raindays

Reviews

Restaurants, Cafes, Function Venues, Italian, Seafood

Overall 8 80

8.2 Recommended

Quality 9 Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

Went for a special occasion and had a great meal, all 3 courses were top quality, the service was professional and friendly, the location, even on a Winter's night was great. Well worth returning to!

Jul 03, 2011

Manly Pavilion - Dining Room & Bar (Closed), Manly

Restaurants, Monuments and Historic Buildings, Walks, Modern Australian, Fine Dining

Overall 6.7 64

5.8 Average

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 1 Value 5

Last night (Saturday 18 June) I dined with you for, I believe the 5th time. For the special occasion or with visitors in town, I find your restaurant one of the best on the north side, only Pilu, Ormeggio and Bathers’ Pavilion to compete with really.

As usual, the food was wonderful. My raw veal, the snapper ravioli, the suckling pig, the Suffolk lamb, the duck and a rhubarb dessert to die for, all top quality and our compliments to the chef. However, unfortunately, the other aspects of the night did not match the standard I would expect from a top restaurant and did not match the standards I had come to expect based on previous visits.

Allow me to elaborate: Being a cold night we dropped the ladies at the top door and myself and my friend went and parked nearby. On entering the restaurant from the Seaworld entry, I gave my name and stated our wives would be here already. The lady was then distracted by a phone call and proceeded to chat for some time, necessitating us to ask another person, who finally took us to our table.

Our wives had already ordered drink. I wished to go straight to wine so requested and was given the wine list. We arrived at the table at 7.20 (a few minutes after our booking time of 7.15). At 7.30, I asked a waiter could I order wine, which I did. At 7.40 I was brought the incorrect wine and 7.45 finally had a drink available.

At 8.00 pm we had to catch a waiter and ask if we could order. I believe 40 minutes to take our order was a bit excessive, as was 25 minutes to get a drink! When our entrees arrived, we were offered the wrong ones. When our mains arrived the same applied. When our desserts arrived, the same again, there were only to give out so on the law of averages, the waiter was unlucky). This should not happen in the top class restaurant once let alone three times.

From being given the dessert menus to having our order taken was close to 20 minutes. A member of our party noted that during this time our waiter paid 5 separate visits to a nearby table occupied by a very attractive young lady but maybe there was a good reason for this. (It only became an issue for us due to the time we were waiting).

All these thing are, in themselves are minor but added up to a little disappointment. As I noted at the start, in my opinion the quality of the food is the main reason to visit any restaurant and in that regard the night could hardly be faulted.

Jul 03, 2011

Fiorenzoni, Chatswood

Restaurants, Italian, BYO, Child Friendly, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.5 23

6.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 3 Service 8 Value 7

Food and service were good but the setting, a smallish room with no character might be ok for a business lunch but not a pleasant evening meal. Some dishes were great, the fish special cooked to perfection and the desserts all interesting. A quality Italian and doesn't the North Shore need one? Worth re-visiting.

Oct 07, 2010

Cafe Laurella, Wahroonga

Cafes

Overall 5.2 23

5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 4 Service 6 Value 4

Pretty ordinary food, trying to do too much and have too much variety out of the kitchen. Service proportions were generous but quality/finesse lacking. $35 for a fillet steak that was so chewy that it was either not fillet or the restaurant should change butchers.

Oct 07, 2010

Neutral Bay Bar & Dining, Neutral Bay

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Citibank Dining Program, Has Bar, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.4 29

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 8 Value 5

Limited menu but all dishes done well. From the Grill, a little expensive for what you get but Fiullet steak classy and cooked well, entree of pork belly cubes and fish skewer a little disappointing and expensive at $22 for 3 small cubes of chewy pork and two small pieces of fish in between an unusual combination. The $3 surcharge for use of AmEx a little over the top, seems 2nd only to QANTAS in overcharging. 1 or even 2% to cover costs but 3%, just meant less tip but, unfortunately, it is not the waitress who sets the surcharge.

Oct 07, 2010

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Member since 2009

Last updated on 1st Jun 2012

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Displaying: 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

Ormeggio at The Spit, Mosman

Restaurants, Cafes, Function Venues, Italian, Seafood

Overall 8 80

8.2 Recommended

Quality 9 Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

Went for a special occasion and had a great meal, all 3 courses were top quality, the service was professional and friendly, the location, even on a Winter's night was great. Well worth returning to!

Jul 03, 2011

Manly Pavilion - Dining Room & Bar (Closed), Manly

Restaurants, Monuments and Historic Buildings, Walks, Modern Australian, Fine Dining

Overall 6.7 64

5.8 Average

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 1 Value 5

Jul 03, 2011

Fiorenzoni, Chatswood

Restaurants, Italian, BYO, Child Friendly, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.5 23

6.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 3 Service 8 Value 7

Oct 07, 2010

Cafe Laurella, Wahroonga

Cafes

Overall 5.2 23

5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 4 Service 6 Value 4

Oct 07, 2010

Neutral Bay Bar & Dining, Neutral Bay

Restaurants, Modern Australian, Citibank Dining Program, Has Bar, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.4 29

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 8 Value 5

Oct 07, 2010

Ramon's Restaurant, Frenchs Forest

Restaurants, Italian

Overall 5.9 13

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 7 Value 6

Great pizzas. Ramons Special is one of the best in town. If he has Bastouma (spicy beef) then the pizza with it and fresh tomato is worth travelling for. Unfortunately, it is often unavilable. Other meals, good quality Italian food. Watch the specials some items, especially the salads are over priced which is a pity. I have been to this restaurant hundreds of times over 10 years and never been disappointed.

Jan 17, 2010

Lelavadee Thai, Frenchs Forest

Restaurants, Thai, BYO, Serves Dinner, Ample or Convenient Parking

Overall 4.8 12

7.3 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 7

New Restaurant of site of a closed long term Thai restaurant. Food is innovative and interesting - more variety than previous owner. They are trying to be different. Ingredients are fresh and menu contains of lot of dishes that look as if they are worth trying ranging from quite spicy and aromatic to the more modified for those that don't like too much spice.

Dec 19, 2009

Cavallino Ristorante, Terrey Hills

Restaurants, Italian, Family Dining, Good For Groups, Air Conditioning

Overall 6.6 88

7.3 Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 6 Value 6

Some great dishes, choosing can be critical. Pizzas typical thin based Italian, great but not everyone's "cup of tea." Pity they do not offer BYO as well. They are having teething problems with bookings. I was told 6 pm out of 8 or 8 pm only but on the night, I was there until 8.40 and no one hurried me and many tables were empty until guests arrived at 7 and 7.30 so don't know what is gonig on there.

Been twice since and still have a booking system that requires bookings by 6.30 or after 8.15. I like to book for 7 to 7.30 generally. However, when there, people seem to arrive at all times so it apparently isn't enforced. Maybe you have to know someone! A great pity because the food is still good. Has anyone else had this problem.

Nov 29, 2009