Fish Cafe Manly
Reviews
Went to dinner. Staff rude and uninterested in providing service which was immediately disappointing. Food quality was average (not poor) but the service just made the whole experience unpleasant. And don't ask for a battered fish to be grilled - it's too hard. However if you are ordering takeaway fish and chips it's okay. Apparently there are different types of snapper and the one served in the fish and chip section is okay to grill but not in the restaurant...... smells a bit fishy to me!
First time round for a Sunday breakfast, my wife and I had obviously missed the rush and enjoyed a nice meal. I made the comment on my Eggs Benedict, how generous the portion of Salmon was. Based on this experience I took my son and his girlfriend for another Sunday morning, being the second table to arrive at 8. Well no service and half an hour later they took our order for meals but I had to ask if we could order coffee. Enjoying the Benedict last time, I ordered the same but thought I would like some capers with the salmon, "Yes that would be $7 extra"! WHAT? "OK we'll do it for half price" No thanks! Another meal was without tomato Ha no discount there though. Portion size was very much below expectations. Wont be trying a 3rd time.
Great coffee, however i expect that an expensive cafe next to the bay would offer fresh seafood. My calamari was very obviously frozen and wasn't fresh. You can always tell - fresh is stringy and frozen processed is always smooth like a seafood stick. I'd suggest for the prices they charge, the effort to source fresh local produce wouldn't't be that much of an ask..
My wife, son and a good friend from Canada dined at the restuarant last Saturday. We have enjoyed breakfast their on a number of occasions but dinner was dissapointing. To little for too much! We took one look at the size of the main and had to order a bowel of chips to kerb my embarassment and appetite. We are locals and it is dissapointing to say that we have to travel to the Jellyfish to get a decent value for money seafood meal! Food: Poor to fair Decor: Good Service: Very good
This place has a great location but that's about it. The first time i went here i ordered "2 scoops of chips" which is their standard small batch of chips. Because it's a fish and chip restaurant you'd think they'd get it right. They chips were ok but were COVERED in chicken salt, and i mean COVERED. Clearly the chef had the lid fall off the container or something and it all came gushig out but the woman at the front counter still tried to tell me it's normal....until she shook the box and salt poured out all over the counter. Then she says "oh i see, right ok....so i'm guessing you want another lot of chips then?". So, when they re-cooked the chips they came back burnt (waaaaay to overcooked, even brown) and NO chicken salt. But these things happen i guess, maybe the chef was having a bad day or didn't like having to cook another batch of chips. So i came back with my wife a week later and placed an order or fish, chips, seafood sticks etc. I made sure she placed the order because i was beginning to think that they had some sort of problem with me because i asked them to please re cook my chicken salt and chips last time. But, after 40 min waiting i walked in and asked for my number. The woman at the counter went and checked and they had bypassed the order by accident and had forgotten to cook it. So we waited a further 15 min our meals that were seriously sub par at best anyway. So i worked on the "3 strikes and you're out" rule. I live locally so it's no big drive for me. Didn't take long to rack up the third strike. I went there on my third time with my brother and some friends. All i can say is, we had a great time (it was actually really quite funny) comparing who had the worst peice of fish. I actually had the best peice of fish for once but even it was sad. The place is over priced and the chef is appauling at what he does. The location is great and the beer is cold but i suggest you check out 1 of the 20 other places to eat down the beautiful waterfront if you're down this way. Avoid this place, you WILL get burnt....like my chips!!