Sandbar Restaurant Yamba — Restaurant in Yamba

After Sandbar answered:

The most disappointing part of this whole experience was the response to negative feedback. Rather than addressing the concerns raised and seeking ways to improve the service, the person responding chose to reply with irony and defensiveness. This is especially unfortunate considering we made the effort to visit the café hoping for a pleasant morning, only to be met with unprofessional service and a lack of courtesy.

At least three different members of our group tried to find a solution to the issue and were all met with the same dismissive and rude attitude from Louise. It’s difficult not to wonder — if a group of ten people is treated this way, was a negative review simply expected?

We understand that everyone can have an off day, and mistakes do happen. However, the absence of any apology or effort to make amends suggests that this may be standard practice rather than an isolated incident. It’s a shame, as we believe hospitality should always aim to be welcoming and respectful.

Our intention in leaving this review is not to harm the business, but to help others make informed decisions and perhaps avoid a similarly unpleasant experience.

If it were possible to give zero stars, that would be my rating for this place.

My wife called at 8am to try and reserve a table for a group of 10. Louise told they don’t take reservations, but we were welcome to come in anyway. However, when we got there, Louise informed us that they wouldn’t accommodate a group of 10. Even though a table big enough for our group was becoming available, we were still told we couldn’t sit there.

The worst thing was the rude way that Louise treated people who just wanted to have breakfast.

We even suggested splitting into two groups of five, but that was also refused.

This was, without a doubt, the worst service I’ve experienced. I’m genuinely shocked that someone with that attitude works in hospitality.

To make things worse, we had three babies with us and a pregnant woman, and this was the level of care and service we received.

I would not recommend this café to anyone coming to Yamba.

Also worth noting: while we were there, I saw an elderly couple approach to ask for a table, and they were told the wait for coffee was 25 minutes and for food, 90 minutes — clearly an attempt to discourage them...

We are staying at the motel and decided to go to the Sandbar for dinner - firstly they had no high chair so we had to sit our 15 month old on a regular chair - the kids meal was ridiculous, grilled fish - mash and ‘ salad’ (lettuce smothered in balsamic vinegar) our mains were terrible- the steak was stone cold and the hand cut chips not much better, the prawns we awful and over cooked - we left 90% on the plate. We decided to leave. Later feeling like we were still hungry we thought maybe dessert would be an improvement so ordered room service but the phone was off the hook so we had to go down to the restaurant again to order room service in person. We had asked to have the dessert delivered later because we wanted to have showers etc. but it was delivered quickly with the wait staff saying that they asked to delay it but the chef was ‘going off’. Then the dessert was basically unpalatable- the chocolate mousse was sickly sweet with the top 1/4 of the glass being almost 100% chocolate sauce that overpowered everything else as you had to dig throughout it to get at the rest and the ‘cookie cake’ was terrible as well. Feeling disappointed and hungry with no other option at 8pm for food we decided to order a cheese platter- surely they can’t mess that up right? We called and ordered but said we would have it as a take away and get it ourselves so the staff didn’t have to trudge up 4 flights of stairs again… only to have the chef yelling at the staff in the background that he wasn’t doing a cheese platter, the staff said it was a takeaway and it would be fine telling us 10 min. Less than 5 minutes later we receive a call stating that the chef had said we are being charged the room service fee as we are staying at the motel- I said that we are picking up and it’s not room service, the lady said she knew but the chef insisted, so I told them that they can deliver it up the 4 flights of stairs. When the food arrived, I told the polite young lady that this was not a reflection on her but the chef is rude and the food was horrible. She apologised and left, at lest we had our cheese platter .. that consists 3 cheeses, sliced pear, fig paste, walnuts and 6 thick cut slices of extremely stale bread that feels like cardboard. Don’t waste your time...

Our experience at Sandbar Restaurant in Yamba on Friday night exceeded expectations, particularly with their seafood special for two, which they graciously adapted for our party of three. This flexibility and customer service truly impressed us.

The seafood special itself was a delightful assortment of fresh ocean delicacies - prawns, oysters, scallops, beetroot cured salmon gravlax, crab salad with fish pearls, soft shell crab, bugs, all expertly prepared and beautifully presented with such amazing flavours. Each bite was a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality seafood and culinary expertise. The portion size was generous and perfect for sharing. What stood out even more was the exceptional service provided by Charlotte, our waitress for the evening. Charlotte’s attention to detail and accommodating nature enhanced our dining experience significantly. She not only ensured that our orders were correct but also went the extra mile to ensure we were comfortable and well-attended throughout the evening - even emptying the discard bowls regularly from the shells etc from the seafood.

The ambiance of Sandbar Restaurant was also noteworthy, with its relaxed yet sophisticated coastal vibe, complemented with a well stocked bar for beautiful cocktails and amazing wines.

Overall, I highly recommend Sandbar Restaurant for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience in Yamba, especially for their menu selection and impeccable service. And if you're lucky enough to have Charlotte as your server, you're in for an extra special treat. We look forward to returning on our next...