joez5544

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Great place for its ambience and value. Main meals for less than $25 and the food was of a reasonable quality.

Dec 20, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

This local restaurant has great food and is very affordable. Great for a casual relaxed dinner.

Nov 20, 2010

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

Visited here and used the special offer ($49 for 3 courses). I was surprised to learn that almost everything was included in this special offer, the only condition being a $5 surcharge for the prawn dish. Food was very nice (scallops for entree was my favourite) and the restaurant was very cosy, and had a homey feel to it. We were also given complimentary pumpkin soup as an entree which was delicious. Was surprised at how busy the place was, which was still full when we left after 11pm! The food came out slowly but it was not noticeable since the waiters are friendly and there was a good atmosphere with everyone around laughing and talking. Would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Oct 24, 2010

3.3 Below Average

Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  2      Food  5     

Visited for drinks and dinner. I ordered the steak which was passable, I didn't expect much from a $25 steak though. Service from the bar was as usual, but service from one of the bouncers was appalling. I read on the website that you can park in the Westpac Tower carpark (usually $16 all night on Fri) and get the ticket validated at Bungalow 8 so you only pay $10.

Asked a bartender who had no idea, so I asked the bouncers. They all had no idea, but one of them laughed in my face saying there's no validation here. His laugh was not friendly, and was clearly put on as well, mocking me. He kept repeating that there was no validation, and I was saying how it said on the website. One of the other bouncers asked the manager who said yes there was validation. I would have said something to the rude bouncer but didn't want to get kicked out.

Oct 09, 2010

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  6     

I ordered the antipasto di mare which I thought was superb, and my main of veal with prosciutto and crispy potatoes was good, but nothing spectacular.

Service was interesting, waiter spoke to us in Italian, trying to give a feel of authenticity but came off as rude and pretentious. Italian is not too different from English, but with his thick accent it became a guessing game as to what he was asking or telling us. The booking I made was for 8.30 and when we arrived a touch late, were told that we were lucky since the kitchen closed at 9. They didn't warn me of this when I made the booking.

Also, the place was fairly quiet for a Friday night, and the waiter sometimes a bit too eager to please, constantly coming to pour our water for us, when we had the bottle on the table. A final complaint about service was when I ordered the affogato (I love affogatos), he told me that for $1 more I could get a great dessert, and tried to convince me away from my choice.

I declined, and upon receiving my affogato regretted my decision. It was served in a low tumbler, the same type of glass used for serving us water. The glass was too wide, so that when I tried to scoop some ice cream it kept moving around the bottom. I'm sure they could have served it in a latte glass instead.

Oct 08, 2010

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  9     

Great place for its ambience and value. Main meals for less than $25 and the food was of a reasonable quality.

Dec 20, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

This local restaurant has great food and is very affordable. Great for a casual relaxed dinner.

Nov 20, 2010

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

Visited here and used the special offer ($49 for 3 courses). I was surprised to learn that almost everything was included in this special offer, the only condition being a $5 surcharge for the prawn dish. Food was very nice (scallops for entree was my favourite) and the restaurant was very cosy, and had a homey feel to it. We were also given complimentary pumpkin soup as an entree which was delicious. Was surprised at how busy the place was, which was still full when we left after 11pm! The food came out slowly but it was not noticeable since the waiters are friendly and there was a good atmosphere with everyone around laughing and talking. Would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Oct 24, 2010

3.3 Below Average

Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  2      Food  5     

Visited for drinks and dinner. I ordered the steak which was passable, I didn't expect much from a $25 steak though. Service from the bar was as usual, but service from one of the bouncers was appalling. I read on the website that you can park in the Westpac Tower carpark (usually $16 all night on Fri) and get the ticket validated at Bungalow 8 so you only pay $10.

Asked a bartender who had no idea, so I asked the bouncers. They all had no idea, but one of them laughed in my face saying there's no validation here. His laugh was not friendly, and was clearly put on as well, mocking me. He kept repeating that there was no validation, and I was saying how it said on the website. One of the other bouncers asked the manager who said yes there was validation. I would have said something to the rude bouncer but didn't want to get kicked out.

