TINTA Belmont — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

My friend and I decided to try TINTA Belmont, regardless of the inconsistent reviews (as you'll never really know unless you go and experience first-hand).

The space is nicely styled, light-filled and airy with spectacular views across Lake Macquarie. There are three dining options: the dining room, at the bar or out on the landing. We chose the dining room and requested a table close to the windows to enjoy the lake views (without being outside in the heat on the landing).

Initially, we could not fault the service. We were welcomed by a young team who were initially attentive. However, as more patrons arrived for the lunchtime service, including a couple of larger groups, the customer service offered to the two of us dwindled to almost non-existent. A significant period of time passed before finished plates were cleared from the table and quite some time passed before the empty water bottle was replaced.

Beverages: We selected a glass of champagne each, to be informed that they could only offer the Prosecco by the glass. Instead we chose a glass of the Pinot Grigio and a glass of the Semillon.

Food: We decided to share food, choosing from the "Small Plate" menu. Calamari Smashed Cucumber Eggplant Prawn & Lobster Roll ($19 each!)

We queried the "smashed cucumber" and were informed it was diced, not actually smashed. When ordering the Prawn & Lobster Roll, we were informed only that it was a single serve. Based on this guidance, we ordered two rolls (no additional detailed information provided by the waiter - yes we should have asked more questions!).

When served the Prawn & Lobster Rolls, we were both astounded to see two brioche style hot-dog rolls, garnished with one lettuce leaf, overfilled with diced pieces of prawn and lobster in, what I imagine was, the cucumber aioli. We requested the waiter cut one of the rolls in half. Neither of us finished the shared portion of that roll and the second whole roll was left on the plate untouched (we declined the waiter's offer to take the untouched roll home).

The remaining three small plates all came out to the table at once. We immediately realised that we had over ordered. At no time during the ordering process did the waiter communicate/ suggest to us that we may have been over-ordering for two, given the number of "small" plates ordered and portion sizes.

We both enjoyed the cucumber salad. The eggplant was tasty and also the highlight dish. The calamari was calamari, nothing more. The Prawn & Lobster Roll, very unpleasant and extremely overpriced!

We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, styling and the views. Although the waitstaff were very pleasant, the information provided regarding the menu was inadequate and an attentive level of customer service could not be maintained during the peak of the lunchtime service.

When it came time to settle our bill (3.5hrs after arriving), we found the front reception desk unattended. We had to wait until we could get the attention of a passing staff member...

We were looking forward to a lovely meal at Tinta as we enjoyed one there some time ago. Unfortunately the standard of food and service left us thinking we won't be back. We arrived early to have a drink on the lawn and enjoy the afternoon sun. Lovely setting, but the drinks service was very slow (one beer and a cocktail). Then we went inside to be seated for dinner. The staff seated us at a table but never said anything, no water, etc. Left us for 20 minutes sitting there without approaching us at all. Mind you it appeared we weren't the only tables being ignored. For a supposedly fine dining restaurant, the staff were dressed very casually. Management are to blame for this of course as well as the lack of enough staff to provide decent service and perhaps lack of organisation. Most importantly - the food. We chose the chef's banquet. It was a bit confusing, if we had known what it would be like, we wouldn't have gone with it. Entrees - foccacia, kingfish caparccio, oysters, crab arancini, broccoli salad with almonds and fetta. Everything was OK- but nothing wowed us. The kingfish was warm and overpowered by the sauce it came with, the crab arancini was good, my partner liked the salad the best but it lacked dressing. Oysters were lovely but no cooking needed! When we ordered the main, we didn't realise it was just one to share between us. If we had, we would have ordered individual dishes instead. Main - barramundi with roasted root vegetables. So the barramundi itself was great - small piece but cooked well. It was served on a bed of soggy potatoes and sweet potato, which looked horrible and we didn't eat much of them - just seemed to have been boiled. The sauce seemed to be the same as served with the kingfish on the outside of the plate, and another sauce in the middle with the potatoes. That one tasted nice. The chips were great and the best part of the mains! Also were served green beans with garlic butter. Beans were obviously overcooked. Then dessert - chocolate mousse with vanilla bean ice cream. The mousse was a ring with the ice cream plonked in the centre, the mousse tasted great but the ice cream was icy. So all in all very disappointing for a place with a beautiful setting and ambience. They need to really up their game in a lot of areas as they will lose repeat customers. In my opinion, go somewhere else with the same view around the lake - not worth paying over $200 for...

Booked for birthday with a group of 10 people.

Went here a bit over 12 months ago and the food was amazing I told people it was almost as good as trinity 8 & I even gifted 6 months ago a voucher to a friend for her birthday however last night was beyond disappointing.

I would say the food was probably the worst food ever. I’d probably only go back for the drinks if that’s possible

Overall on the group we probably spent close to $600-$800 on drinks and food.

To start the bruschetta was probably the worse bruschetta ever! It was so soggy and flavourless

Had the kingfish that was probably the best dish that was served

3 x people ordered the prawn pasta and they said all 3 pastas were different one pasta was a completely different colour and the prawns tasted awful.

Ordered the cold prawns. Honestly these were the worst prawns I’ve ever had. I don’t know if these were imported and frozen prawns because that’s what they tasted like, they were NOT FRESH! They actually stunk so bad they smelt off or like they had been left out as it was a very hot day! Yes they did give a refund for these but I felt rude complaining about everything because I never complain unless I really feel like it’s necessary.

Ordered the oysters, look these were ok but for the price and the expectation of restaurant, these were not quality! Personally I wonder if they opened them the day before because I don’t believe they were opened before serving as they weren’t fresh either.

Overall the staff were nice & the drinks are good however it did take a long to be served. The venue is very pretty.

Will I be back… probably not as the food is awful. I would suggest going to trinity 8, the beaches, the new Japanese Umaya at Kotara. Honestly any pub meal and starters would’ve been better this was not restaurant quality food

Overall everyone in the group was disappointed with the meal no one got anything that they said was amazing which is what you expect when you go to a high class seafood restaurant, you expect to go wow That...