Market Lane Cafe — Restaurant in Sydney

We came here once a few months ago in summer and I got a pressed juice which was pricey. After a few sips there was nothing left in the glass but ice so I asked if I could get a little more juice and the response was beyond rude. We didn’t think we would come back but today being a cold winter day, the rice and lentil special caught our eye. Both my Husband and I ordered the same dish and it costed $44. When the plates arrived, there was a little bit of rice in the middle and a very liquid laddle of lentils around it. My serve was about half the size of my husband’s so I went back in and asked the owner to come and have a look and his response was “it’s the standard portion” without even giving me the respect of checking for himself that my serve was indeed half of my husband’s. I politely stood my ground despite being him being so rude and in his words, this is harassment. Some people just don’t take feedback very well.

As someone who regularly eats out, I was honestly surprised to be met with such contempt within a competitive industry like this. If you look at my track record of reviews (or know me personally as a local), I don’t complain lightly as I rather thrive on giving praise.

Mr. owner, if you were not so busy trying to defend your position, you might want to take a look at the other reviews and people complaining about the price and size of...

mmm...locals' favourite cafe? We are local (Queenscliff) and we had disgusting service. My son ordered a muffin and a coffee and hot chocolate - $18.00. He said we were sitting outside on their table and chairs.... and he was given a muffin in a bag - thought this strange, where was our plate? Then the waitress brought the drinks in takeaway cups - but no-one else had takeaway cups on any other table. Yes, my son had been clear that we were eating 'there'. I went to ask why we did not have a ceramic cup and a nonchalant man making the coffees said 'you're in a public area'. SITTING ON HIS CHAIRS!! He would not replace the drinks with a ceramic cup so we left ( and left our drinks). So not good service and arrogant staff- I'm in the hospitality business (which is why I want to drink out of a proper cup on my day off, not a rubbish plastic lid) and all he had to say was "sorry about that, we'll bring you another one". A heads up - being the Manly area and being local, we are English. I'm assuming they thought we were 'tourist, so who cares, lets rip them off'. Oh dear, I'm local and will never be going there again, so clearly not MY...

Nice food but horrendous customer service. We first walked in and sat at a table. I politely let the waitress know there was a spill by the table and she followed by rudely saying ‘I know I know give me a minute to clean it up.’ So this made us uncomfortable before we even ordered. The tables are small round and barely fit two people at them let alone anymore. The food came out and was very nice but because of the space, my plate was only half on the table and flipped on the floor. Two of the staff clearly saw it happen and were talking behind the counter, obviously thinking I couldn’t hear the whole conversation of one offering to give me another meal and the other saying no. The same waitress from previously. I wasn’t expecting another meal, but it would’ve been nice if someone at least offered something for me to clean myself up with. The waitress then walked out pretending like she had only just seen the food on the floor, cleaned it up and walked away. The whole experience was awful and made worse by the lack of acknowledgement and...