Tilley's Devine Cafe Gallery — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

Second time in a row that we have been very disappointed. Last time was a dry unappetizing plate of nachos but we have it another chance.

The food is just no good anymore. The menu doesn’t suit the (faded) ambiance of the place, and lacks simple, reliable crowd-pleasing favourites. In winter, soups and sandwiches are nice. It felt like a ChatGPT menu.

My friend and I both chose from the specials board and our different meals were both inedible— and I’m not a fussy person. The waitress took away our full plates, unable to look at us.

Speaking of that, the service is strange. The young people who work there are not up to the task. I was told drinks would be brought to our table. I paid $6.50 for one Coke. It wasn’t brought to me and I had to ask for it, and then clarify what it was. If it’s so hard, just give it to me at the bar when paying!

Then we ordered tea, and they didn’t get that right. The cakes in the display cabinet were remaining slices and slivers, dry looking and unappetizing. The bench seats are hard on the bum. Tilleys please please please improve because we can’t come back until you do. Giving two stars because it’s a convenient place full of old nostalgia to meet and to have a long chat, even if parking is getting...

I've been to Tilley's many times over past decade, I used to even work there, but today's experience was awful and I had to write a review in the hope that this passes on to management. Today when we arrived a huge cockroach crawled across our table. As we had no napkins, we called a waitress over and all she did was scoope it up in a napkin. She did not come back to wipe down the table, and in fact appeared to approach the situation like it was no big deal. The second incident was when my drink was handed to me with a bug in it. Not a huge deal breaker so I took it back and asked them to remake it. The second drink I was handed contained two dead bugs. Upon taking it back again the girl at the bar made me a third, when pouring out the bitters another bug fell in the glass (presumably from the bitters), prompting her to suggest "maybe I'll open a new bottle of bitters." While I want to love this little spot, today highlights a serious breach in hygiene standards. If this was what was going on in front of house, and I'm afraid it has put me off eating here at least for the foreseeable future. A huge revamp of...

Tilley's is an institution known by many folks even those of us who live outside of ACT. I have been coming here for approx 20 years and I'm never dissappointed. Besides the wonderful food, no-fuss but friendly and efficient staff, good choice of wines etc - it's the decor and relaxed vibe that I love. Everything else these days has a polished concrete fit-out (which creates excess NOISE and feels cold), they all look 'same-y' and many have Hip staff trying to show how cool they are, who DO NOT understand what 'service' is (check: many venues on Kingston Foreshore or most venues in inner-Sydney). It's also SPACIOUS, you can sit outside or inside, THEY HAVE BOOTHS to sit in (best to call and book one of those in advance) and there is a great second hand Bookstore right next door. I got to meet Pauline recently and thank her for the years of hard work. Tilley's is a bit like a Joni Mitchell song - it's always 'been there' for us who cherish her and need that space. Finally - the Bloody Mary Chicken is amazing - the mix of flavours is a delight !!!! Thank you Pauline, Chef Mel and...