Madame Za Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Northern Territory

Had the worst dining experience at Madame Za last night. We will not be returning ever!! The food was below average to say the least and the staff was worse then the food!! Training is urgently required and maybe some new staff members!!!!!

We made a booking for 6 adults, 1 child and the menu was buffet last night. Upon waiting to pay and being seated the lady at the counter says to us "the little one is on the house tonight". Correct me if I'm wrong but that means the kid eats free... I thanked the staff member for this act of kindness and she replied no worries at all with a smile on her face. From there we were seated.

After finishing our disappointing meals, as we already paid, we all got up to leave and upon doing so the "supervisor" on shift started yelling at us accusing us of sneaking my child in and stealing his meals!!!! I tried to remain calm and explain to her what happened when we first arrived with the other staff member. She did not believe a word of it and continued to implied that we were being dodgy and trying to get a free meal. Mind you we just spent over $350.00 on food that I wouldn't even serve to my dog!

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse. The supervisor then goes and gets the other staff member from the bar area and insisted that she pay for my child out of her own pocket. I strongly declined this as I would never expect anyone to pay for our meals and from the get go had no issue paying his way!

The staff member from the bar was emotionally charged when she walked over and aggressively waved a $50.00 bill in my face and shouts "I will pay for your kid". I have never been so disrespected!!! Not to mention I was with my parents!!!!

By this point I had enough of the staffs incompetence and tried to pay asap so the nightmare would end. The supervisor asked how old my child was, I said 11 and partner said turning 12 at the same time.

The supervisor then snapped her neck at me and once again implied I was being dishonest about my sons age and tried to charge me for an adult. To settle the issue, I told her my sons actual birthday and dirty the look she gave me when she realised i was telling the truth!!!!

I honestly believe the supervisor reacted so poorly because she actually had no comprehension of what was happening and didn't like the look of us as a group.

Madame Za, is this what you call service? As the staff last night did not apologise once for their poor service, poor communication skills and gross incompetence. I hope to hear...

My friend and I ate here last night for my birthday. Just 2 of us. We arrived around 6:30pm and there was another table with about 4 people and a larger table set for around 10.

After we were seated we were asked for our drink order which arrived after about 10minutes. At this point we ordered our food.

Here is where it went pear-shaped.

Our meal took over an hour to arrive at our table. The kitchen was clearly overwhelmed by the larger table. There were 2 wait staff who were trying their best but the food was coming out in a very slow trickle.

Our food was very nice but it was now nearly 8:30pm and we had ordered at about 7pm.

About the same time as our food arrived another couple sat at the table beside ours. They ordered simple entrees, (damper and hummus) the damper arrived after about 40 minutes but just a container of chutney with it. When they complained they were told that the kitchen had run out so they improvised, they were then offered some avocado, after another 30 minutes the staff returned to say they had run out of avocados as well. Eventually they were given some cheese.

At this point we foolishly ordered dessert thinking that it only needed to be plated and not cooked so we should be ok.

Nope! Dessert arrived at 9:45pm a good 45 minutes after ordering. The ice cream was a puddle on the plate. When my friend questioned it she was told and I quote “sorry the freezer that has the ice cream in it isn’t working properly so it’s all melted’.

During this whole fiasco the head waiter was clearly trying to placate his customers and kudos to him for remaining calm and professional.

The management of this restaurant ought to be ashamed of themselves, they knew full well they had a single large table and did not staff the kitchen appropriately or effectively.

We won’t be returning...

Madame Za is truly a hidden gem that offers a memorable dining experience from start to finish. I had the pleasure of celebrating my 25th birthday there, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. The food was exceptional—flavorful, beautifully presented, and served with a sense of care that really set the restaurant apart. What truly stood out, however, was the impeccable customer service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely seemed to care about making our experience special.

The atmosphere at Madame Za was calm, welcoming, and beautifully designed, creating the perfect setting for a relaxing and enjoyable meal. The highlight of the evening, though, was when they brought out my birthday dessert—complete with a "Happy Birthday" sign, candles, and a surprise rendition of the birthday song. This thoughtful gesture was truly unexpected, as most restaurants only do this if you bring your own cake. It was a personal touch that made the occasion feel even more special.

Having dined at many restaurants for birthdays and celebrations over the years, I can confidently say that Madame Za's attention to detail and genuine hospitality make it stand out. Whether you're celebrating something special or just looking for an incredible meal, I highly recommend this place. It’s an experience you won’t...