luvfood&wine

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Have been to this place at least 20 times over the years. Twice in the past month and on each occasion I've been up all night with headaches and feeling very dehydrated. I don't think they used to use much Msg, if any but now it appears to be overloaded.

Add this to the fact that when we went last week, every dish we ordered was on the table within 3 minutes of placing the order. Most of the dishes are obviously prepared earlier, and only one or two dishes actually tasted hotter than warm. Won't be going back!

Apr 19, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I went to Kingsleys on Saturday night in a group of 10. Everyone on the table commented on what a fantastic place and what great food. The Alaskan crab legs were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The steaks were delicious as were all the different sides. We had an excellent Margaret River Chardonnay for $48 and a very good Heathcote Shiraz for around the same amount (a couple of bottles of each).

The staff were very helpful, turning on a heater when only one person was feeling the cold. The meals were out in good time. Cannot think of a single thing to whinge about. Overall a fantastic experience, we'll be back again.

Apr 19, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  3     

This was our 4th or 5th visit to Flying Fish and based solely on this occasion we won't be going back.

The service compared to usual was terrible. We had to wait and wait and wait for drinks, throughout the afternoon. The waitress was very unhelpful and was unhappy "It's Sunday, I'd rather not be working". That's a good attitude to have in such an expensive restaurant.

The food was nice, but that was all. There was no wow factor today which is what I don't mind paying for. The menu was alot more limited than usual. It ended up that each diner on our table had the same main course, barramundi which was Ok but not great.

Overall, it cost more than $700 for 4 people. We each had 3 courses. Only 1 bottle of wine ($75), we would have drunk more but struggled to get drinks.
Next time we're in Sydney, we'll try somewhere else.

Apr 19, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

Went to the Press Club in a group of 6. The service was very good. One of the group has a few food allergies and the staff went out of their way to make sure he was catered to accordingly. Whilst the food was nice, it wasn't what I'd call "memorable". We had the degustation menu.

I can't even remember the first course. The second was pork, which other than the dessert was the highlight of the night. The snapper was bland, the lamb was nice enough. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the place but I'd prefer to go to the sister restaurant in Brunswick.

Oct 22, 2011

3.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  2     

We went in a group of 4 last week and despite the fact we had made a reservation, we were given a table in the doorway. Never mind the bad start, we were quite prepared to overlook it.

When we first arrived, I informed the waitress we were in no hurry as we were dining with friends that we hadn't seen in a few months. The same waitress proceeded to take our orders, and I reminded her we would like a decent amount of time between entrees and mains. Of course, no sooner had the entree plates been whisked away, the mains were plonked in front of us. The food was nice. Not memorable, nothing to write home about, but quite Ok.

We finished the mains and the dessert menu was pushed upon us. After declining dessert (we were all too full) the bill was thrown down on the table (we hadn't asked for it, and were still drinking the very overpriced wine, yes $65 for a bottle that was $23 in Dan Murphy's).

When I picked up the bill, we had been charged for 8 entrees (4 people). The waitress was rude when I asked her about it. The senior staff wasn't much better. We were out the door at 9 pm after arriving at 7 pm, after stating we wanted a relaxing night.

Never again! A bad experience overall, and at $650 not a cheap one.

Sep 07, 2011

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Have been to this place at least 20 times over the years. Twice in the past month and on each occasion I've been up all night with headaches and feeling very dehydrated. I don't think they used to use much Msg, if any but now it appears to be overloaded.

Add this to the fact that when we went last week, every dish we ordered was on the table within 3 minutes of placing the order. Most of the dishes are obviously prepared earlier, and only one or two dishes actually tasted hotter than warm. Won't be going back!

Apr 19, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I went to Kingsleys on Saturday night in a group of 10. Everyone on the table commented on what a fantastic place and what great food. The Alaskan crab legs were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The steaks were delicious as were all the different sides. We had an excellent Margaret River Chardonnay for $48 and a very good Heathcote Shiraz for around the same amount (a couple of bottles of each).

The staff were very helpful, turning on a heater when only one person was feeling the cold. The meals were out in good time. Cannot think of a single thing to whinge about. Overall a fantastic experience, we'll be back again.

Apr 19, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  3     

This was our 4th or 5th visit to Flying Fish and based solely on this occasion we won't be going back.

The service compared to usual was terrible. We had to wait and wait and wait for drinks, throughout the afternoon. The waitress was very unhelpful and was unhappy "It's Sunday, I'd rather not be working". That's a good attitude to have in such an expensive restaurant.

The food was nice, but that was all. There was no wow factor today which is what I don't mind paying for. The menu was alot more limited than usual. It ended up that each diner on our table had the same main course, barramundi which was Ok but not great.

Overall, it cost more than $700 for 4 people. We each had 3 courses. Only 1 bottle of wine ($75), we would have drunk more but struggled to get drinks.
Next time we're in Sydney, we'll try somewhere else.

