Lone Star Whangarei — Restaurant in North Island

Date: 09/06/21 time of booking 18:30. I never write reviews, but I feel this time I need to share my terrible experience. I made the booking to discuss matters with my x partner so after a rather uncomfortable "hallo " from my x I had to endure the following. First of all, let me say that I cannot complain about the food - good Lone star quality. The service was terrible. After making a booking online, I arrived and was told to wait in the bar area - no one offered me a drink. I then got up and asked for a tap beer and was told its not working. The staff customer ratio was in favour of the staff at the time. The area allocated for the 2 seaters are that cramp that I could hear the people whisper on the table next to me. We ordered a bottle of wine and some water. I got one glass of wine and 2 glasses of water. We sent if back and they brought me wine in a carafe, so I sent that back too asking to see the closed bottle. They then returned with an open bottle to the table. I asked the server why do they bring me an open bottle of wine - their reply - it was Lone Star policy. I told them I’m not excepting it. To make things worse, the server got upset. I wish I took their name as I would have named the person in this review. They should not work in the industry. If I am gonna pay $50 for a bottle of $12 Church Road, at least open it in front of me and poor it into the carafe. That way I know the wine comes out of a bottle and not a box. We returned the wine and luckily some of the other staff realised that it was a simple request and served me a closed bottle although they did not offer to poor it into the carafe. My night was ruined already, and I was ready to walk away. We received no apology from the person at the till either. No sure if he was the manager or just a check out worker - he acted like the latter. He walked past our table 3 times with empty hands even though we had empty plate. Good luck to them, I will never return. I get better quality service and similar food across the road at the Kensington pub. This was the worst Lone star I have...

Had dinner here last night. Waitress started out good but let us down as soon as meal was served. I had to ask for high chair for 2 yr old but no spoons in carrier on table...couldn't get any help so I got up and got my own. During meal never asked if we wanted more drinks. Childs plates of fish were too much food for 4 kids to eat...I would suggest you lower kids meal prices and take away part of meal...$19.50 each is excessive but does include a HUGE drink and small ice cream dessert. Perhaps a smaller glass for kids would be more appropriate for ages 2 to 11. We were 2nd group in restaurant and sat in booth...2 napkins in holder and knives and forks! I had to get more napkins too. 2 Adult meals...I had shrimp with consisted of 12 nice sized shrimp dripping in oil (ugh)...plain white rice mound that felt wet in my mouth and a bit of salad which was fine. Daughter had Burrito...very hot and spicy but tossed on the plate and looked messy. I ordered garlic bread and that was the best of the meal. We sat with empty plates waiting for waitress to come back and clear table for desserts...after 1/2 hour I flagged one down and explained that not only had we not gotten asked for drink repeats but my Grandson's promised birthday surprise had never come. That finally arrived 15 minutes later...they sang to him...and finally I could pay the bill. We got there at 4:25pm and didn't leave till 6pm...bit excessive for 2nd in the restaurant. I would not return! Waitresses did a LOT of chit chatting for large amounts of time at a couple tables while we tried to wait patiently for service through our meal. No decent chef would put a plate in front of their guests as in 1st pic....notice lettuce and sloppy plate...and oil dripping from my shrimp. You need a manager overlooking what is being served from the kitchen and watching your staff. $203 for 5 kids meals and 2...

Well HOWDY Partners! 🤠 I am delighted to report that tonight's first dining experience at a Lone Star happened to be in my hometown and proved the negative whispers wrong! Walking through beautiful big red barn doors we were warmly greeted by Troy, who I had already had the pleasure of communicating with earlier by phone confirming my online booking which also, was so simple and no trouble at all. We were seated at one of the bar tables until our table was ready which took no more than 15 mins and in that time checked on by the manager I think it was who made sure we were being looked after. I tried the mocktail called Roxanne, an iced berry combo that took me the whole course of the night to finish! If you've lived here long enough it is only natural to gaze around and try and rack your brain as to what parts of Woolworths where exactly where! From there our bubbly, lovely waitress Lateisha took care of us and gave us time to look up and down the wow of a menu to make our decisions. A place still humming after a few months of opening, we understood why we had waited 15-30 mins for our mains, but certainly when they did arrive there were absolutely no grudges here! Super delicious generous sized portions for what you are paying for! I chose the dixie chicken with coleslaw and buffalo fries. Wow. As my Dad put it, there are some pretty good chefs out there! We could hardly order dessert and think that's best on a seperate occasion on it's own. An epic playlist filtered through not too loud at all and made me giggle with it's switching from country music to modern and repeat. There were also many birthdays this night and I commend the amazing team on their pitch perfect happy birthday singalongs every time. An overall pleasant experience and in the words of Arnie with a country twang, We'll be back!...