The Butcher's Block — Restaurant in Sydney

Thank you for your reply to my message. I appreciate you doing that, and as a result, I have edited my review to 4 stars.

Original message ... I booked 4 weeks ago for a special catch-up with dear friends. My egg benny was cold when it arrived at the table and so was my partner's poached eggs on sourdough with avocado. The service was good throughout the brunch. However, 5 minutes after we paid the bill (as a sneak treat for our guests), a wait staff member rudely interrupted our in-depth conversation to announce that the table was booked for another group in 15 minutes. I was perplexed why the actual table we were on was needed in 15 minutes when there were over 10 tables free. As an ex-hospitality worker and manager, I would have asked the next group (when they arrived) to take one of the other tables, it would have made no difference to them. I would not have burdened my current customer with my concerns about table reservations.

How did I feel when asked to leave the Butcher's Block? I felt embarrassed, unwelcome, disrespected, and devalued as a customer. I also felt guilty for being made to feel I had overstayed brunch time. 90 minutes is standard brunch catch-up time and not an excessive period for a Sunday morning. Further, I find it an unnecessary practice to interrupt customers with the burden of table management and reservations.

It may be beneficial for customers to be advised if their table is reserved after their booking, before they take their seat, as this would allow them to leave and find another location for brunch in Wahroonga.

I hope the company uses my considered feedback as a training opportunity to improve its customer service and stop making customers feel unwelcome.

PS. Customers, once you pay the bill, you will be asked to leave the restaurant, even when there are many...

My wife and I booked lunch. The restaurant was busy on a Tuesday. Bookings for lunch or dinner are essential, if you want to dine in. We got a table at the rear of the restaurant. We ordered a litre bottle of Sparkling Mineral Water ($10). Staff efficiently refilled our glasses each time our glasses emptied. My wife loved her Aqua Fresca Mocktail ($13) which consisted of mint, cucumber, agave, lemon, and ginger beer. I enjoyed a glass of NV Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut Champagne ($29). When my glass was empty, I ordered another. We skipped entrée to keep room for dessert. For mains, my wife adored her Poached Mulloway ($38) consisting of a thick fillet of mulloway covered in almond cream with almond pieces, baby cos lettuce and crab consommé. She was very happy with the taste and the size of the serving. I also enjoyed my Roast Rainbow Trout ($36) with two trout fillets, including snow peas, white cabbage, baby fennel, agave, and soy sauce. It was delicious and I enjoyed every mouthful. Additionally, we had a side dish of Barbecue Broccolini ($18) served with aged balsamic and roasted almonds which was a perfect accompaniment to the meals. The mains were served hot and relatively quickly. Our plates were removed immediately after we finished. For dessert, my wife chose the Crepes ($16) served with burnt orange, Cointreau & salted caramel sauce and I chose the Toffee Pie with oat pastry and vanilla bean ice cream. We loved them both, they were exquisite desserts. My wife finished her meal with a large pot of Lemongrass and Ginger Tea ($4.50) and I had a small Soy Latte ($5.50). A truly delightful meal. All staff were warm, friendly, and helpful. A true pleasure to eat in such a wonderful establishment. Lunch at this restaurant is highly...

Met some friends here for dinner last Friday and will not return. Ordered mains- one steak ordered ‘medium rare’ was verrrry rare, one steak ordered ‘medium’ was super well done, the chicken was good but the veg was cold... but most shockingly the gnocchi which was listed only on the menu as containing sage, beurre noisette and pumpkin arrived with a bucket load of mushrooms and walnuts. Big issue as this diner is allergic to mushrooms (mild allergy so she could just move them aside) and some nuts (thankfully not walnuts) so specifically chose this dish for the absence of these ingredients. For a $32 gnocchi to contain over half of the dish an unlisted ingredient is a big issue.

We were compensated with a couple of desserts on the house. Sadly the creme caramel was sold out so ordered the frangipan with creme Catalana which should be a tart with creme brûlée... it was basically an upside down muffin with some custard. Not quite what the name suggested (pic attached).

But when it came to payment it was a total shambles. The waiter seemed frazzled and confused. The machine apparently stuffed up” and we were told our payment didn’t go through, and when I showed my bank statement showing that it actually went through twice we were again met with insistence that “because the machine hasn’t beeped it didn’t go through”. He couldn’t confirm with a receipt reprint as the front counter was too busy. Sick of arguing and giving them the benefit of the doubt I paid again and low and behold I still have 3 pending transactions in my account 3 days later. Will wait to see if these transactions all...