so-so-famous

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

This venue can't decide if it wants to be a nightclub or restaurant. It should give up the restaurant because the food is appalling. However, the cocktails we ordered at $17 each were 90% ice. Obviously the owners policy is to get as much money from the ignorant public, while giving as little in return as possible. I started with salt and pepper squid which were mostly batter, some batter blobs encasing only air...my friends ham and cheese croaquets were breaded cheese with ham flavour...no ham!

My pizza ....$22 I expected an amazing pizza at this price. The ingredients were unidentified smears. The table next to ours made a joke and said "we think you have our pizza by mistake." They had ordered a totally different pizza and it looked identical to ours. The crust was like cardboard...not edible. When we asked to see the manager...that person had "left the building"....thank you very much.

Feb 02, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Quality  8      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  8     

When I have my hair done, I dedicate the entire day to my hair. I would never rush the staff who are looking after me. The end result is what matters to me. I waited half an hour from my appt. time for them to start. They apologized for the delay. They left me sitting for long periods to answer the phone. You need an answering machine, I don't care. My hair colour is smashing, the texture is silky. I love it. Thats all that matters to me. I am willing to wait, however, long I am made to wait if my hair looks this good after. I'll be back.

Response from Management:
Hi thanks for you lovely response. We need a receptionist to answer the phone. I know we are a small boutique salon usually the apprentices grab it but if there at Tafe we really notice how important they are to our small team. I’m so happy that you could give us a good wrap as we do so much great hair if only they all got on and praised us. Let me know next time you are in who you are. I would love to give you one of our new Loreal treatments to try. It’s fabulous. Thanks again.

Tonik Team :}

Aug 17, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We ate at the flame the last Saturday in June. A party of 32!!! I was very surprised at the first rate presentation of everything. The wait staff here are amazing. The RSL was 100% saturated and the staff still handled dinner service for 32 with calm professionalism. The scallops were fresh and delicious, my salmon was cooked perfectly, the sauce was fresh and pleasing, the wine was good, and the desert was great. Well done Flamers!!!

Jul 07, 2008

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  1     

The views are fantastic from this restaurant at the end of the pier, if you get a table that has views. There is a public parking across from the pier on Pirrama Road. We didn't order wine because it starts at $70 person. I noticed that the table next to us BYO'd. The wine starts at $135/bottle as far as we could see from the menu. The interior looks like a barn converted into a restaurant.

I had the tapas for $33 and there was approximately 4 postage sized pieces of fish on a large white plate. The serviings were so small that I couldn't cut them in half. My husband had the scallops, $36 for 3 scallops. The scallaps came with a cauliflower panna cotta, a white streak on the plate about a thimble full. If you want to know what everything tasted like, I couldn't tell ya, because there wasn't enough food to masticate long enough to really be sure.

The mains were a little bit larger but my John Dory was repeated in the tapas and now that there was a nearly a full fillet, I can tell you that it was delicious but not filling. There was a thin streak of fluid that served as the fennel, bean and almond accompaniment but there was no way to tell what this was as it was liquified.

Jun 03, 2008

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

We have dined here about 6 times. It is fantastic in every way! The coffee is delicious, the food is delicious and the service is perfect.

Sep 30, 2007

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

This venue can't decide if it wants to be a nightclub or restaurant. It should give up the restaurant because the food is appalling. However, the cocktails we ordered at $17 each were 90% ice. Obviously the owners policy is to get as much money from the ignorant public, while giving as little in return as possible. I started with salt and pepper squid which were mostly batter, some batter blobs encasing only air...my friends ham and cheese croaquets were breaded cheese with ham flavour...no ham!

My pizza ....$22 I expected an amazing pizza at this price. The ingredients were unidentified smears. The table next to ours made a joke and said "we think you have our pizza by mistake." They had ordered a totally different pizza and it looked identical to ours. The crust was like cardboard...not edible. When we asked to see the manager...that person had "left the building"....thank you very much.

Feb 02, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Quality  8      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  8     

When I have my hair done, I dedicate the entire day to my hair. I would never rush the staff who are looking after me. The end result is what matters to me. I waited half an hour from my appt. time for them to start. They apologized for the delay. They left me sitting for long periods to answer the phone. You need an answering machine, I don't care. My hair colour is smashing, the texture is silky. I love it. Thats all that matters to me. I am willing to wait, however, long I am made to wait if my hair looks this good after. I'll be back.

Response from Management:
Hi thanks for you lovely response. We need a receptionist to answer the phone. I know we are a small boutique salon usually the apprentices grab it but if there at Tafe we really notice how important they are to our small team. I’m so happy that you could give us a good wrap as we do so much great hair if only they all got on and praised us. Let me know next time you are in who you are. I would love to give you one of our new Loreal treatments to try. It’s fabulous. Thanks again.

Tonik Team :}

Aug 17, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We ate at the flame the last Saturday in June. A party of 32!!! I was very surprised at the first rate presentation of everything. The wait staff here are amazing. The RSL was 100% saturated and the staff still handled dinner service for 32 with calm professionalism. The scallops were fresh and delicious, my salmon was cooked perfectly, the sauce was fresh and pleasing, the wine was good, and the desert was great. Well done Flamers!!!

Jul 07, 2008

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  1     

The views are fantastic from this restaurant at the end of the pier, if you get a table that has views. There is a public parking across from the pier on Pirrama Road. We didn't order wine because it starts at $70 person. I noticed that the table next to us BYO'd. The wine starts at $135/bottle as far as we could see from the menu. The interior looks like a barn converted into a restaurant.

