Club Sapphire Merimbula — Restaurant in Merimbula

Have been before a few times with fam and was quite nice. But recently past two times my visits have been appalling. The first, we went there for my young brothers birthday and invited some friends. We got in just fine but when our friends arrived they unknowingly accidentally came through the back entrance near the bar. When security saw them entering (friends are adult: over 30, and his friends son he was looking after, teen:16) he told them they weren’t aloud to come in through there, even after they said they were only looking for the restaurant, but staff guy wouldn’t let them in. So instead they came round to the front be entrance, the same guy refused to let them in anyway and we had to have dinner without the company of our friends, even when they didn’t do anything wrong. I absolutely can not get over how terrible our friends were treated. Then the second time was months later, yesterday. We were going for another of my brothers 21st thinking things might have changed. There was 10 of us all together, 5 under 18yo, and 5 over 18yo. As soon as we entered the club and went to the desk, it just so happened to be the same guy 🙄 and he’d asked for who was in-charge so my brother (birthday boy) went up. When asked for his age he said “21” and the guy immediately shook his head and said no we weren’t aloud in because no one was over 25yo! The oldest in our group was 23yo. Even with 5 adults over 18yo, the guy (which I didn’t take note of his name sadly but all I remember of his appearance is he was bald maybe mid 40s?) he said it was a law that if no one was over 25yo they weren’t aloud in with minors. We, after we walked out disappointed and disgusted, looked it up and NO WHERE could we find this “law”! Our plans were ruined and we walk around town till we stumbled upon a lovely Chinese takeout place. Over all with this experience I believe the club has nice food and the staff that I’ve encountered and are aware of are fine but it was just this one guy that I believe shouldn’t be hired if he is turning away customers for no damn reason. I don’t plan on going back if that man is still there and neither may family or friends so you’ve lost a lot of potential customers. Fix the problem or atleast talk to this guy and...

Lady who showed us to our seats was lovely then went downhill from there. Ordered a dozen mixed oysters to share with my wife, they were OK but didn't seem as fresh (natural) or as favourable (Kilpatrick) as the RSL the night before. (I presume they come from the same place so why is this so.) We only had 2 oysters each when our main meal arrived. WHY??? Let us sit and enjoy the entrée, not rush so our main meals don't go cold. We had a late booking (7pm Sunday) and there was other tables available so our table was not needed. We wanted to have the meals sent back but this wasn't going to happen, so they got plonked on the table. (Younger girl who was a bit overwhelmed so we didn't force the issue with her.) The ribs I had were a good flavour but 40% fat, my wife's BBQ Char Siu ducks breast again had good flavour but was raw in the middle and over cooked on the ends. I don't believe you should serve poultry raw. I have always said the Sapphire does the best meals on the coast and have always rated it over the RSL. My opinion has changed, Sapphire will not be the first place we come to anymore when we are in Merimbula if we go at all. PS, wife wanted to...

Excited to visit the club yesterday with my family (ages 18-75) from Melbourne. Unfortunatley my mother did not have photo I’d with her. She was denied entry, made to feel very uncomfortable and embarrassed. The doorman made reference to “if you were with your husband you could come in”- not once, but four times. We were confused already as to checking the ID of a 75 year old and it’s not the 1950s right! No other option was given, so I said we would not be staying for our planned bowls game or dinner reservation. As last to leave I turned to G, the doorman, and said “just for a heads up next situation … maybe explain your ID process clearly - we thought you were joking around. I also added that my father had died, there is no husband … his only reply “I’m not a mind reader”. We left feeling insulted and humiliated under a misogynistic cloud. Nice meal elsewhere in the area where mum simply signed in. I spoke to the manager today who apologised for this experience and hoped that we would visit again. I will leave that decision...