mandingo22

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Really enjoyed our satay, char kwai teow was offered in mild, med or hot, and as first time visitors we chose mild, really tasty and spicy enough at mild.

The kapitan chicken was a bit different to other places, and could have had a bit more kick to it, but we sill found it enjoyable. Our GPS got lost finding this place as I believe it's now Macqurie Park not Nth Ryde.

Will come again to try some other tasty looking items on the menu.

May 18, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  4     

Have been to the Balmain location, liked the food so thought to try the Top Ryde location

Really wish we hadn't, whilst there were no bad issues with service, the food came out almost all at once, and dishes that were supposed to be hot were barely warm, our chargrilled stuffed calamari was cold on the inside, and the chargrilled octopus was almost cold.

It's a pity because they might have tasted really good hot.

Our main was goat tagine, in the menu descibed as having pumpkin and pine nuts, both were absent, and only had 4 small cubes of meat, was it goat I am not sure, and not enough to really say.

Dessert was some kind of mousse covered in chocolate, but we nearly broke the spoons eating it as it was rock hard frozen solid. They seemed to want to rush us out, despite not being full.

May 18, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Had garlic bread and ribs, both very tasty, almost all the tables were having ribs by what we could see. Our sticky date pudding was nice but nothing special.

Extra credit to our waitress, brought extra bowl for rib bones and extra napkins/hanwipes, much appreiciated as eating ribs can get messy. Service was fast no long wait for any food or drinks.

Would come here again.

May 18, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  5     

The reviews read great, the restaurant was packed, all good signs, but for us that was where it ended. We ordered a prawn kapitan, caramelised eggplant and spicy salt squid.

As our first dish arrvied the order was mixed up, and we sent it back, probably a mistake, as when the squid arrived it was oily, and bland, no spices no salt.

The kapitan prawns were well cooked, but the sauce did not resemble any kapitan I have ever seen or eaten, and again bland no real flavour. The eggplant had potential but again was over oily and not enough sauce. I have had similar dishes elsewhere that were much better.

The servings are huge though.

Mar 06, 2012

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Enjoyed the food, and would come back as it's local.

Mar 05, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Really enjoyed our satay, char kwai teow was offered in mild, med or hot, and as first time visitors we chose mild, really tasty and spicy enough at mild.

The kapitan chicken was a bit different to other places, and could have had a bit more kick to it, but we sill found it enjoyable. Our GPS got lost finding this place as I believe it's now Macqurie Park not Nth Ryde.

Will come again to try some other tasty looking items on the menu.

May 18, 2012

5.3 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  4     

Have been to the Balmain location, liked the food so thought to try the Top Ryde location

Really wish we hadn't, whilst there were no bad issues with service, the food came out almost all at once, and dishes that were supposed to be hot were barely warm, our chargrilled stuffed calamari was cold on the inside, and the chargrilled octopus was almost cold.

It's a pity because they might have tasted really good hot.

Our main was goat tagine, in the menu descibed as having pumpkin and pine nuts, both were absent, and only had 4 small cubes of meat, was it goat I am not sure, and not enough to really say.

Dessert was some kind of mousse covered in chocolate, but we nearly broke the spoons eating it as it was rock hard frozen solid. They seemed to want to rush us out, despite not being full.

May 18, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Had garlic bread and ribs, both very tasty, almost all the tables were having ribs by what we could see. Our sticky date pudding was nice but nothing special.

Extra credit to our waitress, brought extra bowl for rib bones and extra napkins/hanwipes, much appreiciated as eating ribs can get messy. Service was fast no long wait for any food or drinks.

Would come here again.

May 18, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  5     

The reviews read great, the restaurant was packed, all good signs, but for us that was where it ended. We ordered a prawn kapitan, caramelised eggplant and spicy salt squid.

As our first dish arrvied the order was mixed up, and we sent it back, probably a mistake, as when the squid arrived it was oily, and bland, no spices no salt.

The kapitan prawns were well cooked, but the sauce did not resemble any kapitan I have ever seen or eaten, and again bland no real flavour. The eggplant had potential but again was over oily and not enough sauce. I have had similar dishes elsewhere that were much better.

The servings are huge though.

Mar 06, 2012

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Enjoyed the food, and would come back as it's local.

Mar 05, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

We had the degustation menu and each dish was not only visually pleasing but a great taste sensation. Gave a chance to try items that we may have not chosen from the a la carte menu. The venison was such a surprise the subtle cocoa base with rhubarb cream a perfect match.

For me the standout has to be the forrest dessert. Small minus was the noise level, again it was hard to hear waiters, and even each other.

Feb 23, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  7     

This place is quite unique in terms of flavours on a plate. Shared the prawn entree, but could have easily had one all to myself. Tried the alpaca and the beef ribs and both were delicious. Could not decide on a dessert so tried the tasting plate and all three offering were great.

A small minus, the place is small, but as soon as a few people had arrived it got really noisy, I suspect the music was turned up, made it hard to hear what the waiters were saying, the local parking options don't help much. Portions were on the small side/ the plates were too big, we tried to share two mains and they would not fit on the table.

The service was exceptional. The waiter who served our shared mains really did a splendid job. Would love to come here again.

Jan 27, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Noticed this new placed the other week and thought to give it a go.

Was really nice to have a modern and stylish Vietnamese restaurant. We had lemongrass &chilli chicken, plus salt & pepper squid, and fried rice.
Have to say the chicken dish we really moist, worth the small wait for it.

Can't wait to try it again soon.

Dec 04, 2011

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Excellent food and the service was very smooth. As a BYO their alcohol options are a bit limited,as some cocktails options would have really been nice, but would come here again without hesitation.

Nov 15, 2011

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

There are 2 options for the churasco & there is no system for the service. We ordered the more expensive option but did not get any of the extras on it, until we asked several times.

Nothing had any flavour except the pineapple. Very poor. This is a recent converstion of Vaby's but the decor is the same. The made coasters to say yes or no to more meats being offered and we should all say no! They used 5 different font on their coasters, such effort should have gone into the food.

Nov 15, 2011