they forgot to bring our drinks out. The waitress only remembered that she had neglected to bring us our drinks when she bought out the main meal. When the drinks arrived, they bought the wrong ones. The service was pretty slow overall and we have eaten at places that are much larger and busier than Zimzala where the food came out promptly and we weren’t left waiting for our drinks.

It really is a shame that they have issues as it has the potential to be a great place.

Feb 17, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  7     

I went here for a group dinner recently and I didn’t really have any high expectations of the food at all. I really liked the décor of the restaurant as it had a lot of character. It is in a beautiful location in the Rocks with views of the bridge.

I didn’t eat an entrée so my rating is based on the main meal, side dishes and dessert. The lamb that I had was very nice and the meat just melted in your mouth. The sides of mash and green beans were okay but nothing to rave about. The vanilla crème brulee was a generous serving size and very tasty.

It is a shame about the staff as they really let this restaurant down. Yes, it has a wonderful ambience, but the service was a bit hit and miss. They should receive some better customer service training so that customers feel welcome. Based on my experience despite the quality of the food I would not return due to the staff.

Dec 09, 2010

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

We went here for a group for dinner last week and it was okay. We found the staff to be friendly and the service was reasonable considering that they were quite full when we were there. I ate the grilled chicken with chilli sauce and tried some of my partner's fish and chips both of which were perfectly acceptable.

The desserts we had were also fine and for a cafe the food was okay. My only complaint was that we were sitting towards the kitchen area of the cafe and it was incredibly hot and stuffy. They did have the windows and doors open but they should have had the air-conditioning on as being at the back made it uncomfortable. A lot of people kept getting up to go outside to get some fresh air. If I am ever in this area again, I would consider eating here again.

Dec 08, 2010

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Went on a lunch cruise with a group and I was not expecting the food to be any good at all as it was a buffet and I have been on a buffet cruise before and the food was vile.

There was plenty of food and you could keep going back for more which was a surprise. Most of the food that I ate was fresh and tasted fine. It certainly isn't a la carte dining but it was good for an outing with friends or family. There is a variety of food so there is bound to be something for you to eat that you will enjoy. I really enjoyed the noodle dish.

Oct 08, 2010

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  5     

I ate here with a friend for lunch a few weeks ago as I have always walked past and never gone in as it always seems too busy. The place was very crowded and the staff were run off their feet trying to serve everyone. We were frustrated as it took a while to get served and we had other plans for the afternoon.

We ordered the lamb burgers and they were only just okay. The meat was a little undercooked (perhaps, because they were so busy) and they really were not that nice. The meat was a little on the tough side. This place certainly doesn't represent value for money as the burgers were certainly not cheap and I would definitely not return here in a hurry as Cronulla has many other places you can go and have a bite to eat.

Oct 08, 2010

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  7     

This is okay for a quick souvlaki or yeeros/kebab. The lamb souvlaki on pita bread is our favourite. This place in essence a take away with very limited seating so it isn't somewhere you go to dine for a special occasion. Compared to the other kebab shops the meat is a little better. Service can be a little on the slow side if they are a little busier.

Oct 08, 2010