Redcliff Restaurant and bar — Restaurant in Fiordland Community

Great food with generous portion, however the service was terrible that ruined the night especially with a dark hair lady. I'm not sure if this is discrimination or what, but I don't think the other customer was treated the same way as us.

We first had a blonde hair lady serving us and welcoming us for the night. However, when my friend was ready to order, she asked another waitress with dark hair who was carrying plates and told her that we are ready to order. Unexpectedly, she looked very offended and told us that "but I was not ready to order" and walked away. After we ordered with the first blonde hair lady, she then came back deliberately just to tell us that "Well next time you do not ask a waitress who was busy to serve you" and immediately walked away.

During the whole serving process, that lady with dark hair simply just chucked the plate on the table and walked away and was ignoring us for the whole time.

Even when we were paying at last and I spoke to her that we simply would appreciate her to tell us she will come back or she is not ready in a friendly manner, she looked at us and said "oh you really think so?" And when I was talking to her, she just walked away and said "Oh then thank you for your "Lesson" then!".

I hope the waitress can actually have a chance to read this comment because that is not how she should treat a customer especially I really don't think we treated her rudely. The food and vibe was great but this service was just ruining the night and I truly would appreciate if the restaurant manager can reconsider how the staff should be trained.

This is a sad and unfortunate experience. If this is discrimination from the staff towards tourists, then I wish other tourists can be aware of this incident and dodge this restaurant to avoid any unpleasant experience during your trip in...

Great Expectations Like you, I read the online reviews. I was really anticipating our visit. On arrival the building looks like a country cottage. The front section is a pub clearly popular with locals. Inside and past the bar area is an eclectically decorated restaurant. Staff are pleasant and helpful and the menu reads like something you would expect to find in a top rated restaurant in capital city. I ordered the Duck Confit, my partner the Deer and our guest, not being so hungry ordered the Salmon entree. The duck is served with a blue cheese souffle and home made coleslaw. The duck was one thigh. The souffle was excellent but the coleslaw dominated the plate. So much so that it seemed the dish should have been called Coleslaw with a side of Duck Confit. See the accompanying picture taken after I had given up eating the cabbage. My partner had order deer in another local restaurant the prior evening and enjoyed it so much she decided to have it again. She found the meat to be soft but "stringy". So much so that it was inedible without long periods of chewing and deep swallows. She gave up and what remained on the plate is in the accompanying photo. On clearing the plates the waitress asked what the problem was. When the "stringy" issue was explained we were told that we should have notified them of the problem before we began eating. (???) We had not asked for a refund on the price but clearly the staff were keen to put their foot down on that possibility before it arose. The salmon entree was excellent. In the end our great expectations were turned to great disappointment. It is a shame as it should have...

Made an online booking for 6pm. Confirmed the booking as well. As we were going to run 15 mins late because our tour was running a bit late, we tried calling the restaurant numerous times an hour before, but there were no answers. There were no other ways of contacting the restaurant so we tried our best to rush to the restaurant knowing that the restaurant did have a note on our email confirmation that they will hold the table for 15 mins. Managed to get to the restaurant at 6.15pm and waited for a few minutes for the host to attend to us as she was busy with another customer paying. Another host (guy in dreadlock) attended to us. He said he had given our table away as we were late. I acknowledged that we were 15 mins late and they were meant to hold the table for us. Also tried to explain that we tried calling prior. He said they are busy and can't always attend to the phone. He was just plain rude, spoke in a condescending tone, and offered no solution with only excuses. So my question is, what else could I have done? I made a booking, confirmed the booking, and tried to call to give a heads up that we will be 15 mins late despite the restaurant advising that they will hold the table for 15 mins. Perhaps next time, try calling the customer before giving the table away. It's just plain courtesy. And maybe get some lessons in customer service and get off your high horse. Thankfully, judging from all the food reviews, they have a good team of chefs to make up for that one incompetent...