Save your money, head to Charlies on East instead…read more
This place SHOULD be the best venue in town, and visually I won't argue that from an outside perspective it is. A beautiful venue, perched on the Rivers edge with views and the furnishings inside are really nice. But unfortunately that's where it stops.
Could your staff be any less competent? Walking into the restaurant, you are not greeted by anyone, it seems there's one poor lass running around taking orders on an ipad and the rest are crammed into the kitchen, and don't they look thrilled about it. There is no warmth in the hospitality and if you manage to catch the wait staff attention you will eventually find yourself seated.
Let's be honest this place isn't cheap. But the venue is nice so as holiday goers you don't mind so much as it's part of the experience.
I was there with 2 friends and we waited about 15 minutes until we managed to flag the ipad waiter down and we were told we could order our meals at the bar as they were "busier than normal" which was surprising as there were only about 15-20 people in the restaurant. We went to the bar, ordered our meals and ordered wine. And ladies, if you like your wine, save your money for the drive thru on the way home.
I'm sorry Wharf management but charging $10 plus for a glass of wine and dispensing less than half your tiny fancy wine glasses didn't make us girls feel much like staying, although being as hungry as we were we waited.
And wait we did, about 45 minutes in total for our meals to arrive and here's the breakdown.
Risotto: gluggy, watered down and frankly lacking any sort of real flavour. My friend didn't finish it and couldn't even drown her sorrows with wine as after two mouthfuls it was gone, unlike the risotto.
Fish and Chips x2 : for a venue who recommended this as the most popular, 2 of us were left so disappointed, the batter is foul and the fish small. Batter wasn't cooked properly and fish on the inside was cold. The chips were fine, but not great and had some kind of seasoning on them? But any old fish and chip shop would do better.
We sat there considering how much money we had just handed over and how hungry and disappointed we still were. No one bothered to come and clear our plates, ask us how our meals were or check to see if we wanted to order more drinks. The customer services in non existent and the staff seem miserable and lost, like wandering baby deer in the night.
As girls who visit this beautiful little town often, this has to be the most disappointed we've been in terms of eating out.
Do yourselves a favour, if you're wanting good fish and chips, the one across from the caravan park is the place to go, leave the fancy décor at the Wharf for what it is, pretty but bland AF.
With so many good eats around this town, it doesn't look like the wharf will survive much past this summer unless the seriously get their shit together, start with service, happy chefs and improve their food, wine dispensing and get some better vibes going.