Substance Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Western Australia

Our visit to Substance Restaurant, situated within the newly opened Courtyard by Marriott Hotel next to Fiona Stanley Hospital, was tinged with anticipation, given Marriott's esteemed reputation in the hospitality industry.

Upon entering, the ambiance exuded freshness, characteristic of a newly established venue. However, the stark simplicity of the furnishings, reminiscent of a food court, left much to be desired. The cramped seating arrangement, lacking in privacy, detracted from the overall dining experience.

Despite the promising beginnings, the menu offerings fell short of expectations. The pricing seemed unjustifiably high for the rather basic food presented. The fish of the day, barramundi, arrived devoid of any accompanying sauce, resulting in a lackluster flavour profile. Similarly, the pork ribs left much to be desired, with an average sauce and insufficient meat content.

Service, unfortunately, failed to compensate for the culinary shortcomings. Despite a leisurely pace in food delivery, promptness in wine service was notably absent, further adding to the disappointment.

Additionally, the imposition of a credit card surcharge felt incongruous with the practices of a major hotel chain, especially in an era progressively moving towards cashless transactions. This, coupled with a significant surcharge on public holidays, only added to the disappointment.

Adding to the disappointment was the failure to honor the advertised "Dine & Earn" feature, a hallmark of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Despite heavy promotion and promises of earning points with each dining experience, our points were not credited to our account, leaving us feeling disregarded and disenchanted.

While we came with high hopes, drawn by the Marriott legacy, the experience was marred by a combination of lackluster culinary offerings, less-than-ideal furniture choices, and surprising additional charges. One hopes that these areas can be revisited and improved upon to truly reflect the quality and standard one expects from the...

I recently dined at Substance in the Courtyard Hotel for lunch after an early morning overtime shift and had an outstanding experience. The meal, prepared by Chef Charlie, was simply delicious. I ordered the burger with fries, and it exceeded my expectations. The burger was juicy and perfectly cooked, with fresh toppings and a flavorful sauce. The avocado in the burger tasted incredibly fresh and added a unique twist to the flavor.

The fries were crispy and golden, accompanied by a tasty dipping sauce. The ambiance of the restaurant was inviting and clean, making it a pleasant place to relax and enjoy a meal after a long work shift. The service was prompt and friendly, ensuring that I had everything I needed. One small note: the portions were very generous, making it perfect for those with a big appetite!

Overall, I highly recommend Substance for anyone looking for a great meal and a comfortable dining experience. Kudos to Chef Charlie for the...

15% public holiday surcharge. Credit card surcharge is 1.55% which is ridiculously higher than other retail at 0.55% for a well known hotel group.

Service is a huge disappointment. Had to walk over to the cashier to order, severely lack of service. No repeating of orders, which should be a basic etiquette. Encountered much difficulties ordering due to staff limited knowledge or ability in explanation and also unable to comprehend the non local accent unfortunately. More defined and articulated words would have been appreciated. Seems like a lack of confidence here. Such a huge hurdle to even place an order.

Other service encounters only made the experience worse.

Lights weren’t working at the lift. The dining area was also really dim.

Food is pretty normal. The beef stew menu item was really tender and that’s the only plus in the...