Terrazza Cafe Applecross 2.5 stars out of 5

Summary

I think perhaps I was just not in a great mood and so perhaps I picked holes in what is overall a reasonable if not special place. I just don't like it when the greeter person makes a thing of finding a table for you in basically an empty restaurant. The place better be packed as some point to give meaning to the actions.

Positives

• I steak was very nicely cooked (raw as ordered and tasty)
• my other dinner guests appeared to enjoy there meal
  

Negatives

• I picked steak because I could not see anything else I really wanted. The pepper sauce was out of the can and kind of gluppy, really not good.
• Spider webs on the ceiling and all around the light. Look up boys and do some cleaning.
• The menu is just a little odd.
  
• Service was average, due to the shape of the restaurant the area we where seated does tend to get ignored and this was not made up for by the staff. Overall service was reasonable
  

Overall

I don't think I will be back for a while.

Rose & Crown, Guildford 2.5 stars

Summary: Poor Service spoils the food and atmosphere

I know lots of people like this place, for me the poor service is not made up for by the food.

The Service

The waitress just paid no attention to the room at all. To get sometime I recommend a rugby tackle as she runs by going who knows where.

My food did not arrive after my companions meals had. No one noticed, I had to ask if my meal was arriving and no it turned out that it was not cooked (or ordered perhaps) so much for those electronic gadgets. I eat 15 minutes after everyone else, thanks for that Rose and Crown.

The table next to us asked for gluten free and it turns out the waitress has no idea what that means as all the meals arrived had gluten in. We waited 20 minutes for a coffee and they it arrived they were told that they was a back up in coffee orders, except we could see the coffee guy chatting to the waitress for 15 minutes. They lost our bill resulting in another big delay while the figured this out. We contemplated leaving without paying on the basis that they would not notice for a week.

The Food

I had Bangers and Mash. Overall is was ok, they are trying with nice sausages and mash, but it was not put together with real skill and the gravy did not really work well and felt bought in.

Summary

Overall I can't help wonder about the training or lack of it that goes on here. I know it is tough to get staff but some simple rules might help turn ordinary people into decent waiters.

Rules:

• DON'T blame the kitchen if something goes wrong, just apologize and fix it. Offer something else, comp with the coffee, something, anything that says sorry.
  
• Do Pay attention to the task at hand.
• Don't promise to do something and then not do it.
• Do actually look at the people and the tables, with the objective on helping or serving as needed.
• Do take action based on what you see.
  

Straits Kitchen, Hyatt, Singapore 4 stars (out of 5)

Summary: Will try this place again when I am really hungry

I don't usually go for buffet style eating. All that getting up and down.....Make an exception for Straits Kitchen.

The variety and quality are excellent. Dishes from all over Asia Singapore Laksa, Nasi Goreng, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Roti Prata with Chicken Curry. Very thing was fresh and tasty, and really an excellent adventure

THis place is busy so remember to book.

RhodesD7, Dublin - 2.5 stars

Room poor, to bright with big windows and lots of wood
The service was kind of amateurish
The Food ok, well cooked but uninspired and boring


Rhodes should not have bothered going to Ireland

What we had:

• Mushroom, celeriac and truffle risotto (no obvious truffle)
  
• Salmon fishcake with smoked salmon, lemon and dill butter sauce (excellent, but smoked salmon is not difficult to get right)
  
• Crispy confit duck leg with braised blackberry shallots and creamed potato (not enough blackberry)
  
• Pear, celery, walnut, prune and Roquefort salad (small for main salad)
  

Le Circle, London - 4 stars

Summary: A memorable evening, thanks

The reviews are spot on, the room is great, the food is great, the service is OK. Be firm with them about what you want. The service improved when we explained what we wanted very clearly.

The Food

• Casselette of pine nuts and morel mushrooms (ch Simone palette)
• Barleysotto with chestnut and swiss chard (ch rives-blanques, limous)
• Roast cod with crispy garlic and cauliflower emulsion (boulin chalis. Pc)
• Carpaccio of fig smoked duck and pine nuts ( Roches neuves, saur)
• Glazed wood pigeon , Jerusalem artichokes gratin and baby pair ( ch batailley, pauillac)
• Cheese plate
• Fig dessert (Sauterne)

The Wine and Food matching was really excellent

The room

• The curtains deviding the room
• The stairs down

Overall a very pleasant experience.

Lamonts Winery Restaurant for lunch 4 stars

The feel:

This place is busy which is nice. There is no clear direction as to where to go to get a table. What is wrong with a place that it can't have a "please wait here to be seated" sign? A lot of people that arrived and where obviously confused about this. Staff are initially a little sooty, which is always hard to take in your wait staff, although they did warm up as the service continued and they are obviously busy. The tables under a roof and under the trees are cool, but no views of the surroundings, views are always nice.

The food:

Tasty and simple, we had the squid, chicken, olives and bread & oilive oil, which was plenty for lunch for us. (The menu suggests that 3 dishes equal 1 main course for us this is not true).


The fulfillment:

Service is fast and efficient, no surprises no nonsense. They are busy and that shows in the rebrevity but not in the overall level of service.

The wine tasting is to close the restaurant, its busy and noisy and seems like it is used by people who are waiting to eat. This does not facilitate the tasting process.

The wines are excellent in general, the family reserve and ssb especially so. Note wines are cheaper off the web site than it is at the vineyard.

The final word:

Nice place, we will be back, once we have tried some of the other places



http://www.lamonts.com.au/page/sv_lamonts.htm

Koinonia, Mt Lawley 3.5 stars (08) 9328 3611

The feel
basic, but busy on a Friday night a least.

The food
2 starters and 1 main between 2 is plenty for an after movie dinner, the duck is excellent, the lettuce things are ok, have had better.

The fulfillment
Super friendly Japanese waitress, nice to chat and talk about Japan

The final Work:
Basic, busy and good


Update: now closed