Samson's Paddock — Restaurant in Western Australia

Over promised and under delivered. The opposite of a pleasant and satisfying night out.

When a venue touts itself as a "Whiskey & Wine Bar" and suggests that it excels at pairing beverages with food, the expectation is that someone knows something about what they are serving... I dunno, maybe a sommelier, if not, maybe a WSET graduate... No? Is the Western Suburbs bereft of professional wait staff or is it just cheaper to employ students and backpackers?

Ok then how about a person with a "passing interest" in wine that knows how to use a corkscrew without making it look like it's their first time learning to drive a manual car with their only similar experience in transport being Ubers and electric scooters?

So first person to show up to the table is pleasant enough but, when trying to share tonight's special she has such a tiny voice with a strong accent which makes it virtually impossible to hear her stumble through her notes over the chatter of other closely seated patrons. "Something, something... 50 days aged" after asking her to repeat it several times we got as far as it was "meat" that is put in fridge for 50 days" - OHkaayyy... Great. What sort of meat?,,, uh uh uh ...Beef??" (Later on we heard another server describe the cut, farm of origin, how it was cooked and that it was served on the bone... Pity, as it sounded great)

Another, pleasant, server is allocated to our table, we place orders and opt for a bottle of Burgundy from the "ready to drink now" wine list ... Shortly after, she comes back and asks us to repeat the name as she can't find it on "the main wine list" ... Really?

Wine arrives with a third person, who is again pleasant enough but, who struggles to get the cork out. Is it so rare at a "wine bar" that there is no guidance by management on how to correctly extract a cork at the table? We observed a similar struggle by another server to do the same?

Meals are pleasant if somewhat reliant on over saucing and over seasoning. As we opted for the sirloin "tasting plate" we ordered a glass of Cabernet to compliment it as the Burgundy was opening up ok with Ceviche and Pork belly but not ideal with the steak.

Two glasses arrived, assumed they were poured at the bar unlike the table beside us that got to see the bottle as it was poured. They both had a decidedly funky, dusty nose and just felt wrong. When we asked for a Somm... "I can get my manager, she knows wine" was the reply. On asking for an opinion on the wine in the glass the response was "I can get you a fresh glass" FFS? Why would it be different if it is from same bottle? Turns out that we got the last two glasses from that bottle... So a new one was opened and the result was chalk and cheese.

Why is no one in this "Wine Bar" doing any Quality checks on a $30 glass of wine before it is served?

Overall, not terrible just not a great experience in food, wine or service.

PS if any other slightly negative reviews are a gauge I fully expect to get a trite "thank you for your feedback, we'll take it on board and hope to see you again" cookie cutter response from " the owner" (or whoever they pay to do their social...

Recently, I had the pleasure of being served by Markarian at Samson's Paddock. I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for the exceptional service I received. Markarian went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was memorable and enjoyable.

From the moment I walked in, Markarian greeted me with a warm and welcoming smile. Their friendly and attentive demeanor immediately put me at ease and created a positive atmosphere. Throughout the entire meal, Markarian demonstrated remarkable professionalism and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.

Not only did Markarian provide prompt and efficient service, but they also showed an impressive knowledge of the menu. They were able to answer all of my questions and provide insightful recommendations, which greatly enhanced my dining experience. Markarian's attention to detail and their ability to anticipate my needs truly made me feel like a valued guest.

What stood out the most was Markarian's genuine passion for their work. They displayed a genuine interest in ensuring that I had a fantastic dining experience. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and it made the whole atmosphere lively and enjoyable.

Markarian's exceptional service undoubtedly made a significant impact on my overall impression of Samson's Paddock. Their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail are commendable. I believe they are an asset to your team and a true reflection of the outstanding service that your establishment strives to provide.

I highly recommend Markarian to anyone visiting Samson's Paddock. Their exceptional service truly made my visit memorable, and I look forward to returning in the future. Thank you, Markarian, for going above and beyond in making my dining experience...

The food was fantastic (especially the salmon and cauliflower dishes). We were sadly let down by the goats cheese "gnocchi", which was essentially cheesy lumps of mush in a pesto sauce. When we called the waiter to tell him we didn't like it, he explained that "it's 90% goats cheese"...which by definition means that it isn't gnocch! Gnocchi is firm. This dish was essentially chunks of a dip-like substance. He defended the dish by saying that it was the most popular dish on the menu, then left without taking it away or offering to replace it with something worth eating. We were ready to pay and waited 30 minutes for the waiter to appear but none did, and so we walked to the till to pay. In the end we explained to the young English waiter our reasons for not tipping him, as feedback is very valuable. If somebody doesn't like a dish, remove it immediately and replace it for free; especially if it isn't as described. Gnocchi cannot be 90% cheese and still be called gnocchi. Also be proud about the food but don't defend it; this makes the customer feel awkward. Also, disappearing for 30 minutes during a quiet Sunday afternoon is very unprofessional, we were left waiting for ages. I would have recommended this restaurant to friends had the service been better. Otherwise the food (gnocchi aside) and atmosphere was lovely! Staff need basic training in customer service for this place to be truly excellent. Until then, I'll be...