The Garden Bar Bistro — Restaurant in Airlie Beach

I don't think that I have had a worse experience at a restaurant. The location offered some lovely potential but unfortunately that was really the only positive of this place. On our trip to Airlie we decided we wanted to have dinner and drinks. We had booked a table of 8 and on arrival we were led to a table with only 6 chairs and cutlery (despite making the reservation), this was not a big issue but just a demonstration on the poor service. No menus were given to us and we had to go over and ask for them. When ordering we were told there would be a small wait which we said was no problem. We assumed this would be 20-30 minutes, however, the food took one and a half HOURS to be made. If we had known we would not have chosen to eat here as we were told it would be a short wait, that was definitely not short. The place was also not busy at all. The food ordered was very simple and would not have taken long at all to make, I had only ordered chips and a salad which took 1.5 hours. After getting frustrated after waiting this long we were excited for our food, yet like the service, this was not enjoyable either. I could not finish my salad, it was horrible and the dressing tasted like some sour version of a juice box poured over it. Very...

Disappointing Seafood Platter & Poor Service The Garden Bar Bistro – Airlie Beach 📍 Coral Sea Marina, Abell Point Marina, Airlie Beach, QLD

I visited The Garden Bar Bistro at Airlie Beach EXPECTING a lovely seafood experience by the marina — but it was one of the WORST meals I’ve had.

🐟 Seafood Platter •   The fish was all oily batter and tasted like dirty oil — there was no actual fish inside, just greasy deep-fried crumbs. •   The scallops were oily and tasted like dirty grease — completely inedible. •   The oysters were not fresh, deflated, and disgusting. •   We received only four prawns — tiny, and not enough to justify the cost. 😞 Nothing on the platter tasted fresh or properly prepared.

👎 Service & Atmosphere •   No check-in, no friendly service, and no care for customer satisfaction. •   The staff showed little interest, and the atmosphere was completely let down by the poor food quality.

⚠️ Final Word What was meant to be a nice seafood dinner turned into a greasy, disappointing experience. Deep-fried dirty oil instead of real fish, oily scallops, awful oysters, and minimal prawns — all with cold, disinterested service. Definitely would not recommend.

#GardenBarBistro #AirlieBeach #SeafoodFail...

I recently celebrated my 21st at The Garden Bar Bistro, and it was truly a night to remember. From start to finish, the team went above and beyond to make the event feel special, seamless, and stress-free. Organising the event months prior was also seamless and I had guidance and recommendations throughout the whole process.

The service was incredibly timely and thoughtful — from the smooth drink service to the beautifully presented pre-ordered platters, everything was handled with care and attention to detail. The staff were not only friendly but genuinely attentive to our needs throughout the evening, ensuring everyone felt looked after and welcome.

The ambiance of the venue was just perfect. The relaxed garden setting, warm lighting, and open-air vibe created the ideal atmosphere for a memorable celebration with family and friends. It struck the perfect balance between casual and classy, making it feel both intimate and fun.

So many of my guests commented on how lovely the venue was and how well everything was run. I’m so grateful to The Garden Bar Bistro team for helping make my 21st so special — I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them for any event or even just a...