simgio

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  1     

Apart from the view, Jonah's is a totally overrated experience. The duck tasted like offal, it was dry and inedible, we sent it back almost untouched, the octopus was the chewiest blandest dish I have ever tasted and the Kingfish was a teeny tiny piece of fish served with a tasteless broth, half a carrot and half a beetroot.

The steak what not a nice thick fillet, it was a few thin pieces of fatty scotch fillet (at best, definitely not the kind of cut you can eat rare because all the fat doesn't have time to melt into the meat. We ended up eating the bread for lunch. We cannot comment on dessert, we couldn't stomach the thought of another disappointment.

To top all of this off, when we got home we found that we had been overcharged by $200! If you have no idea about what food should really taste like and you think that because it is expensive it is good. You will love Jonahs.

If you are a real foody go elsewhere! Most of the local cafes in Avalon will give you a better feed than this.

Sep 20, 2011

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

I feel compelled to write a review stating the wonderful meal we experienced at Bennelong. I am a fuss pot and have very high dining and hotel standards, so if this sounds like you then you can trust my review.

I took some out-of-towners here for the view and was not disappointed. The views were sensational (naturally) the decor is, unfortunately, rather drab and very outdated, in their defence the Opera House interior could do with a massive facelift. Once the sun went down, however, none of the ugliness could be seen by candlelight.

If there was one word I could use to describe the Bennelong it is Generous. Right from the word go we were offered a lovely glass of Sparkling Australian (vintage), food portions were at least double of any gastronomic restaurant I have ever been to. The meal was finished with coffee (not so good) and a complimentary plate of petit fours and pannacotta.

We ordered our wine by the glass as we all wanted something different and were pleasantly surprised by the ample portions of the serves. How long has it been since you ordered by the glass and received a full glass?

I do find these days that most restauranteurs have lost the 'generous' touch. Not the case here. Our meal was a total of $450 for four (not bad at all) and although we did not drink much we ate enough for a king.

I will say that the wine list was a tad expensive (especially compared to the food entrees at $40 and mains at $50), there was the rare wine at $70 a bottle with most wines sitting around the $140-$200 mark (and of course well beyond). A table of big drinkers may come out with much lighter wallets than us.

I would definitely dine at the Bennelong again. I thank all of the staff for a wonderful evening.

Feb 07, 2011

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I waited over two hours for a cold and expensive $27 pizza to be delivered, buyer beware! go somewhere else if you want a good (excellent) pizza, only bummer is you must pick up.

Aug 08, 2010

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  1     

We ate here again today, I honestly don't know why I ever go back! We were served raw chicken after a 40 minutes wait. There were 7 people in the restaurant so no excuses, when we sent the meal back the chef sent the waitress out to tell us that chicken thigh is normally very pink next to the bone. I have been in the industry for years and that chicken was raw!

It took them 25 minutes to serve us up the same piece well cooked. The glasses of wine are always half full, mediocre and over priced. One wonders everytime you go there 'why is this place not full with views like this?" The answer is they are overpriced and the menu is stale. An expensive and frustrating experience at Barrenjoey House. Yet again!

Nov 09, 2009

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  1     

Apart from the view, Jonah's is a totally overrated experience. The duck tasted like offal, it was dry and inedible, we sent it back almost untouched, the octopus was the chewiest blandest dish I have ever tasted and the Kingfish was a teeny tiny piece of fish served with a tasteless broth, half a carrot and half a beetroot.

The steak what not a nice thick fillet, it was a few thin pieces of fatty scotch fillet (at best, definitely not the kind of cut you can eat rare because all the fat doesn't have time to melt into the meat. We ended up eating the bread for lunch. We cannot comment on dessert, we couldn't stomach the thought of another disappointment.

To top all of this off, when we got home we found that we had been overcharged by $200! If you have no idea about what food should really taste like and you think that because it is expensive it is good. You will love Jonahs.

If you are a real foody go elsewhere! Most of the local cafes in Avalon will give you a better feed than this.

Sep 20, 2011

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

I feel compelled to write a review stating the wonderful meal we experienced at Bennelong. I am a fuss pot and have very high dining and hotel standards, so if this sounds like you then you can trust my review.

I took some out-of-towners here for the view and was not disappointed. The views were sensational (naturally) the decor is, unfortunately, rather drab and very outdated, in their defence the Opera House interior could do with a massive facelift. Once the sun went down, however, none of the ugliness could be seen by candlelight.

If there was one word I could use to describe the Bennelong it is Generous. Right from the word go we were offered a lovely glass of Sparkling Australian (vintage), food portions were at least double of any gastronomic restaurant I have ever been to. The meal was finished with coffee (not so good) and a complimentary plate of petit fours and pannacotta.

We ordered our wine by the glass as we all wanted something different and were pleasantly surprised by the ample portions of the serves. How long has it been since you ordered by the glass and received a full glass?

I do find these days that most restauranteurs have lost the 'generous' touch. Not the case here. Our meal was a total of $450 for four (not bad at all) and although we did not drink much we ate enough for a king.

I will say that the wine list was a tad expensive (especially compared to the food entrees at $40 and mains at $50), there was the rare wine at $70 a bottle with most wines sitting around the $140-$200 mark (and of course well beyond). A table of big drinkers may come out with much lighter wallets than us.

I would definitely dine at the Bennelong again. I thank all of the staff for a wonderful evening.

Feb 07, 2011

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I waited over two hours for a cold and expensive $27 pizza to be delivered, buyer beware! go somewhere else if you want a good (excellent) pizza, only bummer is you must pick up.

Aug 08, 2010

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  1     

We ate here again today, I honestly don't know why I ever go back! We were served raw chicken after a 40 minutes wait. There were 7 people in the restaurant so no excuses, when we sent the meal back the chef sent the waitress out to tell us that chicken thigh is normally very pink next to the bone. I have been in the industry for years and that chicken was raw!

It took them 25 minutes to serve us up the same piece well cooked. The glasses of wine are always half full, mediocre and over priced. One wonders everytime you go there 'why is this place not full with views like this?" The answer is they are overpriced and the menu is stale. An expensive and frustrating experience at Barrenjoey House. Yet again!

Nov 09, 2009