The Grille Café — Restaurant in Invercargill City

As a local google guide I always make sure to share my experiences to Google Local Connect which I am affilated and I always give my honest comments, observations and recommendations to others. This way I can help in answering thier inquries/questions about the place, activities or restaurants/place they're planning to go or do. Last night was our first time to dine in The Grille, Invercargill. We're local of the city but this is the only time we've visited the place. There are few things I will give a review base on my experience. The place (The Grille) It's ambiance is totally will bring you back to the 50s, 60s, 70,s or 80s the decor was amazing and the appliances vintages ones brought me back to my childhood watching the vintage TV😁 i thought that was nice and creative. I even told my wee boy 3 years old that we got old TV like it when I was in his age. He was so amazed😂. The light of the entire restaurant fit to its theme ans decorations. It's cozy and warm there. The Service (staff mainly) First impression last i guess thats why I always remind myself that those people/staff working as frontline/wait person/service crew should always have the BIG smile😁 and Friendly approach not intemidating. The first staff I approach was bot so friendly in her way of talking to me. We arrived 10 mins early on our booking time. When I was so friendly in asking her about our table as I got no idea yet how they do things, like should we just grab a table or look for our table things like these...so I asked her. At first she told me that "you know that our service for this is at 6pm right, I will show your table after I'll finish this" that sounds like I was told off for coming early as she didnt smile at all, to me her facial expression and approach was not friendly. I felt upset but I didnt took it in a wrong way or let her know how i felt instead I turned and told my husband they will start serving at 6pm so we sat at the sofa in front of the fire place for 10 mins while oue boy was enjoying his play time in their play area (which is something recommendable for restaurants like The Grille) i thought this is a brilliant idea having a wee play area for kids so those couples who have kids can enjoy their time together while kids playing upon witing for the food to arrive. Thumbs up for that! Another wait/staff assisted us with our orders when the first staff finally took us to our table. My personal comments in this matter are: First, wait person should ask somebody else to help us out and guide us to our table while she was busy in the bar. She could told us, "Hi welcome to the Grille, Im sorry I cant help you but my company will take you to your table our service will be at 6pm feel free to choose for a drink" in that way we could have felt welcome. Coz honestly it was not a nice welcome after all. Next, wait person should be alert when I say alert enthusiastic, energitic and lively. 3.Food-100 percent recommended no questions with what we order we are very happy. I love that being in keto diet I have the food that I can enjoy to eat in their menu so that was well done!👏 Total experience 7/10 I will say I recommend this restaurant to others because there are room for change especially to...

Visited to buy morning tea and coffee. I could see the barista girl was flat out so was willing to be tolerant. Unfortunately she did not acknowledge me at all during the 10 minutes I waited, nor did she ask the other assistant who was fluffing around behind the counter to serve me. Eventually the other assistant must have decided that since a queue had formed she should serve some customers. She asked me to stand aside so she could serve the person behind me. She might have assumed I been served but failed to consult the barista girl or ask me. At this point I walked out and will never return. I lost 10 mins; they lost a customer. However the Night and Day just 1 minute further down the road were both attentive and courteous. They also have a new regular customer and a 5 star recommendation. Probably better value...

First time we went food and coffee were great. Staff busy but courteous. Second time, lots of cooks in the kitchen but only one waitress and one barista. Long wait for service. No recognition by staff as we're waiting to order. Lots of empty tables that were loaded with used dishes, tables were not cleared and new patrons were piling dirty dishes to one side of the tables. Waitress brings food out and walks past the dishes (piled on about 75% of the tables) doesn't pick up a single plate. Food still pretty good. Third time same thing with dirty uncleared tables, service incredibly slow, a couple waiting behind us left and so did we. This place could be great but the staff clearly have no idea about food service or...