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2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

I had very high hopes of this restaurant, was really looking forward to dining here! Unfortunately, from the moment we walked in, we straight away felt a horrible vibe!

Let’s start with the service. My partner and I stood on the balcony waiting for one of the waiters to notice us for a good 5 minutes. You would think that they must have been quite busy, otherwise, they would gladly seat us straight away, but no!, there was only one other table in the restaurant at the time, one waiter was playing on his laptop and the other was just chatting away with him, completely ignoring us.

Finally, we were seated at the front of the balcony (closest to the footpath).
The food was similar to the services in a way, lacked many vital things that would make it a memorable experience. As we used one of the vouchers, our set menu was poor, left us hungry and was probably just the spares that the chef didn’t want to throw out but didn’t get ordered much. The pork which I was really looking forward to (one of my favourite things to eat) turned out to be chewy and extremely salty, I couldn’t even handle it and I love my salt!

Whilst the restaurant has great potential, given that it is in a great location and the balcony is lovely to sit on in the summer, I would certainly not go back!

All I can say is, no wonder they are not busy and they need to get customers in by getting them to buy poor value vouchers over the internet!

Mar 27, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  4     

Dined here on Boxing Day with my family. Was a lovely day which made the view from this restaurant extra special.

Everyone at our table went for 3 courses, I personally had the scallops which were fresh and cooked beautifully, but what more can you expect from a seafood restaurant on Woolloomooloo Wharf? The rest of the meals (mains & deserts) where presented with high standards and cooked beautifully. Having said all this, the meals had no vibrance, no extraordinary quality whether it be taste or originality. Precisely what our meals lacked was the wow factor that turned our day into to something very memorable.

The service was very very professional however and the wines that were suggested matched our meals perfectly, nice touch!

If you are looking for somewhere that will provide somewhat old fashioned high class service with decent food and a great view this place is for you, but if you what that memorable wow factor experience keep looking!

Feb 17, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Firstly there is no wonder this place has rounded up so many accolades and recognition!

On arriving at Porteno, we were told our wait for a table shouldn't be any longer than 30 minutes, which was exactly what was delivered. Didn't mind the wait at all though as cocktails in the bar came with an amazing atmosphere.

As we sat, services was attentive and helpful. It was a shame the pork had run out but the dishes we ordered instead were lovely.

Both my partner and I commented on the fact that the owners Ben and Elvis were still in the kitchen working away (not too good for the hard yards once being on TV). It was a really nice touch.

Can't wait to come back!

Feb 15, 2012

6.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  7     

Within the first minute of walking into Longrain, my partner and I got a bad vibe. There is no greeting section or waiter to seat us. Instead we waited (standing in the middle of nowhere) for about 15 minutes just waiting to be noticed. Not a good start! Perhaps, its some sort of mind game they play on their patrons in order to appear so busy and popular?

However, given all this, once seated the vibe turned around and the service became friendly and attentive. Dining arrangements were not preferable (sitting along a bar right next to other couples) but were Ok.

Food was amazing. We had a pork dish with was like little cubes of heaven (would go back solely for this dish!) fish curry was also amazing. Not bad for either a nice long weekend dinner with friends or even a quick mid-week meal with your partner.

Will be back again! but hopefully we get noticed at the door this time!

Feb 15, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Dined at Kalevu on Valentines Day due to hearing about the great special offered (3 courses for $69). My partner and I were promptly seated and straight away our waitress was there to greet us with the most amazing complimentary appetizers.

On receiving our entrees (scallops and prawn tortellini), our waitress brought out our wine as per requested with our entrees.

Entrees were lovely, great balance of flavors and really fresh. Mains were no exception. The duck was the best I have ever had. My partner had the eye fillet steak which was cooked exactly to his liking.

In all the experience was very memorable, food amazing, prices reasonable and service attentive. Will be back as soon as possible! The complimentary valentines chocolates also added a nice touch!

