Benchmark on Booner — Restaurant in Hawks Nest

DO NOT EAT HERE! Would give NO STARS if I could. Just travelled all over Oz, rural, remote, country towns, big cities, this was the last night of our trip and the most disgusting food and horrible service EVER! $75 for 3 takeaway pizzas that went in bin and the 3 of us were sick from the 1piece of each pizza we ate. Rude non existent service from 2 ladies with blond hair, “we don’t take orders use app on door”. After ordering app informed we would receive SMS when food ready. After waiting 40 min went inside to see our name on chalkboard. When asking if our food was ready reply was” just read the most incredible thing a lady in Brazil gave birth to a 7Kg baby” When we said we didn’t receive SMS reply was” we don’t do that food has been ready a long time”. Got back to motel had ordered 2 supreme and one pumpkin pizzas. Had 2 different looking pizzas one with olives one without, and a bbq burnt meat pizza. Took them back. Blond girl at till aggressive. A man from kitchen came out. Was told there were 2 supremes “ that’s how we do them”. Took burnt meat pizza and said will make pumpkin one. Literally 3 min later we were given back 2 cold “supreme”pizzas ( we hadnt eaten anything at this stage) and what was supposed to be a smoked pumpkin pizza. Pizza crusts cold tasted like frozen undercooked Woolies pizza bases. One supreme had about 30 olives on top non existent meat one thin slice capsicum and cheese so thick it lifted off in one big disc. Other supreme had slices of olives a few dead mushies and cheese as above. Vego pumpkin had mounds of marinated off onions, and burnt cubes of dried pumpkin and again thick cheese. All up it took from 540 to 730 from ordering to getting pizzas to motel 2nd time. No apologies. Whilst there, people who were dining sent food back and people asking to order like us, were told, “ we don’t take orders for takeaway use app” like we were told. I used to own restaurants and train in hospitality at TAFE. There is NEVER EVER any reason for rudeness. Council Health Inspector should visit this place. Such a shame as Hawkes Nest is a beautiful place. Ate breakie at Boatshed next morning… Food and staff there...

Went before and it was great. Now rubbish. First my partner got a beer and was double charged, no worries just got another one after a lot of back and forth. Then they could only make like 2 cocktails on their list. We also went as last time they did cocktail towers now that is no longer a thing. So we moved on to wine to which again they only had a few options as well. Then we ordered food. Pizzas came out one we didn’t order a supreme thing instead of a vego thought oh well innocent mistake. Then we were waiting for two of our pizzas they never came went up and mentioned waiting for two pizzas they had no idea. Eventually we got a small (order a large) prosciutto pizza. Instead of a nice pizza we got an entire packed of prosciutto dumped on a pizza with nothing else but a fraction of cheese. Was cold and no one wanted to eat it Still waiting for our second one. Went back up said can we just get our last one in a takeaway. They had no idea about a second. The receipts were reprinted each time to show the what pizza we were waiting on. Finally after waiting hours we gave up and asked for a refund. To which they said they can’t do it as we order through the app but leave details we will get it to you. Well a month later and follow up phone calls to no refund. So will leave this review, and inform people to avoid this place if they want to eat food or go for a drink to not waste time or money.

Most ridiculous place I have ever eaten at should have left at first red flags. But unfortunately this place used to be good don’t know how it’s still in business when we talked to friends they said they also had a similar experience

Do your self a favour and go into tea garden pub a get what you order and they can actually give you drinks that are...

I am writing this review for the right reasons - I want this place to be successful. I think its victim of two things its location - no competition and an owner that doesnt understand basics done well are all he needs to do... Have been coming here for years and have seen it go through so many menu changes. From 'Semi Fine Dining' to its current below average smoke house, absolutely odd menu 'experience'. The current iteration this guy is trying is the worst yet. 20 odd protien dishes to chose from, 12 ish sides, some odd breads and some horrendous packet sauces.

THE MENU DOESNT WORK the quality is shockingly bad, and most of it is served cold.

Owner you are sitting on a possible gold mine - there is nothing else in Hawks Nest. Please please please I beg you do basic food well.

Some FRESH oysters and prawns 3 - 5 awesome small plates Pub classics done well Chicken Parma 2 Pastas done well 2 - 3 steaks done well

Price it fairly and my god this place will hum.

Please own dont be fooled - just because people turn up doesnt mean your food is good. Its because there is nothing else around.

I beg you please once and for all fix the menu, add quality, reduce its size, price it fairly. I JUST WANT TO HAVE A NICE MEAL THERE....

Oh and if your staff smiled and were engaging that would be nice too - but lets just fix the menu and the quality of the food first.

God I hope you read this and do something please please please I dont want you to fail. I just want an awesome dinner location...