Hrmmmm, what can I say other than TOURIST TRAP.
Waiter was extremely cheesy. All his jokes and one liners were well rehearsed, and we heard them being reused at the table next to us later in the evening. But it's a tourist trap, so it's expected.
The waiter seemed knowledgeable, until he asked what was in a dirty martini, then went inside and his barman came out and said they didn't have vermouth, but would go to the local bottle shop just for us to get some.... Errr thanks I guess, but no need to make a big scene, or have the waiter come tell us the exact same story like walking 2 minutes was a big deal, or asking us to stick to the menu and not order a drink that should be a staple of any mixologist.
So drinks now at the table (my vermouth and olives, seems they forgot the gin or vodka...), the ever so cheerful and humble waiter comes over and offers to explain the 120 dishes on the menu... Wen asked about where the mud crab is from, we are told Tasmania, as they have e best mud crab and the crabs grow really big in the cold water. Also the scallops are from Tassie (believable), the cream used in the pasta sauce is from Tassie (cold weather makes best cream) and the moreton bay bugs might not be from moreton bay, though, were certainly not from Tasmania, and might have been local to the Gold Coast. Ok then.
We order an entree to share between 3, the scallops, and a plate of 5 come out, in what was actually an amazing rich creamy seafood sauce. The waiter lets us know that this dish is usually only 3 scallops, but tonight, he gave us 5, because we looked hungry. Thanks for providing what would be a normal sized entree in any other restaurant, and making us feel like valued customers.
Mains took a while to come, but when they came, we were all pleasantly surprised. Very generous servings, I had the mushroom and Gorgonzola risotto, and it was very good, and I would actually eat that dish again (if served at any other establishment). My dining partners had pasta dishes, one with the possibly local but not too sure and certainly not moreton bay, moreton bay bugs, and the other a fettuccine dish with a creamy bacon sauce. Again very larger servings, and none of us finished out meals, which was a shame as they all were tasty and hearty.
The waiter, upon seeing non finished mains, asked if we wanted the leftovers bagged up to take away, and only one of us said yes (she's tiny, and ate maybe less than 1/4 of the meal). Then after asking if we wanted to take it away, came back and said that due to health regulations they don't allow it, but again, he made very special arrangements for customers he was sure would return, and bought the fettuccine dish out in a takeaway container. He told e table next to us the same thing.. Buttering up the clientele for that huge tip they will leave you.
Whilst chatting as the table was cleared, 3 "on the house" shots of port came out. A nice way to finish a meal off no doubt. Not long after 2 of us drank ours (ok, I drank 2 of them as one person doesn't like port... Freak) I asked for the bill, which if we were in sydney, would have been about $100. $125 wasn't too bad, considering we could see, and knew it was a bit of a tourist trap restaurant. Only having $50 notes from an ATM , I placed $150 in the bill folder (you know the thing, I'm not sure of the technical word!), and the waiter swooped.
After 25 minutes of waiting, and the waiter totally clearing the table, including candle and tablecloth, it dawned on me, at I wasn't getting that change. After quick deliberation with my other diners, we figured it was easier to just leave and assume we paid for the port, than cause a scene.
Would I recommend it? No. And that's a shame as the food was actually really really good. Shame about the poor service and business practices in place. read more
