Rockwall Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Hobart

I’ve been coming to Rockwall for several years now (5-10 times per year), food and service always exceptional, to the point of introducing new people to the place often. I’m a creature of habit and when travelling for work always have the same thing. I’ve had some of the best oysters in the world here (Bruny Island). Tonight’s experience was particularly disappointing… I received my half dozen natural Oysters, which weren’t that fresh ( I get it, they order in on Friday (maybe Saturday) and they run them out more often than not on Monday) silly mistake won’t do again, also I used to work hospitality so I know how it runs)… anyway all a bit dry (try a salt water spray to freshen up a bit guys) and one a bit too close to call, fairly certain it had turned bad or at least I wasn’t willing to take the risk. The waiter asked, and I politely let him know one of them was a bit too close to call and couldn’t take the risk on it. He cleared table and next dish came. Next dish was amazing as always. I finish up and proceed to counter to pay… He asked how everything was, great besides oyster, no comment. The chef comes out as he brings up my bill and checks the screen, attempting to be inconspicuous , achieving the complete opposite. Having worked hospitality i’m fairly certain the waiter had told chef, and chef refusing to own up to his mistake has told waiter no fresh oyster and no discount. This waiter had served me many times before and he’s a good guy and friendly. I’m not super fussed about payment as it was a work meal, however the bare minimum if this type of mistake happens is make a discrete apology, and offer another oyster in lieu… not hard and shows some care. I think the chef on duty needs a chat from management. Date of...

The good, the bad and the UGLY!

We booked Rock Wall for my mum's 60th birthday. Unfortunately they did not deliver on expectations at all.

Starting with the ugly: when booking with Tarryn she told me that she'd sit us upstairs - a nice open space where we could enjoy dinner. I informed Tarryn that my party included some elderly people and asked her how many stairs and whether they were steep. Tarryn led me to believe that there was 7 to 10 stairs and they weren't that steep. INCORRECT! When my grandparents arrived they could not get upstairs- there are more like 15 to 20 steps and they are very steep. When we enquired about whether they had a lift or alternate access they said no. All they could offer was to sit my grandparents down in the bottom restaurant as long as they were out by 7.30pm. Further, after eating their meals (away from the party) they were fast tracked out the door. They then had the audacity to ask whether they would like to leave a tip when paying!

When making such bookings Rock Wall should clearly state the accessibility of the upstairs restaurant. It is not acceptable for guests to be embarrassed by being in this situation - and believe me my grandparents were embarrassed.

The bad: for a restaurant that prides itself on delivering delicious steaks, they far from delivered. On set menu 3 you have the option of a porterhouse steak. It was cooked to order - great, however the steak did not taste like it had been seasoned and the accompaniments were bland. The desserts were delicious and the starters were ok - the pork belly was overpoweringly sweet.

The good: our waitress Meg...

Probably the worst meal I have had in a very long time. The cheap bowling club down the road serves better steak then here. Before you go and say that I don’t know how steaks and beef should be cooked I have worked in top class beef restaurants across Canada and America, I know a thing or two about meat.

Four of us ordered a steak and we were incredibly excited for our meal but were incredibly disappointed. Three of us ordered medium rare steaks and one well done, super simple. We got 1 well done like requested, 2 medium well/well done steaks and one medium cooked at best! I wasn’t hugely bothered, because it happens.. I asked for a new steak immediately and for it to be like I requested, medium rare. It came out 20 mins later and again MEDIUM WELL right in the middle of the steak and leather on the edges.. how can you get it so wrong twice when you’re meant to specialise in steak? They offered to cook a 3rd steak or make another meal which by this time I was fed up and my friends were over their poorly cooked steak and meal. I half ate the rubber steak, cold potato’s and wilted broccoli because I was so hungry. For a place to charge close to $50 for a steak it really was trash. They wouldn’t comp my steak or my friends significantly over cooked steak but instead we got one free dessert. Again, absolute trash..

Pick your game up there are many other epic restaurants around and you definitely don’t deserve to be located in prime position serving poor tasting and terribly...