Feb 15, 2012

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

I had very high hopes of this restaurant, was really looking forward to dining here! Unfortunately, from the moment we walked in, we straight away felt a horrible vibe!

Let’s start with the service. My partner and I stood on the balcony waiting for one of the waiters to notice us for a good 5 minutes. You would think that they must have been quite busy, otherwise, they would gladly seat us straight away, but no!, there was only one other table in the restaurant at the time, one waiter was playing on his laptop and the other was just chatting away with him, completely ignoring us.

Finally, we were seated at the front of the balcony (closest to the footpath).
The food was similar to the services in a way, lacked many vital things that would make it a memorable experience. As we used one of the vouchers, our set menu was poor, left us hungry and was probably just the spares that the chef didn’t want to throw out but didn’t get ordered much. The pork which I was really looking forward to (one of my favourite things to eat) turned out to be chewy and extremely salty, I couldn’t even handle it and I love my salt!

Whilst the restaurant has great potential, given that it is in a great location and the balcony is lovely to sit on in the summer, I would certainly not go back!

All I can say is, no wonder they are not busy and they need to get customers in by getting them to buy poor value vouchers over the internet!

Mar 27, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  4     

Dined here on Boxing Day with my family. Was a lovely day which made the view from this restaurant extra special.

Everyone at our table went for 3 courses, I personally had the scallops which were fresh and cooked beautifully, but what more can you expect from a seafood restaurant on Woolloomooloo Wharf? The rest of the meals (mains & deserts) where presented with high standards and cooked beautifully. Having said all this, the meals had no vibrance, no extraordinary quality whether it be taste or originality. Precisely what our meals lacked was the wow factor that turned our day into to something very memorable.

The service was very very professional however and the wines that were suggested matched our meals perfectly, nice touch!

If you are looking for somewhere that will provide somewhat old fashioned high class service with decent food and a great view this place is for you, but if you what that memorable wow factor experience keep looking!

Feb 17, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Firstly there is no wonder this place has rounded up so many accolades and recognition!

On arriving at Porteno, we were told our wait for a table shouldn't be any longer than 30 minutes, which was exactly what was delivered. Didn't mind the wait at all though as cocktails in the bar came with an amazing atmosphere.

As we sat, services was attentive and helpful. It was a shame the pork had run out but the dishes we ordered instead were lovely.

Both my partner and I commented on the fact that the owners Ben and Elvis were still in the kitchen working away (not too good for the hard yards once being on TV). It was a really nice touch.

Can't wait to come back!

Feb 15, 2012

6.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  7     

Within the first minute of walking into Longrain, my partner and I got a bad vibe. There is no greeting section or waiter to seat us. Instead we waited (standing in the middle of nowhere) for about 15 minutes just waiting to be noticed. Not a good start! Perhaps, its some sort of mind game they play on their patrons in order to appear so busy and popular?

However, given all this, once seated the vibe turned around and the service became friendly and attentive. Dining arrangements were not preferable (sitting along a bar right next to other couples) but were Ok.

Food was amazing. We had a pork dish with was like little cubes of heaven (would go back solely for this dish!) fish curry was also amazing. Not bad for either a nice long weekend dinner with friends or even a quick mid-week meal with your partner.

Will be back again! but hopefully we get noticed at the door this time!

Feb 15, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Dined at Kalevu on Valentines Day due to hearing about the great special offered (3 courses for $69). My partner and I were promptly seated and straight away our waitress was there to greet us with the most amazing complimentary appetizers.

On receiving our entrees (scallops and prawn tortellini), our waitress brought out our wine as per requested with our entrees.

Entrees were lovely, great balance of flavors and really fresh. Mains were no exception. The duck was the best I have ever had. My partner had the eye fillet steak which was cooked exactly to his liking.

In all the experience was very memorable, food amazing, prices reasonable and service attentive. Will be back as soon as possible! The complimentary valentines chocolates also added a nice touch!

Feb 15, 2012