I had the tapas for $33 and there was approximately 4 postage sized pieces of fish on a large white plate. The serviings were so small that I couldn't cut them in half. My husband had the scallops, $36 for 3 scallops. The scallaps came with a cauliflower panna cotta, a white streak on the plate about a thimble full. If you want to know what everything tasted like, I couldn't tell ya, because there wasn't enough food to masticate long enough to really be sure.

The mains were a little bit larger but my John Dory was repeated in the tapas and now that there was a nearly a full fillet, I can tell you that it was delicious but not filling. There was a thin streak of fluid that served as the fennel, bean and almond accompaniment but there was no way to tell what this was as it was liquified.

Jun 03, 2008

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

We have dined here about 6 times. It is fantastic in every way! The coffee is delicious, the food is delicious and the service is perfect.

Sep 30, 2007

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  7     

This restaurant is cavernous, high ceiling (looks like a former home), and I could envision it as a fantastic place for a wedding reception. The decor is inviting. The lighting is romantic. It borders the parking lot of Whale Beach and a sign at the entrance suggests you park there. But if you are not of Pittwater council...you have to pay to park in the day. The views are fabulous... I am impressed when a waiter provides drinking water without request and keeps the glass topped up.

We shared an entree of beetroot, spinach, goat cheese and walnut salad for $16. It was fresh and savory but I ordered it because I was in the mood for beetroot and was disappointed that there was not much beetroot in it. We had the seafood platter for 2. I always believe that a seafood platter should have fresh fruit to clear the palate & compliment the seafood. I would have enjoyed this more with fresh fruit. Everything was a little salty.

This was the most expensive seafood platter we have ever paid for, at $159.00, but one of the freshest in taste. It had tender cuttlefish, tender calamari, cold prawns, battered dory, a bug or 2., three or four lovely scallops and some mussel & oysters. I was disappointed that there was not any grilled fish. My husband and I were able to finish the platter. We couldn't eat the wedges because of the excess salt. We don't use much salt. The high cost of the meal is offset by the offer of a free meal on our birthdays...and an email was sent with 10% off our next meal.



I loved the classical music and the white table cloths and the clean tablewear. There is obvious attention to detail here! I really enjoyed this restaurant and the waiter was friendly and enjoyed questions and requests. We were not rushed and felt very comfortable. We will definitely be back again!

Aug 27, 2007

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  2      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  2     

What beautiful views. We ate here at the best time, lunch, June 8th with 5m swells and high winds...the views were spectacular. The food was another story. Very ordinary home cooked style with poor presentation. We started with ravioli...which wasn't ravioli at all but 2 lasagna sheets with very spiced pork mince and a dollop of riccota..... I had the roast suckling pig presented in 6 little nuggets with a tablespoon of boiled bland english spinach. I estimate that 80% of the dish was crackling, bones and grizzle. What little meat I could eat...was dry on the edges.

My guest had whole snapper...I think that would have been passed up if we had been told that the meat was infused with tiny bones...not a good choice on a date, because it is very time consuming to pick out the bones from each bite with your fingers. (he swallowed a bone!) There is no salad or mash or any accompaniment to the expensive mains. There are only about 5 mains to choose from and the 2 we selected were disappointing. There were a few mains of the day recited by the host...who eats raw beef carpaccio in these days of mad cow etc? The service is fantastic...the restaurant is immaculate and clean. We left hungry & financially depleted. I don't think you would find this restaurant in Roma...it wouldn't make it.

Jun 09, 2007

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

I took my husband here for his birthday because Mexican is his favourite. I loved the fajitas. The chicken and beef were infused with flavour. He had the drunken prawns infused with great flavour, The head and tails intact. Both dishes come out on a sizzling hot iron plate. We ordered beans and rice as a side dish and they tasted better mixed together. He had a Corona and I had a blue margarita and it was the best I have had in years. It is not authentic Mexican cooking but it is fresh and healthy. The servings were small so that you could not over eat. We ate every bite. My husband was still hungry and he was disappointed that it is not authentic Mexican style cooking. The decor is rustic, bland and tired but quiet and cozy. The total bill for 2 was $80.00. I loved this restaurant and the friendly staff. I will make it up to my hubbie and take him to another Mexican rest. I will be back but without my husband!

Mar 03, 2006

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  5     

We had lunch on 5/2/06. We were greeted with a smile and seated quickly. I had the ceasar salad with prawns and avocado. It was fresh and full of flavour but I think for the price that I should have had at least half an avo instead of 2 thin slices. I also felt that the salad was too small. The pizzas were overpriced at $18.00 for a plate size and the toppings were not generous enough (we have had pizza here before and the feature of the experience was the generous toppings). The pizza my daughter had was a Kakadu and my son had a pizza from the kids menu. Both pizzas were overcooked (the crust and top layer of cheese blackened on both pizzas) but my kids loved the taste and ate all. The service was great but slow. (we were not in a hurry) The ocean views and breeze are very relaxing. The decor is rustic and this is not a fast food restaurant so be prepared to enjoy the company you are with. This is a kid friendly restaurant with kids menu and they always seem happy to see guests as any restaurant should. We won't hurry back but we will eat here again.

Feb 07, 2006

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We have eaten here twice (upstairs) since it has been rebuilt...and could not find fault with it....pleasant greeting by host: easy parking...beautiful lake views. The acoustics are great...it can be busy but you can still here your dinner companions. Very attentive staff. Fresh fruit should be added to the seafood platter to make it perfect. The seafood is so fresh...and perfectly cooked...The owners are obviously very proud. The restaurant is very clean. The area is very romantic to walk around after dinner...not to loudly...as it is residential ...and you might wake up the ducks and rabbits.

Jan 28, 2006