Highland Restaurant — Restaurant in Tasmania

The one star is for the service - not the food which was wonderful!!

We arrived at the restaurant, despite a fall on the way to it, and an incident report lodged at reception because the pathway was not properly lit, to be shown to our table.

The waitress asked if we’d like still or sparkling (water).

Off she went.

About 5 minutes later, she returned and asked if we’d like a drink? “Water would be nice” and off she went again to find some.

She returned with water and asked if we’d like some wine, etc. We ordered a relatively pricey bottle of red.

In the meantime, my husband returned to our “luxurious” cabin to get me some Panadol for the pain I was experiencing due to my fall on the way to the restaurant.

Waitress 1 then approaches me and asks if we’re ready to order. I asked her to wait until my husband returned.

5 minutes later, Waitress 2 approaches and asks if we’re ready to order. Again I asked her to wait until my husband returned.

5 minutes later, Waitress 3 approaches and asks if we’re ready to order - clearly 2 of us entered and only 1 of us is sitting there!!!!!

While I was asking her to wait as well, my husband reentered the restaurant, sat down and we were ready to order.

Waitress 3 took our order and then brought out the wine. No decanting, no “would you like it to breathe”. Just a twist of the top and a plonk down on the table! Classy! You can see in the photos, how the wine glasses matched?

Our entrees were really good and so too were our mains - although some greens of some description would have been welcomed. The meat was really well cooked.

Waitress 3 then came back, asked us if we’d like dessert (we declined) because they were closing up and left. We then got up and approached Waitress 3 at the entry to the restaurant so we could pay.

Waitress 3 asked … “What table were you at?” … we’d be lucky if there were 15 people in the restaurant - and she’d just served us! We pointed to where we’d been sitting and she called up someone else’s order. We then again pointed to where we were sitting and finally she pulled up our order, we paid and left.

We were staying at this hell hole (Cabin 50 - don’t ask for it!!) We had dinner at this hell hole of a restaurant.

The night before, we stayed and dined at Stillwater Seven (Launceston) and the accommodation, food and service was far far more superior - it was hatted … and cheaper!

Breakfast was also included in our overpriced tariff at Cradle Mountain (it was also included at Stillwater Seven), but we found an Easter egg on the go more enjoyable than having to suffer the wait staff in the Highland Restaurant again.

We...

This rating is purely for our interaction with this establishment. We turned up without a booking after a long walk and understandably were told they were full. No problem there but then before that we were handed menus to obviously indicate that the experience is not cheap which we did not have a problem with but because we were dressed more for hiking than a fine dining experience I would have closely considered that as "profiling". Anyway we went and did the right thing and went to make a booking for the following day and which we had to do at reception. There we were given the run around about how busy they are but not yet booked out, preferring to look after their in-house guests but why not, during your hiking the next day, call us and we will see what we can do! Needless to say we are not going to waste our time in a place where you are clearly not wanted and so we went off to the tavern next door. As soon as we saw an iconic Australian businessman and philanthropist "slumming" it in there with the general population then we thought that it will be good enough for us if it is good enough for him. Hopefully he had not experienced the same treatment as we did. And so based on the interaction with all the staff at the Highland Restaurant and Front Desk then I would not consider wasting my time with what is evidently an "exclusive" club. Undoubtedly any response will include COVID measures, etc because that is what they will hide behind. It was a shame as we both had our eyes...

July 2022: for a second year, the Highland Restaurant maintains a five star rating. Danika and Andres and the team made our return visit totally enjoyable. These two in particular went above and beyond each evening for dinner and morning for breakfast.

The menu changes, and I'd have to say that this year the menu was much more enjoyable than last years. Wallaby was to die for, and oysters as fresh as expected.

Smoked salmon was missing on Sunday morning, but given delivery distance and time, understandable. We love the restaurant and will be back

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ July 2021. The Highland Restaurant was another highlight of our time at Cradle Mountain Lodge. The team were absolutely knowledgeable of the menu and were helpful when we were struggling to decide what to choose. Although high in the Tasmanian mountains, the oysters were as fresh as those found on the east coast or on Bruny Island. Meals were devine and served promptly. Breakfast was also enjoyable, with the buffet offering a wonderful range of items that will suit even the fussiest of diners. Staff recognised us after our first visit and gifted us with tables in coveted position thereafter in front of...