Blackfish Café & Grill — Restaurant in Sydney

I and my partner had visited this place with great expectations but to our great surprise, it was utterly disappointing. Unfortunately, this is what happens with a lot of small-time restaurants/eateries that over some time gain a little bit of local popularity and begin to feel that they are invincible. Something as basic as communication skills and professional courtesy become irrelevant to them and they normally bear the mindset that if one customer is offended, there are 10 others who will not be. It is a very narrow thought process if you feel that a nice water front location and a loyal old client base alone would take you very far and for very long. Bad business, guys!

The girl who seated us at the only vacant table in their fairly small out-door set up had pretty much forgotten that we existed. After 5 minutes, my partner went to give the order, she said she will come to the table to take order and then thankfully she did. We ordered a simple sandwich and a fried salmon. About 25 minutes had passed since we gave the order, and we noticed that people who came much after us were already eating!! I went to the counter and spoke to the same girl. I politely asked “Hi, we are at table 5. It’s been close to 25 minutes since we ordered, would it take long?..” Without any sign of basic professional courtesy, apology or explanation, she just went to check their back-end slip where she checked the time of order, came back and retorted “Its been 20 minutes.. Will take 5 more minutes”. She was absolutely cold in her response. I repeated “5 more minutes?” in a polite manner. And, yet, she reiterated “YES 5 more minutes”, without any explanation or courtesy.

I came back to my table and as I came, I saw them serving some other tables, who had arrived much after us. And, her “5 minutes” had long passed too by that time. That was the time, when I and my partner walked out without our meal, having wasted our precious time.

Mistakes happen and normally, I give chances to people but this was a case of sheer lack of professionalism. I would not recommend this place. 0 out...

Ordered home made chicken schnitzel, wasn’t worse it at all, it was made of processed chicken! Processed chicken for $24?

Just wanted to add that the chicken was processed, I can tell the difference between processed and unprocessed chicken.

I do understand all the difficulties related to the current post covid situation with prices going up etc... this unfortunately doesn't mean that you can charge people higher for worse food.

Home made schnitzel doesn't mean processed chicken schnitzel. I immediately walk away and don't come back to the places where processed food is served.

Other food that we ordered was of a similar quality, beef patty looked like it was bulk purchased frozen putty from Coles when you can't really taste the meat itself.

To sum up, we didn't like the food, the view was great, and if we are near by again we would only go for a coffee.

A few more things since you've provided an extensive reply, mostly just related how kitchen is working, we came at 11:20am hoping to order some lunch but we were told that the lunch starts from 12pm and we only can order breakfast and should be ordering quickly as breakfast is served until 11:30am. This is the first place where we had to wait for half an hour to order a lunch. This is was strange taking into consideration that the place is quite busy.

Side comment, it would be great to provide kids friendly cutlery,...

Took over 10mins for someone to serve us, we asked for a menu and the lady at the counter bluntly said no kitchens closed. My mum asked can we atleast get a drink, it took 20mins to bring out 3 pineapple juices and they were $26. Lady next to us had come from Penrith and was told the same thing, took 20mins for her to get a coffee.

Mum asked the kitchen if they could do just a hot chips they said no everythings turned off. Mum said "so you dont want our money?" the worker said "No im just the barista, this isn't my business". I definitely wouldn't want staff like that representing me or my business :/

Meanwhile a group celebrating a birthday asked for a lighter and another rude lady staff member turns around and says "No you brought the candles, thought you'd bring the lighter"... horrible customer service and experience from 3 different staff members. So I'm finding all these 5 stars REALLY hard to believe when ours and others around us was far from it!

4/4/21 Update to Response: I know I'm not alone in highlighting the staffs poor customer service & slow service, as there are other 1 star reviews on here with similar feedback. I find it even more so appalling that they haven't been addressed and only suggestion is to...