Apr 19, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

Went to the Press Club in a group of 6. The service was very good. One of the group has a few food allergies and the staff went out of their way to make sure he was catered to accordingly. Whilst the food was nice, it wasn't what I'd call "memorable". We had the degustation menu.

I can't even remember the first course. The second was pork, which other than the dessert was the highlight of the night. The snapper was bland, the lamb was nice enough. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the place but I'd prefer to go to the sister restaurant in Brunswick.

Oct 22, 2011

3.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  2     

We went in a group of 4 last week and despite the fact we had made a reservation, we were given a table in the doorway. Never mind the bad start, we were quite prepared to overlook it.

When we first arrived, I informed the waitress we were in no hurry as we were dining with friends that we hadn't seen in a few months. The same waitress proceeded to take our orders, and I reminded her we would like a decent amount of time between entrees and mains. Of course, no sooner had the entree plates been whisked away, the mains were plonked in front of us. The food was nice. Not memorable, nothing to write home about, but quite Ok.

We finished the mains and the dessert menu was pushed upon us. After declining dessert (we were all too full) the bill was thrown down on the table (we hadn't asked for it, and were still drinking the very overpriced wine, yes $65 for a bottle that was $23 in Dan Murphy's).

When I picked up the bill, we had been charged for 8 entrees (4 people). The waitress was rude when I asked her about it. The senior staff wasn't much better. We were out the door at 9 pm after arriving at 7 pm, after stating we wanted a relaxing night.

Never again! A bad experience overall, and at $650 not a cheap one.

Sep 07, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

We went to Punjabi By Nature on a weeknight in a group of 4. The menu was very extensive, it included some dishes that I've never seen at an Indian restaurant before. They had quail, venison and kangaroo on the menu as well as the standard lamb, chicken, beef and vegetarian dishes. Everyone enjoyed the meal. We shared 3 entrees and 3 mains with rice and naan. Although the beef vindaloo wasn't particularly hot, everything was tasty. Blue cheese naan was new to me, but I found it to be nice and not too overpowering.

Overall this restaurant is great value. The service was a little slow but we did tell the waiter at the beginning that we weren't in a hurry. You have to take all your own drinks as it's BYO only, but there is a bottleshop across the road, and $2 per person corkage is good value. Great experience, we'll be going back next time we're in Brisbane.

Sep 07, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

We have been tried every Indian restaurant from Williamstown to Moonee Ponds and we'll only be going to Aangan from now on. Some Indian friends tipped us into it and we know why. A great variety of dishes, all of good quality. Excellent goat curry and vegetarian meals as well as standard fare such as Vindaloo. They are happy to make dishes to suit your taste, eg. medium, hot or extra hot. There is even a curry for those "with a steel lined stomach".

You can sit outdoors in the beer garden where they have plenty of heaters or inside where it can get a little loud but that only adds to the atmosphere. BYO wine if you like too. Great place.

Aug 12, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Went to Sosta for the first time last week and will definitely be going back. We had a pre-dinner drink over the road at the quaint Town Hall Hotel, then arrived at Sosta and were impressed from the start.

Great, friendly staff and food to die for. I had the guinea fowl (which I've never eaten before) and it was delicious. Melt-in-your-mouth, very juicy and tasty. That was after shared entrees of oysters and beautiful grilled scampi.
My partner had the homemade ravioli which he loved.

The wine list was very good and the prices quite reasonable for what we had. A very pleasant experience.

Aug 12, 2011

5.5 Average

Food  4      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  4     

I took interstate guests to Spice Temple last night (it was the first time I'd been there myself). Overall, it was Ok but I doubt I'll be going back. The food was somewhat hit and miss. We ordered a few entrees to share and then did the same with mains. The lowlight of the meal was the Bang Bang white cut chicken. The chicken itself was fatty to begin with but then it was sitting in spices and Oil! There was no mention on the menu that the dish was a cold dish, straight out of the fridge, but it was and this only added to the unpleasantness.

The highlights of the meal were the Hunan Style Pork Belly which we all agreed was absolutely outstanding, and the Stir fried grass fed beef fillet which just melted in your mouth.

I ordered Baked Ginger Custard for dessert, only to be presented with a cheesecake. Apparently the dessert menu had changed, however, my copy hadn't!
There are much better places around town.

Jul 20, 2011

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  1     

I booked a table at Blue Orange on a Friday night after reading some good reviews about the place but I was embarrassed at the end of the evening about taking my visitors there.

Three of the seven main meals were sent back. The pasta was swimming in oil, the fish was raw in the middle and a steak was cooked well done when it was requested medium.

The staff were pretentious, it was a hassle to get drinks service. The place had a nice feel about it but, unfortunately, that was the nicest thing any of us had to say about it later. We won't be going back.

Jun 08, 2011