madmaxie

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Visit Sono every month when I come to Brisbane and it never let's me down.
The service, the ambience, the food. All exceptional! Always best to pick a few dishes for the table to share, and get the traditional table if you can! Will continue to visit without a second thought.

Jun 08, 2011

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  7     

Went here on the back of the reviews below but were left a little disappointed. A great spot in the bustling Hardware Lane, we were greeted and shown to our seat and handed menus. Service was very attentive at the start, so much so we felt rushed.

Ordered oysters as a taster (looked great on the menu), starters and a main. Oysters came out straight after first round of drinks, very tasty and fresh, however, no sooner had the plate been taken away when we were handed our starters and it became apparent that the staff were hoping to get another sitting in on a relatively quiet night.

The overly ambitious service continued after starters with the mains following within 5 minutes, 3 courses ordered, served and consumed within 45 minutes of entering the restaurant. Without any time to digest, we didn’t really get a chance to enjoy the food but it could be said that it was “uninspiring”, without any exciting flavour or thought.

Given the rush to get the meals out, we were expecting to be handed the dessert menus immediately, but plates were not cleared for 20 minutes where we gave up and asked for the bill, a further 30 minutes later the bill arrived (after much searching for a waiter to remind).

It may rate as a good place for a mid-week business lunch but was lacking any real reason for us to return, especially with the competition along Hardware Lane, let alone the rest of the city.

Mar 15, 2010

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Went in on Saturday night for the second sitting and were treated to the best service and some of the best food we have experienced in a long time.

Not knowing what to order, we ordered the set menu (Set Menu C - $88 p/p) - The service staff were extremely helpful in explaining each of the dishes, how they should be cooked and which dipping sauce best suited them. The highlight of the service, however, was the floor manager turning my wife's chopsticks into some makeshift tongs (my wife can't use chopsticks so they used some paper and an elastic band so she didn't have to use a fork).

The food was amazing. The seafood was extremely fresh and served with amazing sauces and the wagyu lived up to the hype (and the price)! All in all a fantastic meal made all the more enjoyable by the friendly atmosphere and staff. Will return very soon.

Dec 07, 2009

3.8 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  1     

On a weekend away, Range was recommended highly to us, unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. The service was very slow, and even though waiting staff were friendly, would have been more at home serving at a more relaxed venue.
The mains (skipped starters), lamb rack for one and the king valley beef fillet for the other.

Lamb rack was cooked perfectly but was let down by every portion of the dish being stone cold, it was obviously dished up while waiting for the steak to cook which was grossly overcooked (asked for medium-rare, served without a sign of pink), after struggling through 2 mouthfuls, we called the waitress over who apologised and moved on without offering any kind of resolution. The remaining steak was too tough to eat and was left.

Dessert was very tasty but given our experience up to that point, it was lost on us and, unfortunately, the waitress was unable to tell us what was in the soufflé (apple, almond and honey for those playing at home).

Overall, very disappointing, especially considering the premium Melbourne prices you pay (steak @ $34, lamb $32 which I’d happily pay for a quality meal). Will not recommend or return.

Nov 16, 2009

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Visit Sono every month when I come to Brisbane and it never let's me down.
The service, the ambience, the food. All exceptional! Always best to pick a few dishes for the table to share, and get the traditional table if you can! Will continue to visit without a second thought.

Jun 08, 2011

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  7     

Went here on the back of the reviews below but were left a little disappointed. A great spot in the bustling Hardware Lane, we were greeted and shown to our seat and handed menus. Service was very attentive at the start, so much so we felt rushed.

Ordered oysters as a taster (looked great on the menu), starters and a main. Oysters came out straight after first round of drinks, very tasty and fresh, however, no sooner had the plate been taken away when we were handed our starters and it became apparent that the staff were hoping to get another sitting in on a relatively quiet night.

The overly ambitious service continued after starters with the mains following within 5 minutes, 3 courses ordered, served and consumed within 45 minutes of entering the restaurant. Without any time to digest, we didn’t really get a chance to enjoy the food but it could be said that it was “uninspiring”, without any exciting flavour or thought.

Given the rush to get the meals out, we were expecting to be handed the dessert menus immediately, but plates were not cleared for 20 minutes where we gave up and asked for the bill, a further 30 minutes later the bill arrived (after much searching for a waiter to remind).

It may rate as a good place for a mid-week business lunch but was lacking any real reason for us to return, especially with the competition along Hardware Lane, let alone the rest of the city.

Mar 15, 2010

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Went in on Saturday night for the second sitting and were treated to the best service and some of the best food we have experienced in a long time.

Not knowing what to order, we ordered the set menu (Set Menu C - $88 p/p) - The service staff were extremely helpful in explaining each of the dishes, how they should be cooked and which dipping sauce best suited them. The highlight of the service, however, was the floor manager turning my wife's chopsticks into some makeshift tongs (my wife can't use chopsticks so they used some paper and an elastic band so she didn't have to use a fork).

The food was amazing. The seafood was extremely fresh and served with amazing sauces and the wagyu lived up to the hype (and the price)! All in all a fantastic meal made all the more enjoyable by the friendly atmosphere and staff. Will return very soon.

Dec 07, 2009

3.8 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  1     

On a weekend away, Range was recommended highly to us, unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. The service was very slow, and even though waiting staff were friendly, would have been more at home serving at a more relaxed venue.
The mains (skipped starters), lamb rack for one and the king valley beef fillet for the other.

Lamb rack was cooked perfectly but was let down by every portion of the dish being stone cold, it was obviously dished up while waiting for the steak to cook which was grossly overcooked (asked for medium-rare, served without a sign of pink), after struggling through 2 mouthfuls, we called the waitress over who apologised and moved on without offering any kind of resolution. The remaining steak was too tough to eat and was left.

Dessert was very tasty but given our experience up to that point, it was lost on us and, unfortunately, the waitress was unable to tell us what was in the soufflé (apple, almond and honey for those playing at home).

Overall, very disappointing, especially considering the premium Melbourne prices you pay (steak @ $34, lamb $32 which I’d happily pay for a quality meal). Will not recommend or return.

Nov 16, 2009