The Blind Monk — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

I called the blind monk and confirmed a booking in the function room. They replied in email and confirmed, no issues at all. I rang ON the day of my event to see if I could perhaps bring in all the decorations I had bought to set up early. I ring to find that I did in fact not have the function room, they had booked me in the restaurant as the function room had apparently been booked prior. I was incredibly frustrated by this as I had in email a confirmed booking for that room, I had organised this 2 months prior, had made a playlist, bought decorations, had family and friends travelling from Sydney, Wagga Wagga and more. I expressed my concern, to have found out ON the day, not by them, but by me ringing that i would have my party of 30 people in the restaurant only 4 hours before the event was starting. They offered to give me a $150 platter which was incredibly disappointing, better than nothing but I still ended up spending $400+ on food which was shocking. Literally vegetable sticks with hummus and cold food that was meant to be hot. Incredibly disappointed in the food, not worth what you pay. Cocktail wait was 30+ minutes, which I understand would be hard on a Saturday night as it was already busy. The bar staff admitted they were understaffed that night. Overall my experience was not nice, not having the function room was a HUGE let down, especially finding out THAT day by ringing myself (as I said, 4 hours before the event, thank god I did), food was distasteful and very disappointing, service wasn’t great as they were probably annoyed with us being too loud. 30 people in the restaurant of course it would be loud, I don’t really see how that could be avoided. Considering how I spent so much there and not to mention the other 29 people from our group, I would recommend...

I generally do not involve myself in bad reviews as I was brought up with "if you have nothing nice to say don't say it at all", but I was deeply disheartened with my experience last night. The pizza was a disc of dissapointment. Where the "pulled pork" pizza was dry and unruly like that of a bad hair day, and I wonder. Did the 'chef' forget the main ingredient; cheese? Because there almost was none. Or perhaps they did not order enough stock and neglected to inform the customer, that they would receive a less than ordinary wheat frisbee, covered in godawful red coloured sauce and dry pork chunks. For $22 should anyone have to pay for this?

Now my meal, the real clincher a "beefcheek ratatouille" this is a meal I would not even feed a dog. Alas, it is on a menu for human consumption. The astonishment one would feel as they walk through a petfood isle to find last nights meal repackaged under the label pedigree. Such degradation and insult to my palate was inconceivable until last night. Let's not forget the contempt of the cow. That died in order to become an atrocious defamation of the red meat industry. Now I also believe there was meant to be a bug served with this dish, but I am unsure of its actual nutritional value or genus in the animal kingdom. For $32 you would expect something palatable.

I did request the staff to remove my meal from the table. I was told I would receive a refund for my meal, as I was so repulsed that I could not eat. I was not given a refund, but a gift voucher for the sum. My needs were not met and my stomach was left hollow.

We did enjoy playing Jenga though, will not be back to eat unless the chef finds his passion and...

Went there for my birthday last night. The guys serving us throughout the night were awesome. Great service. The drinks there were great (would recommend going there for a drink) but the food was another issue. We ordered approximately around 830 ordering several bar snacks and then mains. The bar snacks were served for us to share and then the main meals were brought out at the same time the entrees were. The staff person was apologetic and offered to keep the dishes warm under the heat lamp. Bar snacks were nice enough then when the table was cleared our mains were brought out. Was very very disappointing as all our food was cold. A cold pizza, pasta, burgers and salmon. Sent the salmon back because it was stone cold. The server was again apologetic about it but ultimately it ruined a birthday dinner having to eat cold dinners. Chef was 100% at fault as they just made the food hoping to finish early. Very puzzling as well because you are allowed to book tables at 830 but the kitchen closes 20 minutes later. Lack of communication from both kitchen and FOH to customers resulted in a night where over $200 on food was wasted with cold mains. Don't go...