OTIS Dining Hall — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

This was the third time we'd dined at Otis for dinner but we hadn't been back in a while. On this occasion we noticed a substantial drop in service standards and a subtle laziness about the place. Firstly, what decent restaurant in the world worth their salt doesn't offer tea or coffee after dinner as a matter of policy? I eventually managed to extract a terrible black coffee (long black) on request after a delayed 'consultation with the kitchen.' A further "consultation" revealed that no sugar at all for my coffee was held on site. I was admittedly gobsmacked by this, what if you take sugar in your tea or coffee? Upon enquiry, our waitress, Georgia, told us that there's been a bit of a "backlash against tea and coffee." I hadn't heard of such a movement and dont know what she meant but apparently that is the policy on coffee at Otis. In my view, it's an excuse not to invest in a professional espresso machine and serve customers espresso coffee like cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes. Moving on, the wine menu is lengthy but there are literally no international wines on offer. I'm not suggesting Australian wines shouldn't dominate, supporting the local industry is very much appreciated and needed, but these days good restaurants generally at least hold good quality reds from Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Rhone. Italian Chianti and other new world wines ought to be offered too. Beer was the same. A few international alternatives is all that is suggested. I think the casual black tables also fail to complement the rich wood panelling and the ornate lighting. My suggestion would be to introduce table cloths and warm light lamps on each table, the modern white light lamps felt a bit out of place against the warm lighting in the room. The plates on use were modern and very nice but also failed to match the decor. In sum, the atmosphere was let down by the introduction of some furnishings that didnt exactly match and matching crockery, tables etc are needed to marry in seamlessly with the restaurant's richly wooded fit out. These changes in my view would reassert the quality of the restaurant's atmosphere. Another minor thing was the manner in which the tables are spread through the restaurant. The spacing is appreciated but it felt a bit sparse. Finally, while the food was very good, it wasn't sublime. The King Salmon entree was a gorgeous piece of fresh salmon sashimi but the accompaniment was underwhelming. The pepper steak was beautifully cooked but the jus (pepper sauce) was nothing new or unexpected. However, my wife had the swordfish and said it was excellently cooked, the accompanying sauce was beautiful. The desserts were good too. Otherwise, the table service we received from our waitess was excellent, she was attentive, friendly and efficient and so we left a good tip. Apart from the 'coffee issue,' we had a lovely night. I hope that Otis makes some minor improvements based on what is constructive criticism, not an attempt to hurt business. Generally, the service industry in Australia is below par compared to some other parts of the world, because of attempts to cut costs, offer the cheaper alternative and circumvent higher service standards- and the public blindly accepts it. I do call out these issues when identified to boost business and to increase service standards generally (never to hurt business). In my opinion, some alterations and improvements will go a long way to promoting the greatness Otis' lovely, food, furnishings and...

My fiancé and I recently got engaged and decided to celebrate by spending our long weekend interstate in Canberra. We were excited to check out Otis Dining Hall as it was recommended by one of our friends. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted politely by the young man at the front who then seated us at our table. Unfortunately this is where everything proceeded to go South. After waiting about 10mins we finally had someone come to our table with menus (still no mention of tap or sparkling water). Once we received the menus I told the waiter I’d LOVE an extra dirty vodka martini. He mentioned they couldn’t do that and can only make cocktails that were on the menu list. I mentioned that’s odd- how can a fine dining restaurant not offer its customers classic cocktails? He then went back to the bartender to double check came back and said “no sorry we cannot do it we are to busy” (there were empty tables in the restaurant still - so they weren’t). I was shocked. My partner still ordered his negroni (which is also a classic but there happened to be a variation on the menu). I said to the wait staff that sorry I sound like a “Karen” but is it possible to speak to the Manager (there was a lady walking around in non wait staff uniform whom turned out to be part owner). Now this is where things went even further South- I get the young wait staff having no clue and being inexperienced but the behaviour the part owner showed was abysmal. She finally came around to our table another 10mins later and at this stage my partner had his negroni and said “hi, sorry we can’t do the martini for you but we can only do what’s on the cocktail list- our chefs have chosen what’s on the cocktail list so it pairs with the food.” I told her that was fine, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around how a fine dining restaurant just wouldn’t offer its customers the classic cocktails - especially when you have all the ingredients just sitting there! I then mentioned we would pay for my partners negroni and then leave. She huffed and puffed and mentioned that that wasn’t fair and then stormed off to the kitchen whilst saying (in front of the whole restaurant) “let me check with the kitchen what you have ordered so we can charge you!!” I responded we’re not paying for it - as I was confused as to what she was referring to. She came back and said “oh you haven’t ordered anything so it’s just the negroni then” - something she could have learnt if she politely asked us herself. I understand I may have been a difficult customer over the maritni (but honestly what fine dining restaurant doesn’t offer classic cocktails!?) but that was no way to behave. I would think if you are part owner and a hospitality professional you would hold yourself to a higher standard and smile and be polite with all customers… what’s the saying.. the customer is always right? Anyways we paid up and went to Raku and it was amazing! We don’t ever write Google reviews but this one we had to as I am so...

Wow! Where do I start with my account of dining here? Let's start with the first things you'll encounter: the environment and staff. The restaurant is quite unassuming from the outside but welcoming, but also its exterior belies the dining experience ahead of you. Inside, the restaurant has hues of brown and other earthy colours that are bathed in soft warm lighting that creates an intimate and welcoming environment. Tables are arranged to give diners a sense of separation from one another, and is very welcome in an age where some restaurants put customer quantity before their dining privacy. The staff compliment the restaurant and are extremely friendly, helpful and attentive. They are also well presented which all adds to the impression you're going to have a superior dining experience. Which is exactly what you get. The food here is next level, and cooked to perfection. Everything I devoured was sublime and plentiful. Flavours and tastes supported each other rather than competed or overpowered one another. The texture of my food was also noteworthy. Nothing was over or under cooked. Meats weren't chewy, vegetables weren't soft, fish wasn't pulpy and salads hadn't wilted. Sauces were warm and zesty and helped carry the flavours of the dishes I ate. The presentation of the dishes that adorned my table were top drawer too. A real treat for the eyes. Plates weren't overcrowded with food, likewise the food wasn't dwarfed by the plates either. Signature dishes were worthy of their reputation and clearly demonstrated the abilities of the kitchen staff, as did the non-signature dishes. I must also mention the thought and effort that went into my wife's vegan menu / dishes. They didn't feel like, or taste like, an afterthought or a poor cousin of the main menu. The food that was served to my wife was original and a delight to eat. In fact, the vegan dishes I tasted should be a choice on the main menu so more people can enjoy their brilliance. There is a marvellous balance and synergy to the food at OTIS, but not just with the flavours. The whole place informs you there is a real treat awaiting you. The mood, the decor, the staff, the beverage list and food are all important parts of one marvellous package. If you live in, or are just visiting, Canberra get yourself to OTIS for a dining experience no amount of hyperbole can do...