Table 51 — Restaurant in Queensland

The chef made a comment about my weight as soon as he came over to the table before I got a chance to order and try any food, and said it’s because of my dietary choices. I left in tears. Never again.

Update: in response to the reply below, your entire version of events is incorrect, and to deny my weight being commented on is absolute lies and everyone at the table will be able to vouch for it. My mum had nothing to do with what the chef said, no disagreement was had with my mum so I have no idea what you’re talking about. Shortly after sitting down, the Chef came over to the table and said “so who’s the vegan?” I said “I am” he then looked at me and said “oh so that’s why you’re so skinny!”. I then said “I have a medical condition, you really shouldn’t comment on peoples weight, I’ve been quite sick” (Leaky gut, meaning I can’t absorb nutrients properly due to tears in my intestines and it leaking out into my bloodstream). I am already very insecure about my weight, I’ve lost 10kg in 12 months (lowest was 38kg) and I’m now 42.6 which took a lot of work, so to be called skinny by a stranger was very disheartening. Especially in front of a restaurant of people and blame it on my veganism was very disrespectful and triggering to my ptsd. This then set off a chain reaction and I actually ended up in hospital after a psychotic episode. All I wanted was to enjoy good food with my family and not have my weight commented on. I am not blaming the Chef for my mental illness or the trip to hospital, but he should definitely think before he speaks and should NEVER comment on anyone’s body whether big, small or anything inbetween. How different would it have been if he said “oh that’s why you’re so fat”. But because he called me skinny out loud in front of everyone it’s no big deal? No more lies please Table 51, just an apology or acceptance...

I called the restaurant to make a booking and mentioned by daughter was a vegan. This was no problem according to the chef. On arrival the chef approached by daughter and said "oh you're the vegan, no wonder you're so skinny". My daughter replied that she had a condition and was trying hard to gain weight and she expressed that she felt insulted and she then left the restaurant. I expressed to the chef that his comment was unacceptable as she is not skinny because she was a vegan, that in fact some vegans are quite bulky. There was a lack of respect from this chef/owner which was also evident by the reply by daughter received when she wrote her own review. The reply included that my daughter was upset because I spoke for her, but I spoke for her after the chef had approached my daughter with the skinny comment. The reply also included that there was no mention of weight, but that is a lie because it was the weight comment that caused the entire problem. Why on Earth the chef/owner felt it was respectful to make such a comment I'll never know. Furthermore their was no apology, instead replied with a lie that our table of 5 can all vouch for as we all heard the comment. The reply also included something about sticking up for me, have no idea what that was about as we all knew the chef's comment was so...

I took several days to decide on sharing this review, as I'm aware that bad reviews have consequences for small, privately run businesses. I decided to post as our meals were very disappointing. Our local pub has far better meals. Our table ordered parmesan crusted lamb brain and prosciutto wrapped scallops for entrees. The lamb brain was deep fried and tough as a cricket ball. Im not sure how the scallops were cooked but they were NOT beautifully seared or caramelised, and the dish as a whole was very bland. For mains we had roast duck, scallop and prawn risotto and bug and prawn fettuccine. The duck was tasty but a little overdone. The prawn and scallop risotto was tasty after I added salt, but there were only 2 tiny scallops in the entire dish, the prawns weren't de-veined and it was not a creamy risotto. I don't know what I'd call it, but I would not call it a risotto. The bug and prawn fettuccine lacked flavour, the bug was very small and the prawns were not de-veined. The presentation of our meals was great, the staff were frendly but those factors couldnt save our night out. The owner was lovely when he came over to talk to our table, but we didn't know how to tell him how bad our meals were. I hope he can take this review as constructive criticism and use it to...