Smile Buffalo Thai Black Rock — Restaurant in Melbourne

Smile  Buffalo ลาก่อนไม่อีกแล้ว

What did happen with good Thai restaurant we use to come with our friends and family  for nice food, good service and lovely time out?

On this occasion  4 of us did make booking well in advance for Thursday night. We did find a good cause and wanted to come to give support to this local Thai restaurant as we have sympathised with them after their Covid closers. We wished we loved it as before but this outing made us to say "big NO and never again".

When we arrived at 6.30 pm only one couple was dinning. It wasn't busy at all. We had to wait for 5 minutes until male staff come out. We told him we do have reservation. He just pointed to take any table, which we did.

Service was disappointments from the beginning to the end. The staff looked like he doesn't want to be there and he behaved in that way.

As we couldn't make him to come to take our order, after one hour of waiting, one of us walked to him and asked if we can order our meals. At that point I felt I wanted to go out to some other restaurant.

Finally he did take our order. Food arrived quickly but was very dissapointing. Thai betle leaves have been the best of all. But the staff even didn't try to explain how to wrap them or he presumed we already know how to do it? Yes, we did know, but regardless it would be nice and polite to ask us.

Other foods vegetarian spring rolls, roti bread, green chicken curry , flat chicken pad noodles, soft shell crab and apple salad, steer fried vegetables very avarage and dissappointing though. Nothing like we had it before.

At the end of dinner we have to chaise staff to bring us bill. There was only 4 of as and 4 other people at restaurant at time.We had to walk with bill and money  yelling "thank you" but saidly no one was coming out of kitchen.

Little bit of acknowledge and good will wouldn't hurt!?

The two stars are more then I will normally give to the Smile Buffalo on this occasion , but since we are local and use to be happy here, I am giving two stars. Unfortunately we are not going to return to...

Edit: we've been here many many times since, dine in, group, family and takeout.

Still love it. In fact had take out tonight and it was superb. Very happy family.

Best when eaten in as it is a nice place to go. Beer on tap, wine available.

I can't think of many restaurants that are this dependable for great food. Oh wow. New favourite restaurant.

Just the two of us. Decided to support a local that needs it.

Well weren't we surprised? We have never been to Smile Buffalo before as we have a Thai restaurant that we quite like.

The food, the best we have eaten. Both of us could not stop taking about how good it was.

Taste. Texture. Colour. The whole meal was superb.

The service was really good too.

The menu choices are broad. As a first visit we played it relatively safe for our preferences. Entre of chicken satay, curry puffs and crumbed prawns.

Mains of chicken with chili and cashews, beef with red curry and pineapple. The chicken was, the best, really the best, taste I've had in a long time. Even when we were both full I picked at it just to make sure my memory was right.

Even the roti was good. Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside!

So yes. We've got a new favourite and will be going back. Fortunately they are super close so this is definitely a win for us.

Atmosphere is relaxed. Suitable for two like us enjoying some time together, small groups and I will recommend to my son's for dates!

Order the chicken....

Sadly we were unable to experience a dinner we had booked for New Year's Eve. We booked online for 9pm. Unfortunately one of the patrons with us was called by a family member overseas informing them of a family emergency. We rang the restaurant at 9pm to tell them we would be late as we had an emergency overseas call we were attending to, but would be there soon. We arrived at 9.15pm to be told the kitchen was closed and regardless of our situation, we would be unable to dine in at 9.15pm. (However we could order take away, so the kitchen was open!) When we explained that we had already pre-called at 9pm and explained the situation, they refused to serve us even though we suggested we would order immediately and sit down. I asked for the manager - I was told they were unavailable. We left the restaurant at 9.20pm unfed, even though if we had arrived about 9ish we would of been there until late. I am appalled at the resistance of the staff and lack of empathy for our situation. They clearly wanted to leave for the evening (even though we would have been there for some time had we had arrived at 9pm). Its a shame we couldn't sample the food - but I will be informing everyone I meet not to dine there due to the negative treatment we received from the staff. We left hungry, with concern we would not be able to find...