Chica Chica Ettalong Beach — Restaurant in New South Wales

This is regrettable to write, as I normally wouldn’t write a negative review, I do however feel on this occasion it is warranted. I was part of a party of 16 ladies who had booked for dinner and cocktails at the Chica Chica Restaurant yesterday. My friend Gemma wrote a review which was factual and non slanderous, it was actually a true version of events. It was my first time visiting the establishment and after reading the reviews and seeing the pictures my expectations were hopeful.

The reality was very different. There was no usual standard of greeting at the door from staff that would direct you to your table or party. I found my friends fairly easily however as the place wasn’t overly busy. After the greetings (still no approach from staff) I was at my table for about 15 minutes before I proceeded to the bar to order a $24 cocktail. I was told to return to my table as it was table service only (more on that later) that’s when I realised the incomprehensible situation of our seating arrangements. A group of 16 people who had the intention of socialising and having dinner together were put on 2 separate tables with a table separating our group. I’m not sure how your booking system works but perhaps it should be regularly reviewed by a human as common sense should prevail that it wouldn’t have been an acceptable situation. At the very least you could have emailed my friend who booked it to see if this weird arrangement was acceptable to her. Back to my drink situation, I sat down as requested, after 30 minutes (having been to the bar at the 15 minute mark) still no offer of a drink from the aforementioned table service. At about this time the real unpleasantness started, Gemma asked if we could sit together as a group by having the table in the middle and the bigger table put together. A quite reasonable and calm request one would have thought (it was no problem for the next establishment). The second table we had could have easily been given to the people who had booked the middle table. This for some reason was unacceptable to the owner for no other reason than it was unacceptable. How ridiculous and unpleasant would it have been for your second group booking to have the separated 1st group talking over the top of them. We simply questioned why this couldn’t be done and that’s when you raised your voice and became obtuse and aggressive. You commenced “mansplaining” to Gemma that it was her fault, when clearly it wasn’t. Are you not the boss, or is the computer the boss? I hadn’t spoken to you and did not feel comfortable to approach you, as things were getting out of hand for a very reasonable request. I didn’t hear Gemma raise her voice at all and she was very visibly getting upset with the way you were talking to her and that didn’t stop you from saying “If you don’t like it, you can leave”. Quite honestly I’m not sure after our experience there to that point, and saying that to us, why anyone would stay? Your conduct was unprofessional and made a group of what turned out to be 12 ladies feel undervalued. I think now the situation is untenable and you are wanting to defend your position and business. You must be doing ok to choose to lose approx $200 a head (that’s what I spent at the other establishment) multiplied by 12 guests who were treated to a fantastic night at Ettalong Diggers. Cheers to Ettalong Diggers who took our large group at the last minute. Tables were rearranged...

Overpriced for what it’s worth. Servers were lovely and very accomodating. They really believed in the food they were selling which sold us! And good for them. However some dishes fell short or were too over priced that it was annoying when it doesn’t hit the mark. We spent $460 for 4 adults and 3 yr old child. We expect to be satisfied with taste and quality for that amount.

We thought we were going to get South American inspired food, however it really was a mixed bag. And the best dishes were NOT SOUTH AMERICAN inspired at all.. Here is my honest review

Kids tacos - 0/10 - tortilla was stale and chicken too spicy for a child with a tiny amount of chips and tiny portions $17 is robbery.

Chilli prawns - 7/10 .overprice for 4-6 prawn ( can’t remember) Flavour was nice but juice was too runny and bread wasn’t enough to soak it up. I paid for extra bread. Maybe the average Joe would be blown away as it was tasty but I am fortunate to have experienced other dishes that have impressed me more for half the price.

Moreton Bay bug - 10/10 my husband loved them but I thought they were over priced for ambiance and location.

Burrata - 6/10 needed seasoning and was bland. If you took the jalapeños out it would have been a 2/10 as they saved the dish for being homemade.

Chips and chipotle sauce - 7/10 nice but over priced for chips!

Broccolini - 6/10 nothing specials, pecans were chucked on with a string like garish that you find in Japanese restaurants.

Lamb cutlets - 7/10 we didn’t get a choice on how we wanted them cooked so this left us wondering the freshness of the cutlets. They were nice but not amazing. Felt more Mediterranean then South American.

Short rib - 10/10 delicious! Miso glaze was a little confusing because we were in what we thought was a South American restaurant. I don’t care because it was the only dish I would consider returning for.

Guac 6/10 - great portion. Very fresh and clean but needed seasoning. I added salt and it lift the dish to a 7/10 but still over price for a couple of avocados and chips.

Dessert was Filipino inspired 7/10- nice but expensive. Again weird because of the cuisine was from all different countries.

Please give it a try, and I would go again but not order a lot as it was too expensive to be hot and miss. The Japanes inspired short rib was a winner I’d return for.

I want to love this place more and will give it another chance when I’m back. It was clean which I appreciated ALOT Considering other experiences...

Hi Shane I was one of the Mum’s that attended your venue yesterday and I have to say, I’m incredibly shocked and saddened about what transpired. Firstly, as Gemma has said, when making the initial booking months ago, we simply requested that we don’t have the set menu for our booking, at the time we were told this was ok and could book 2 tables for an extended seating from 3pm which included drinks and nibbles and then dinner afterwards. We were also told the tables could be next to each other. If this was going to be a problem, we should have been told so at the time and we would have happily organised to go elsewhere. However, as we were told it was ok, we booked it in and were all very excited for our afternoon and evening. Days before our booking, when we called to again confirm, we were told we could no longer have the extended booking and could only have drinks and nibbles from 3pm-5pm. While this was frustrating as you changed what we had booked and you had agreed on, we accepted the change and decided we would start at your venue and then move elsewhere for dinner. However I think this should be noted as something that shouldn’t happen again. You shouldn’t accept someone’s booking, and then decide 2 days before that actually, we won’t accommodate you anymore. I think enough has been said about how you handled yourself yesterday (or should I say, DIDN’T handle yourself) so I won’t repeat what’s been said, but I will say I’m shocked you still feel the need to justify your dismissive, disrespectful and aggressive behaviour towards a customer who was simply requesting something that she had been told previously we could have. While I couldn’t hear the whole conversation, I could see your aggressive demeanor, and the only words I did hear were from when YOU raised your voice. Not once did I hear Gemma raise her voice to you. When Gemma walked away visibly upset and started telling us what happened, You also had the audacity to come over to our table and tell her she wasn’t allowed to tell us what happened and she had to leave. I truly hope you can have some self reflection and learn from your mistakes moving forward. Because in no way was what happened to us yesterday...