The Kenmore — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Food Four of us dined, with one toddler on a chilly winter night in June. Ordering can be done via an app and a barcode, or directly with wait staff. We chose the latter, and started with a schooner of my fav Rogers Dark Ale, a pint of Great Northern original and cold drinks for the ladies. For our entrees, we choose the garlic bread ($8) and the salt and pepper calamari ($16). The garlic bread comprised four chunky pieces of bread smothered in butter. The calamari was soft and chewy, but a small serving for 16 pesos. For mains, we went for the prawn spag ($31), fish and chips ($29), beef cheek ragout ($29) and a lamb salad ($23). We finished off with a shared sticky date pud ($13). My fish and chips was a decent portion of succulent hake served with crunchy chips and fresh, wholesome salad. My wife’s beef cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender, topped with basil and a creamy sauce, and mixed up in a tasty stew with pappardelle pasta. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Our fave sticky date dessert did not disappoint. The pud was moist, yet firm and served with a rich butterscotch sauce and accompanied with a dollop of ice cream and two fresh strawberries.

Ambience The Kenmore is a large venue with multiple eating and drinking areas. We were dining in the main restaurant area, which had a stylish, elegant and modern look and feel to it, with large round tables and comfy upholstered chairs. Being winter, we sat indoors, but there is also an outdoor terrace which could be ideal in summer. The décor is warm and homely with wooden floors and dark wooden beams on the ceilings and strong lighting. Despite it being a Mon night in mid-winter, there was a decent turnout, and by the time we left at around 7.30pm, most tables were, or had been occupied. The ambience was casual, laid back and relaxed, and despite the crowds, the acoustics were good and we were easily able to converse. Either effective insulation or invisible heating kept the place warm as toast despite it being a chilly night.

Service There were a bevy of male and female staff on duty, all neatly turned out in smart uniforms and professional in their attitude. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the pretty maître d and showed to a large round table in the middle of the main dining area. Orders were promptly taken and drinks, entrees and main courses came out in the correct order, although there was a delay of 20 minutes between entrees and main courses. Our chief server was a young gentleman, unfortunately whose name I didn’t get, but he was truly a gem. He was clearly well trained and experienced and it showed because under his guidance everything ran smoothly.

Cost This isn’t a cheap place. Schooners of beer can set you back 9 pesos, steaks are in the 40-53 price range. Now I don’t blame Kenmore entirely for this, because we are now experiencing hyperinflation the likes of which we’ve never experienced, thanks to massive overspending by governments and loose monetary policy. In the end, our bill came to 190 pesos and for that we got a couple of drinks, two starters, four mains, one kids meal and one dessert. A few years ago, this would have been 150.

Summary This is essentially quite an upmarket joint with a stylish and elegant interior design, but retaining that homely neighbourhood vibe where everyone feels comfy and relaxed. Food was first class and the service was polite, friendly and efficient. Add to that, easy parking right outside the venue and ample clean and well provisioned toilets and you have all the ingredients for a fun night out with family or friends.

Memo This hotel is part of the Aust Venue Company’s stable of pubs and hotels. If you join their rewards program, you will earn points each time you dine, but just make sure to order via the app or get the staff to enter your details. I had accumulated enough points prior to this, to score a 50...

I’ve never been compelled to write a review (either negative or positive) before but my experience at Kenmore Tavern yesterday evening has left me so disappointed I feel things need to be shared. We were celebrating a special birthday and had made a booking days ahead (they knew we were coming). Ushered to our table we were given menus, but not offered drinks or a drink menu. After about 10 minutes of waiting (rather thirsty after work) I went up to the counter to ask if we ordered drinks from the public bar. I was told it is full table service and they would be around to take orders. I asked for a wine list and was told there were not enough to go around and there were no spares, he would bring one around soon. The wine list was bought to the table and the server took our order (both drinks and food – we had been waiting for ages). Still waiting about 10 mins later I see a group of servers at the front counter with our drinks sitting there – one of the servers was STIRRING THE BEERS VIGOROUSLY WITH A COCKTAIL SPOON!!? When the drinks came to the table, we told the server we saw what he did and asked why – the beers had been sitting around for so long they needed to make it look fresh and “heady”. We sent them back and asked for freshly poured beer. The bar staff had obviously poured the drinks, but the wait staff had left them sitting too long obviously. Apologies accepted and “it’s been a busy than usual night” excuse was made (note we had a booking, and they knew we were coming – I’m sure there were plenty other bookings). Our thoughts were “OK – it’s just a pub, the manager mustn’t be on, they’re just kids”. The food arrives, 3 of us had the pork belly for main – one was under cooked and cold – I mean REFRIGERATOR COLD to the touch. I took it straight back to the counter and told them – exclaiming how unacceptable this is. They swiftly took it back to the kitchen with apologies, but we had to wait for another to be cooked (meanwhile the rest of us had to either eat or wait for the replacement to come). Again, there were sincere apologies and an offer of a free drink as well as that meal being taken off the bill (thank you). All in all, a disappointing experience – not the waiter’s fault. It was obvious there was no leadership/manager around to guide them. I will not be going back for overpriced and average food and understaffed floor. So sorry I even went in the first place. To the management – lift your game – there are so many other places to...

Why would our family of 5 go back?

We are locals, my wife and i dined at the Kenmore last night with a friend, so a table of 6 paying patrons and we left and asked ourselves the above question, we could not answer it.

To wait so long just to be seated is absolutely appalling, the front man was way to slow and not efficient enough with the many family's queued at the front desk waiting to be seated. He could not find the booking and then asked us to stand back as he sifted through the menus?? As he sat us at the table he explained he would be our host for the night, so we started to order drinks and then he said he had to go and work the front counter,,,,, that's a great idea man, then simple, don't explain you are our host......simply explain waiter will be with us in a minute, easy.

Think about it 60secs maybe 2 mins to greet, find the booking, grab the menus and seat the patrons, he needs basic training.

I'm not even warned up yet.........check this

Then, we finally ordered our drinks and they did not arrive for 15mins. I got up and had a quick look over at the bar and our drinks were sitting on a tray ready to go but not delivered. We finally waved down a waitress after another 5 mins and asked if our drinks that were on a tray could be kindly delivered to our table......no response by the waitress, and walked off before we could finish asking??

Where was the, "Absolutely ill grab them now", true, 5 words are time consuming.

It was very clear the establishment was under staffed, i don't blame the waiting staff i blame the management.

Now I'm warmed up......

Kids meals were delivered first, good work and then the mains came.

The nasty thing in the cardigan that had provided such exceptional service just prior, delivered our meals, to say she was having a bad night was a complete understatement, she should not be anywhere near any customers of any description.

A plastic straw, yes ladies and gentlemen, a plastic drinking straw was lying across my wife's dish, and my wife gently asked what the straw was doing on her food, the waitress repeatedly kept saying "What would you like me to do?"........???? i need say no more.

i suppose at this stage i gently turn to my initial question.......to answer this will be entirely in the hands of The Kenmore.

Word of mouth is a...