LIMANI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Sydney

We’ve been loyal customers of Limani Seafood Restaurant in Narrabeen for over 15 years, celebrating countless special occasions with family and friends. It’s always been a place we’ve cherished for both its beautiful setting and warm, attentive service. Sadly, our recent visit left us shocked and incredibly disappointed.

We arrived on a cold Friday night without a reservation, hoping they might be able to accommodate a table for four. This is something we would never attempt on a busy night like Mother’s Day, but with the restaurant nearly empty, we thought it worth a try. Instead of being welcomed with a smile, we were met with a puzzled “For tonight?” from the waitress, as she glanced around at the largely vacant room. It felt unnecessarily cold and uninviting.

We were seated and given just two menus for our party of four. When I requested two more, they were handed over without any apology or warmth. There was no mention of unavailable wines, so we made our choice — only to be told later that both wines we had selected were out of stock. We were offered a substitute that wasn’t listed on the menu, with the assurance that we’d be charged the same price. While that was appreciated, it should have been mentioned earlier.

As we were still sorting the wine and had just opened the menus — two of us only just receiving them — another waitress appeared asking for our food order. With so few people in the restaurant, it was surprising how rushed and disorganised everything felt.

The decline was obvious in other small details too — paper napkins instead of cloth, no attempt at a warm welcome or courteous conversation, and an overall sense that we weren’t especially welcome. We ordered three share plates and four mains. The entrées were served without comment or presentation, but they were enjoyable. When the mains arrived, only three were brought to the table. A waitress checked in and seemed surprised to hear we were still waiting on one — it clearly hadn’t been communicated to the kitchen. We waited politely while the final meal was prepared, which meant three of us had to let our food go cold.

Not long after the missing main was finally served, yet another waitress approached to ask if we wanted to order dessert as the kitchen was closing. I was still eating at the time and had to put my fork down to respond. We declined. By then, it was clear our presence was more inconvenience than welcome.

While the food was decent, it wasn’t exceptional — certainly not at the standard we remember. The menu remains unchanged and the prices remain premium, but the experience no longer lives up to either. After our visit, I looked up recent reviews and discovered we’re not alone in our disappointment. Since the business changed hands late last year, it seems this kind of service has unfortunately become the new norm.

Limani was once a shining gem on the Northern Beaches. It saddens us to say we will never return, and we can no longer recommend it to others. A huge disappointment and a true loss to the local...

I don’t know why they keep getting 4 stars. We have tried - we really have - to give this place the we benefit of the doubt, as it’s near my dad’s retirement village and he loves to eat out. We pushed on through the staff shortages post-Covid. We excused the difficulty in getting and keeping good staff. We hoped that the occasional dud meal just required better menu choices on our part. We thought Limani’s had got its mojo back the other week when we had good food, a smart waitress and prompt service. But last night it was back to below-par, with a seemingly brand-new, untrained and clueless waitress, inattention and inconsistency with timing of dishes all over the shop. Dad lives for oysters. A standard on the menu, but last night “we’re all out of natural oysters. You can have Kilpatrick or Mornay”. Are those all prepared in advance? If so, how fresh can they be? He chose Kilpatrick, but said they were disappointing and soggy. Were they re-heated from frozen? How can you spoil an oyster? (Genuine question - I don’t eat them as I’m allergic, but I mean, you just open them and put them on the plate, no?) His “tuna tataki” was served with some kind of crisped nori tuile, but if there was meant to be a tempura batter on it, it was just an oily coating with a texture of cardboard and a taste to match. Dad likes to order wine, and he likes the custom of trying it first. He can’t understand how, in a restaurant of this level, at these prices, there can be waitstaff who don’t even know how to serve wine, and don’t know what’s in the food. Final disappointment: his favourite dessert, which he always leaves room for, was forgotten, until we asked after it, well after mine was finished and cleared. He’s nearly 92 and frankly it doesn’t take much to make him happy, but likewise, paying good money for a lousy experience can really leave him glum. There’s a senior waitress who seems to know what to do, but she’s not watching the others or advising them or correcting them, and she seemed busier last night chatting with the kitchen staff. It was a Friday night, not crowded at all (no wonder??), not apparently short of staff, so no excuse for being so slack, poorly trained and inattentive. What is going on there, that they don’t understand customers pay for service as well as food?? Where’s the boss?? Re atmosphere, the room has only cold light and could do with some table candles to make it seem less like a fridge interior. You’ve had your chance Limani’s. We won’t bother...

Food was enjoyable for that of a local restaurant. The two female waitresses that looked after us were great! Our only complaint is, when 2 of our party of 8 arrived, we were asked if we wanted sparkling or still water - to which we said sparkling. We received one bottle, and then received two more bottles (without ordering), once we finished that one (note- we did order ONE more ourselves). Only 2 of us were here when we said originally said sparkling, therefore we had not yet looked at the menu.

When paying the bill, I noticed we had been charged $40 for sparkling water that came in a table water bottle (on tap), which was apparently $10 each 750ml bottle. I asked Rosh - who was at the counter - who said it was in the menu and I should have read it properly. I told him we hadn’t read the menu yet as not even half the group had arrived? and he said it was in the menu so it was our fault for not looking. I said I understand it’s in the menu but when being offered still or sparkling water, if one is free then the latter should be advised it’s $10 a bottle?? Rather than a surprise of $40 extra at the end

Overall, the ladies were happy to help explain the issue, however Rosh was unhelpful and was aggressive when we complained about being charged $40 unknowingly- just kept repeating we did not read the menu. Obviously we didn’t read the menu when only 2/8 guests arrived, and we were catching up and hadn’t even noticed the menu when offered sparkling water. We spent $660 for the group so the issue is not the cost, it’s not being informed about literally $40 more.

Please let Rosh know to not be aggressive to future customers, listen without interrupting, and not treat people with 24 combined years of hospitality like 6...