Bills Fishhouse & Bar — Restaurant in Port Macquarie

Last night of our holiday so we booked here, excited for an amazing experience.....we showed up 10 minutes prior to our booking and was pleasantly greeted by the hostess and seated at our table and was asked if we wanted sparkling or distilled water as our waiter would be by shortly.....unfortunately, after 10 minutes of waiting, my wife went up to get water where she was confronted by the hostess asking her if she could help and after my wife explained, the hostess said "your booking wasn't until 8:00 and we are extremely busy"(in a less than desirable tone). I'm sorry, but a couple things here: 1. If you are as good as your rating says you are, then you have a customer service issue which was evident in what your hostess said to my wife AND the manner in which it was said. 2. If you weren't planning on bringing our water until our booking time, then don't ask what type of water we want OR don't seat us until you are good and ready to have our waiter bring it to us!!!!....if you are that busy or not planning on even talking to us again until our booking time!!!....which you had 4 empty tables at the time for what it's worth! Additionally, the quantity and quality is/was overpriced....I'm sure you are going to brush this off like your previous responses to other 1 star ratings but it's true unfortunately. Case in point, we order Calimari and pay $34 for it and it was "rubbery" in texture, if you are going to charge that much for calimari....prepare it properly! Calimari should NOT be rubbery!!! Our server was good and polite but had to be reminded that we had requested more water and drinks at his initial stop 10 minutes prior. I'm/we are firm believers in that we are all human however, your customer service from top to bottom tonight was subpar and from a first time customer (and now last), it was far from what our expectations were. Hopefully, you take heed in this and take more care in how you handle the people you serve going forward as I/we will not recommend you to our friends/family on their future visits to Port Macquarie. Yes, that may sound like a small footprint however, news travels fast but bad news travels faster. Unfortunately, our holiday ended not the way we wanted it but we know we will not have to visit your establishment again. Cheers...

This is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we have ever had.

The staff, both in the kitchen and front of house were happy, well mannered, polite and attentive. From the moment we walked in we felt at home. None of this overly intrusively faux-friendly stuff either just genuinely nice, well-mannered people.

The food was incredible. A real standout was the Jewfish special (sorry if you're reading this and it's not still on the menu) but the gnocchi was perfectly made to perfection and worked extremely well with a shellfish sauce it was sitting on which was the real star of the dish. The Jewfish was the perfect complimentary piece to soak up all the flavours and act as the main substantial component of the dish and a great textural addition.

The pork ribs were great and anybody who is not into seafood will be very happy to have them. They may be the token non-seafood dish but that does not mean they have not held themselves to the same standard as the rest of the menu. They have put a lot of effort into the dish and it showed. Would recommend to anybody.

I really need to mention one more thing... The wine list. The whites especially. It's a regional NSW wine menu with the best of the best on there. Do not look for the big names, you won't find them. It was an all star-team of only the best of the seriously underrated wines that NSW has to offer. Don't go safe, explore this menu and you won't be disappointed. These wines are hard to find and I've never been so lucky to find them on a restaurant menu before.

Sadly we had to drive and so were limited to wine by the glass but even if the food wasn't to the high standards that it was I would be back just to explore more of that wine menu.

Couldn't recommend this place any higher and if anybody from the restaurant or ownership is reading... thanks for dinner....

Unfortunately I cannot review the food itself, but given my previous experiences in Sydney at bills I can only assume it to be as good. Which is a massive shame because I never tried the food here.

I travel to Port Macquarie for business from Sydney and on this particular evening (Wednesday) I walked in looking for a table for 1 - no reservation. I was offered a table in the corner by the window - perfect . I added that I was a quick eater and I would be in and out.

The gentleman that sat me down and asked what type of water I wanted referred to me as “bro”. Lacked professionalism, I understand the Port might be more relaxed/friendly area , but at no restaurant where I’m expected to pay $50 a main should I be referred to as “bro” right?

I watched as the front of house waitress scurried around trying to take orders from 3 other tables that arrived before me. I watched as a few staff in the kitchen stood around - they clearly had more capacity for orders to come through.

I waited patiently , over 10 minutes had passed . I hadn’t been acknowledged since being shown my table, my glass wasn’t filled with water. It’s as if I was invisible.

I understand I didn’t have a reservation , but at a glance across the dining room I was probably the only person ready to order and eat. The waitress had served the table directly infront of me and directly beside me , all within arms distance never once acknowledging me with a simple “I’ll be right with you, or I’ll be back , or are you ready to order?”

I was hungry , ready to eat and clearly they were in no hurry to serve me . So I walked out and let the waitress know perhaps next time I’ll give it another go. To no surprise she didn’t try to stop me or question why I was leaving.

Perhaps it was related to my ethnicity? Everyone else dining appeared to be caucasian.

Hospitality...