Tempus Katoomba — Restaurant in Sydney

After checking out the Google reviews we decided to try this eatery during our 1-night stay in Blue Mountains and so glad we did. The staff were incredibly warm, friendly, accommodating and also exceptionally knowledgeable about their food and drinks without being scripted on recommendations about what to order. We wanted to dine earlier but they only had the 8.30pm sitting, but offered us the bar area to wait if we got there earlier and a table came up before our booking time. We had a wonderful time chatting with Matt the bartender who gave a great rundown on the drinks and the food. Was pleasantly surprised that he recommended we only get 1 main to share (as well as a few starters) as the portions were big. So glad we followed his advice. Most other restaurant staff wouldn't dissuade customers from over-ordering and for that I highly applaud his service. The burrata with orange dressing was refreshing and incredibly delicious; the beef tartare was tasty as well, and loved their take on the chargrilled baby gem - they have the most delicious vegan dishes I've ever eaten! The duck breast with xo sauce was really unique and very tasty, plus it was done pink to perfection. Everything is elegant and uniquely crafted, with attention to the finer details yet is understated, and as a result, lends a beautiful explosion of flavours. The chocolate dessert was a twist on Ferrero Rocher and delicious too. We left feeling very satisfied and taken care of without a gluggy bursting at the tummy seams. I give TOP MARKS for the staff's exemplary service. It's obvious from their communal sharing of food (we saw them having dinner together at the bar) that's where their love for food and people...

This review is about Tempus breakfast/brunch service. I rarely give a bad review because I'm about congratulating effort, commitment and customer satisfaction after 40yrs in hospitality. However, Tempus breakfast/brunch service is definitely not worth congratulations. We are not tourists. We are just trying to understand how an establishment that receives great reviews for it's dinner service can get it so wrong.

Service overall was smug, disinterested and patchy.

Reuben sandwiches were literally slapped on the table. Both burnt, both containing several chunks of chewy corned beef, cheap Swiss 'style' cheese and worst of all, a small teaspoon of fluoro yellow savoy cabbage they named sauerkraut.

Ordered flat white coffees. Have never been to a Cafe where requesting sugar caused such consternation. I had to go to the counter to make this request as I was apparently invisible to staff. After much consultation a cannister was brought from under the counter and a teaspoon of raw sugar was put in a demi-tasse cup and pushed toward me. No words were spoken. Coffee cold by this time.

Only 20 mins later I ordered another flat white from the same staff member. The 'shock horror' request for sugar had to be repeated at the counter. I was obviously wearing my invisibility cloak again. Coffee cold once more.

I'm not going to bore you with the debacle of one of us asking for eggs not to be runny.

Not going back and not recommending to anyone in our circle of family...

Having read the reviews we were excited to try Tempus. In some respects we were not at all disappointed. The appetisers and entrees were exceptional. The service was spot on. But the mains were a disappointment. There was only a choice of 4 and we chose the duck. At this point I should say that all the dishes are designed to be shared, tapas like. The duck, cooked medium rare and served with red cabbage was tasteless and a touch tough. With the full flavoured red cabbage the duck was sadly lacking. Our dessert of choccy mousse with honeycomb had to be sent back as the honeycomb was burnt. We were told that it was deliberate as the bitterness counterbalanced the richness of the mousse. Fair enough except that bitterness and burnt aren't the same and this was definitely burnt. They were very nice and gave us a new dish, no honeycomb. The Davidson plum that accompanied the mousse was invisible. The wine menu was very interesting with a great selection of unusual wines, but was let down by having very few wines available by the glass. Those that were available were too young and, in fact, most of the wines in the list were too young. Restaurants blame this on their suppliers, but all it means is that they aren't prepared to keep their wines for a year or 2. Considering the price of the wines that excuse doesn't wash. We did enjoy the meal but it was expensive, perhaps too expensive to think...