The Local — Restaurant in Clayton Bay

We were really disappointed on Australia Day. It was $45 each for a plate of food – small amounts of beef, chicken, pork ribs, a prawn, a bland pork sausage and potato salad, lettuce, slice of tomato and spoonful of raw onion. On the positive side, the lettuce was fresh, all of the meat was cold...the beef was rare and tough...it was advertised as being "an epic culinary journey...the ultimate fusion of Chilean and Brazilian flavours" "that will leave your tastebuds in awe"...well, our tastebuds aren't in awe at all. We really want Pier 28 to succeed but there seem to be a lot of issues to resolve. There was no flavour to any of the meat and the prawn had not been shelled or deveined….I couldn’t eat it because the bamboo knife wasn’t sharp enough to make a cut to pull the vein out. When I tried to pull the head off and remove the shell, brown gunk (poo) came out of the prawn and put me off. We had also been called a couple of days before and asked to prepay for our meal. We thought that was unusual and in the end we paid at the event but we really don’t feel that we got our money’s worth at all. We don’t mind paying if the meal is good and we pay on average between $28 and $36 for a main dish at various other restaurants…only those meals are edible, tasty, and hot at the other venues and there is more food on the plate. We also attended opening night and that night the vibe was good, the main meal was tasty, but barely warm. We were brought the wrong entrée initially, then the wrong main meal…dessert was nice but the coffee was cold. They did offer to make another coffee but by that time we were leaving. Nevertheless, we didn’t feel ripped off as we did at the Australia Day event. We attended on Australia Day to give Pier 28 another go. For one drink each (a beer and plastic cup of wine), 2 plates of food, NO dessert or bread, and bank fees on the payment, we forked out over $110 for this experience. We also sat on chairs that were grubby and our table wobbled…we had to wedge something under the leg to stop our drinks from spilling. The live music was good but there wasn’t a really good vibe and we wondered if other people were also disappointed. Maybe it’s better if you attend the venue when there isn’t a large event going…but then we are hearing these stories of people having to wait over an hour for their food and some even leaving after an hour or two of waiting. Not sure what’s going on but the only staff member smiling on Australia Day was the polite young staff member handing out the paper plates and bamboo cutlery. We really wish we hadn’t spent that $110 on cold food that was not as described in the marketing.

I put this review on their Facebook page and they deleted it without any response or apology, so...

We have been to Pier 28 on 2 occassions , the first being opening night , the atmosphere was good , and good live music , we were sent the wrong meals , when the correct meals turned up they were barely warm , my wifes coffee was cold aswell , our initial booking time for the night was changed , the day before by your staff ............ the second occassion was Australia Day .......... what a debarcle !, 2 days before the event my wife was phoned and asked to pay in advance ?? , we agreed , but very strange indeed as was the story your staff member gave her ? ........... we arrived to quite unhappy staff on the day , we weren't told we would be sitting out in the sun ? , lucky i brought a hat with me , the table rocked , the seats were dirty , then at 12.40 we could line up for the BBQ , not 12.00 as advertised , the food was barely warm , your advertising stated ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ''Get ready for an epic culinary journey with CB BBQ – the ultimate fusion of Chilean and Brazilian flavors! Our maestro chef, Milo, is gearing up for a gastronomic extravaganza that will leave your taste buds in awe. Tomorrow is the day, and the excitement is reaching fever pitch! Our dedicated team has been burning the midnight oil, marinating, and preparing a feast that will blow your mind.''

well what an overstatement that was ? ........... when we went inside to order a drink your staff couldn't tell me what beers were available and couldnt hold the conversation as she was busy talking to others ? , barely warm food , couldn't taste the marinade or much of any flavours really , the salads came out of what appears to be plastic storage containers ? .............. did they meet food & health standards ? ......... the beef was tough yet not cooked properly , neither was the sausage , the small piece of chicken very average , and very little meat on the ribs and i mean Very Little indeed , and i wouldn't touch one of the prawns , the whole serving for the price you charged was more than dissapointing and certainly left us wanting more , infact the whole experience on Australia Day at Pier 28 was a giant let down ! ............. you market your events very well , BUT fail to deliver ! ...... in fact we left there and went to another local eatery for afternoon tea as we were still hungry , as locals we were hoping for another great eatery in the district , unfortunately on both occassions you didn't come up to scratch , just glad we have numerous other choices in the...

Came Clayton Bay to look at a house our cousin bought here. Came for Mother's Day lunch @$55/ head. Not impressed at all. Party of 12, 2 got entrees after 40 minutes, the rest of us waited an hour. Drink order was 30 minutes!! Mains came promptly after, but were very average, both in presentation and taste. My Pork Belly was luke warm and was just a pile of greasy meat and a few chunks of roast veg on the side and did not look appealing at all. No gravy or dressing/sauce, a bit of green salad or veg would have been nice and made the plate look more appetizing. My wife commented on the way home (after telling us all in the restaurant to stop complaining) it was like something 10 year olds would dish up as a Mums surprise dinner at home!! (Sorry to the 10 year olds but you get the idea!!) We thought the food was like frozen out of the packet supermarket stuff!! Service was friendly but extremely slow Worse still they ran out of cold beer!!! Not usually one to leave poor a review, and think those that do are just whingers, but you guys need really do need to put in a bit more effort. I realise you were a bit busy, but you really need to spend some time on the logistics of running a restaurant, food prep and presentation! One of our party gave a verbal review and was told "we have never had a bad review"!!! Maybe you need to read some of them here, as there seems to be a bit of a recurring theme here on service times and food prep/presentation. A touch of personal pride in the product you were presenting would have being nice, obviously no...