Mavericks on the Bay — Restaurant in Nelson Bay

We arrived as a party of 7 for a drink on Sunday afternoon. We were received by two young female staff members. The restaurant was not empty but neither was it full. There were several vacant tables.

Our friends were already seated at a table of six and we said we would like to join them. There were at least two tables free near our friends. After much going backwards and forwards (while we waited at the entrance), we were told that this would not be possible. The young woman who told us this was not exactly rude but she also wasn’t at all welcoming or helpful. Her attitude signalled clearly to all of us that we were inconveniencing her. The reason we were unable to sit with our friends was not entirely clear to me but we were told that tables could not be moved. OK.

Eventually, after a bit more of a wait, a separate table was found for us near our friends and we sat down and ordered drinks. After about five minutes, a large group appeared and several tables were moved quite close to us to accommodate them. I counted at least twelve people at the table. I couldn’t help staring a bit. It was a little hard to process this, given what we’d just been told and the attitude we’d encountered.

We had intended to order some food but by this time the service to which we’d been treated had left a bad taste in our mouths and we decided not to. As we drank our drinks, a staff member came over and asked to check my son’s ID (he’s 25). He’d worked in a liquor store while he was at uni and didn’t have a problem with being asked but, again, the request was made in a much less-than-friendly way and his ID was handed back to him quite abruptly. It was hard not to think that the staff looking for a way to annoy us.

Our group has been to Maverick’s many times over the years and the food and service have always been fine. I don’t remember ever encountering such a distinct lack of concern on the part of the staff. One of our group manages a well-known restaurant and bar in Melbourne and was horrified at the way we were treated.

I hardly ever write reviews but felt compelled to write this one in the hope that it will help the management of Maverick’s to address what appears to be a problem with the training and attitude of their staff. We are happy, easy-to-please and generally forgiving people and this experience was very...

Machu Picchu, The Pyramid of Giza, Stonehenge, Christ the Redeemer, Maverick's on the Bay. These are the great wonders of the world you absolutely must see before you die, and not necessarily in the aforementioned order.

There is a reason that Maverick's on the Bay, or simply 'Mav's', as it is affectionately referred to by its patrons, is held in such high esteem by both locals and visitors alike.

Situated on what is undoubtedly the most sought after piece of real estate in the sprawling metropolis of Nelson Bay, Maverick's boasts endless ocean vistas, and panoramic views of the pristine beaches that surround it. The downstairs bar enjoys constant sunlight, and its unparalleled serenity is interrupted only by the mating calls of the local Pelican colony, or of a local cougar who has enjoyed one too many glasses of Pinot Grigio from the absolutely exceptional wine list.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of domestic and international food lovers make the pilgrimage to Maverick's, for one dish, and one dish only, their world famous seafood platter. It is without question the best in Australia, arguably the world, and it is an absolute must for all those visiting Mav's for the first time. After nightfall, Mav's hosts a veritable smorgasboard of local and international musical talent, with acts such as Scandal'us, Bardot, Shannon Noll, and Craig McLachlan gracing its stage in recent years.

The proprietors of Maverick's can hold their heads high, with the knowledge that their establishment will not seem incongruous when it is inevitably listed amongst the best restaurants in the world. Three Michelin stars are an absolute...

As we had a 2 for 1 voucher we decided to take the opportunity to eat there. I wish I had read the reviews prior to going because we would not have wasted our time. Arriving about 6:30 on a Monday evening the place was not busy. We ordered fish and chips and the salmon dish. After waiting 50 minutes and watching other tables, which had arrived after us, get their meals my wife went to find out what had happened to our meals. She was told that the order had not gone through and they would do it straight away. They also gave us the option of refunding our money back. Regrettably we said no. She was then asked would she liked to have dessert whilst we were waiting. (Go figure?) After waiting a further 10 -15 minutes a staff member approached us to apologise and stated the food would still be at least 5 minutes. The food then appeared within 2 minutes. Fish and chip order- chips were anemic looking and at best warm and they didn't take long to go cold while the fish was very very lightly battered. Salmon order- my wife frequently orders salmon when we go out. It is the first time she has never been offered lemon to go with the fish. The skin was not overly crispy so she did not eat it. The salad did not have any dressing to go with it. While it was not stated on the menu it would have been nice if it was included. It was a shame that they didn't spend the extra few minutes cooking the food. The one positive was the glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc which we had purchased when we...