Cook-a-barra Restaurant & Function Centre — Restaurant in New South Wales

So, I emailed the owner advising that it looks like the prices on my receipt do not match and mentioned an unsatisfactory time waiting 1h for mains. I received a photo of the physical menu, to which I accepted and noted it would be timely for the website menu to then be updated. I related the incident with intention, that as the business owner, he would appreciate knowing how things could improve for customers in my plight. Instead the business preferred to see themselves as the victim of those who accepted my fish when the staff sent it to them, then left without paying.

It was not my original idea to share this piece (reply from the owner below, unedited). But it was taken to a different level when my great-grandparent's heritage (not mine fully) was taken with unwarranted misconception - that Asians who are nice, usually simply tolerate bad service and embrace it, and perhaps help fund others' business by letting them feed on assumed ignorance about how service should be. And I therefore do not belong to this category of nice, because I politely pointed out what can be better, being a 5-year old restaurant and all. And there could be clear info on the website for tour prices as well as signages on-site to advise how patrons could pay upfront. Instead, I got a lesson on how people from my ancestors' culture normally behave. And that I am very un-Australian because we had hoped to show support by giving the farm more business so we ordered a snack before our actual lunch appointment.

We never received any attention enough to get our food, much less fish food to feed the fish!

For the tour, expect that it is your responsibility to go into the restaurant kitchen to get the staff out, before the tour starts, so you can identify yourselves from the groups who arrived separately. In my experience, you are also responsible to pass info to the next groups which got there after the tour had started as no one has any idea.

For the fine dining experience, expect that: Your table reservation for 12.30pm should actually include the tour time which starts at 11am. Don't be surprised when they can't find that reservation either. Find your own menu at the counter. Get your own water; a true luxury because the restaurant deems it not as a normal courtesy. Paper napkins instead of cloth napkins; that is how fine dining is defined here. When the restaurant is half-full at their "peak" times, you have to understand when they cannot cope at that capacity because they are a fine dining place. Make payment at the counter instead of being served at the table. Food may be served at a very delayed time, with no forewarning whatsoever. Your order may also be misplaced and staff would not notice until you ask 40mins later. If the staff forgets to serve something as part of the meal, the owner will not fix it as a service issue but it is the fault of the customer. Any video footage will also not be reviewed for the truth to be evident as the staff is always right in this restaurant. Any truthful criticism however positive intentions are, would be met with snide remarks about your culture/heritage or whatever seems evident to them.

Val you are a disgrace to your race and heritage Kwan (Chinese or Korean), you are a miserable piece of work and so very un-Australian, people like you should stay in Sydney, you come to a holiday destination during busy times and expect people to fall all over you, we are a Restaurant not McDonalds if you want cheap fast food please go there next time, you were too tight to order an entrée or something to start with you then share 1 meal between 2 adults and don’t even buy a drink, you booked for 12.30 show up at 11 and don’t speak to staff or enquire about the tour you just joined in, then you leave in such a hurry you forget to ask for your 20 cent ice block I suppose you enjoyed the free water and fish food to feed the fish.

Kwan not sure if you are Chinese or Korean but you are a disgrace to your heritage and culture I find people from Asia generally...

Restaurant was showing 3:30pm as closing time. My girlfriend and I arrived 3pm. Restaurant was open. The staff said that 2pm was the last order taken. We felt very bad: First) restaurant timings on Google, even on the entrance were not clear; Second) Never saw a lunch restaurant working with those timings, specially communicating that closes at 3:30pm but taking orders until 2pm only. Not clever strategy; Third and the main problem) Rude staff. We simply asked if they could cook something simple as takeaway: a big rude No, poor empathy, not polite behaviour, simply said with closed face “Sorry, last order was taken 2pm”. When we asked if they could do something for us (starving customers at restaurant), again she simply repeated the same statement with less empathy, ironically saying exact the same words emphasising that she had already told us that. As far as I know, in any Business, they are their for the customer. Today I felt differently at Cook-a-barra.

Update: The main problem was not the trading hours, but lack of kindness of staff. I got to know about the restaurant checking Google. There were plenty of space available, even takeaway fries were not possible for them. Really sorry they are still trying to justify it blaming the attempted customer. They stiil did not understand what the customer service issue was,...

Completely found this place by chance. They were running a special for the first week of August - $55 for a dozen Sydney rock oysters & 2 pieces of Barra (grilled or deep fried) with chips and salad. We got two to share between 2 adults and 2 children.

It was the best fish and chips I can remember having. Ever. Comparing to Scratchleys and Bubs, there was no comparison. For quality/price ratio, this was way out in front.

Fish was beautiful and delicate, no hint of muddiness. I strongly recommend the grilled barra over the deep fried - whilst the batter on the deep fried was light and crispy, the flesh is very delicate and subtle, and far better enjoyed grilled.

Chips were perfectly crispy, and the salad as fresh as you can get (they grow their vegetables hydroponically onsite), as well as perfectly dressed.

The owners are perfect hosts as well! Big thumbs up - the only place I'd go for a great seafood meal in the Hunter.

(Definitely worth doing the tour too - we weren't sure we would, but very...