Harbord Diggers — Restaurant in Sydney

I'm sure I've already given my review of my visit to the Harbord Diggers Club a few days ago? I commented about how we got lost driving down into the underground car park, we had to ask 2 different men which way to go to park in a disability parking spot close to the lift. One man who was pulling a garbage bin along said, park over there. Then when we arrived at the entrance outside the lift from level B1 or B2, we saw this space style sculpture in a water feature, that was my first strange experience. Then at the entrance inside, as I have a physical disability Vertigo, there were no seats for me to sit on to open my bag to find my Diggers membership card to show the girl at reception. I had to support myself on the tiny side of the reception counter. I mentioned to her about there being no seats for disabled people or the elderly and she gave me a "comment form" to fill out and hand in on my way out later. As soon as we walked through the Diggers Club, I had to find a seat to sit on urgently. I immediately noticed that these seats were too low. Other seats were too high, the bar type stools, (impossible for the disabled or elderly to reach) others were very tiny round Cafe style seats only big enough for tiny bums or a 5 minute snack. All lounge type seating was modern but they were very low and hard to stand up from. The ones I found and sat on, had very low back rests, no back support, unless you slump down (poor posture).

OK, the decor was very modern and up to date but without any consideration for the elderly or disabled people.

There were 5 of us who met for lunch on Friday. All Northern Beaches friends, older senior ladies over 60, trying it out for the first time on this day.

We couldn't find a table to fit 5 of us inside but eventually we found a table outside, which was great, also we could take advantage of the Pacific Ocean views and it was a fine sunny afternoon, even though it was a bit windy. But that million dollar view was obstructed by all the parked cars and traffic buzzing past.

One of my friends found it quite difficult to get her legs over the wide bench seats. I had to find a comfortable seat that was wide enough and not too low to sit on. Then there was a problem with the overpowering music (jazz or 1980s pop? ) which was too loud to talk over while we were having our lunch. I'd suggest you try Smooth FM style background music, it would be more relaxing while guests eat their lunch and chat. We asked the young man who collected our empty plates if they could turn it down, but nothing changed.

The Bistro food prices were nothing to rave over, $15 roast beef and vegetables, $17 fish n chips, (w/side salad, only because I asked). $5.50 for half a glass of sav. blanc. $7 for a cider. The ladies said the roast beef was tough. I was hardly impressed with my fish order of 3 skinny ling fillets covered in lots of batter, too many chips, a few slithers of cucumber and white radish, a sliced cherry tomato in green leaves, tartar dip sauce.

So maybe I will give it another go, next time try it out on a Saturday night inside only, with my sons and their partners and hopefully the seats will be more comfortable to sit on, in the Waterdragon Asian Restaurant?

I handed in my comment form on the way out after our lunch on Friday when I left. But there wasn't enough room to write on it to explain everything. So I've said most of that in this feedback above.

I've been a member of the Harbord Diggers Club for many years, I've lived on the Nothern Beaches most of my life, since 1960, I'm now 70. I am truly happy about the multi $M improvements the Club has recently made. But it also matters to me and the local community that our clubs provide a place where we can feel comfortable, and enjoy with our family...

The overall design results of the Harbord Diggers Club re-building looks nice from the outside. Then you drive down into the dungeon car park to try and find the closest parking space to the lift to take you up to the reception area. After asking 2 men workers down there, we parked a few spaces across from the lifts. From B1 or B2 we arrived at Club level. Saw some weird water feature with space objects in it. Low lights. At Entry no courtesy seats, so I could sit to scratch through my bag to find my membership card, so I'm finding it difficult to stand while leaning on the small counter there. I mentioned this to the friendly receptionist, she gave me a "comment form" to fill out and hand in on my way out later. We walk in, I notice every seat is either too low or too high for me to sit on. All lounge type seats are modern but very low. A lot of high bar style chairs, only suitable for able young adults etc. The tiny round seats on the Cafe style chairs are only suitable for a 5 minute eating moment. The bench seats are too wide for us oldies over 60 to swing our legs over. Luckily, the few ladies I arranged to have lunch with, pull over a few proper height wider seat chairs that were actually comfortable to sit for at least an hour to enjoy our lunch and chat with a glass of wine. Although the piped music was so loud it was difficult to hear each other talking across the table, it sounded like older 1980s jazz or bad pop music, they'd be better putting on Smooth FM, which is more subtle and relaxing. We did ask the staff to turn it down, but nothing changed. The food was average for price from DD Bistro. For $17, I had 3 skinny Beer thickly Battered Ling Fish Fillets, 1/2 plate of chips and if I didn't ask, a tiny bit of green leaf salad, with slivers of radish, 2 half cherry tomatoes, slivers of Spanish onion, a small dish of tartar, a lemon wedge. The others ordered Roast of the day, Beef with vegetables and gravy $15, they said the Beef was tough. Sav. Blanc $5.50 glass, $4. Mugachino. The Club's Decor is modern, and it suits younger people, but there is no concideration for seniors at all. It was quite windy but a sunny day, we would have had a view of the Pacific Ocean, but for the parked cars along the road on the street level and all the midday traffic buzzing past, so the view was a bit of a disappointment all up. So Forget about the view. Maybe if I go back one night to try out the Asian restaurant called Water dragon, the menu looks interesting, modern, although quite pricey for...

Serious problems with the food ordering system / staff training . My wife thought it would be a quick dining option on a Friday night with the kids. Arrived at the restaurant 4.20pm. ordered at 4.25. Spaghetti Bolognese, Cheeseburger, mango salad and fried chicken burger. Restaurant was completely empty. We had high hopes for a quick meal as everyone was starving. Mango salad arrived in 10 minutes. At 4.50 we asked one of the four idle staff at the order counter when the rest of the food would be ready. We were told there was "a problem with the kitchen screens" but the order would be with us " in a couple of minutes" 15 minutes later the manager arrived to tell us that the order was never actioned as the screens were not operating in the kitchen. There was no food coming unless we reordered. Why had no staff checked the order to we asked. At were their only customers. Who were we lied to when we first enquired. Who did it take another 15 minutes for someone to work this all out. My advice dealing with the public is always tell the truth. The fact we were nearly an hour with no food is made much wide when we realize we were treated so poorly by a staff that had no clue and didn't seem to care. I asked for a refund. I write this from a fast food place I haven't used in 4 years, but at least the food got to the kids in 7 minutes. BTW Diggers charged for the mango salad....