Oct 09, 2010

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  6     

I ordered the antipasto di mare which I thought was superb, and my main of veal with prosciutto and crispy potatoes was good, but nothing spectacular.

Service was interesting, waiter spoke to us in Italian, trying to give a feel of authenticity but came off as rude and pretentious. Italian is not too different from English, but with his thick accent it became a guessing game as to what he was asking or telling us. The booking I made was for 8.30 and when we arrived a touch late, were told that we were lucky since the kitchen closed at 9. They didn't warn me of this when I made the booking.

Also, the place was fairly quiet for a Friday night, and the waiter sometimes a bit too eager to please, constantly coming to pour our water for us, when we had the bottle on the table. A final complaint about service was when I ordered the affogato (I love affogatos), he told me that for $1 more I could get a great dessert, and tried to convince me away from my choice.

I declined, and upon receiving my affogato regretted my decision. It was served in a low tumbler, the same type of glass used for serving us water. The glass was too wide, so that when I tried to scoop some ice cream it kept moving around the bottom. I'm sure they could have served it in a latte glass instead.

Oct 08, 2010

2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  1     

I'm very surprised to read some of the comments left here. I wonder if they are left by Back Galley staff or whether the quality of food here has changed? Visited with a friend for lunch. She ordered the Eggs Benedict, which was not runny at all. More like boiled egg. I ordered the linguine which was very tasteless and had to be seasoned with lots of salt and pepper before it was edible. Will definitely not return.

Oct 06, 2010

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  6     

Came with my partner and we ordered the wagyu steak and the chilli crab. Steak was beautiful although served on a blank plate. Chips, salad or sauce was extra, and when I declined, the waiter patronisingly asked if I was "just having the steak". I would think that at a nice restaurant overlooking the water they would include sides with the steak or at least be polite about it. The crab was good, but short of spectacular considering Kingsley's is famous for its crabs.

The main problem I have with this restaurant was the waiter serving us. He was untalkative, unfriendly and gave off a vibe that he didn't want to work there. It was weird because he was the only waiter I could see not wearing the waiter uniform so I assume he was the senior staff. He shouldn't be given this role if he cannot fulfil it. Unfortunately, we were stuck with him the whole evening which dampened our spirits. Sorry Kingsley's, won't be returning.

Sep 29, 2010

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  4     

Was hesitant to try after seeing the low ratings on this site, but decided to try the all-you-can-eat $25 offer (available on Sunday and Monday nights), thinking it was a bargain. The plates are brought out to you, and the first thing you notice is there are a lot of chips. The plates they bring out are: meat platter (steak, chorizo, lamb skewer, chicken, 2 pork ribs, and chips), seafood plate (battered fish, 2 prawn butlets, a few calamari rings, and chips), half rack of pork ribs, and mussels (approx 10 mussels in white or red sauce).

The lamb skewer was delicious but you cannot order as many as you want, as they only bring out the meat platter as a whole. Chorizo was nice although some of the ones we had were too salty to consume. Steak was disgusting, it was bland and thin. Looked like what you would see at a cheap sausage sizzle. Chicken and ribs were lacking in flavour. Seafood and mussels were okay, nothing special. I left this place with still room to spare in my stomach (at an all-you-can-eat!) since I just didn't want to eat anything else.

I am hoping that the a la carte menu is better, but will not return to try. For a seemingly high quality restaurant I am surprised they are not ashamed of the food they are serving.

Sep 29, 2010

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Food here is great, and the interior decor is lovely. Food slightly pricey for a thai restaurant but the quality, atmosphere and service make up for it easily.

Sep 29, 2010

6.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  7     

Very busy place even on a tuesday night. The food here is great. I would recommend sticking to the items on the menu marked "best" as they really are tasty. Avoid the unmarinated meats, they are very lacking in flavour. My favourite was the spicy prawns: try them!

Unfortunately, service was nowhere near the standard of the food. I understand they are busy it does not call for rudeness. Most of the waiters were okay but one male in particular was very rude and abrupt. He did not warn us when bringing the first pot of coals, coming dangerously close to burning one of my family members, and when asked to clear the bbq grill he simply places one on top of the current one, causing the grills to rest uneasily.

I would return for the food definitely and fingers crossed not have to deal with the same waiter.

Sep 29, 2010