Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in South Island

Beware: they may not keep their 90-minute promise with you.

I booked the 8:45p dinner last night for myself, my friend, and my 2-year-old son. We arrived early at 8:26 and were thus given the option to book the 8:30-10:00p slot or the 8:45-10:15p slot. I chose the former option as I didn't want my son getting bored and running around. The table was set formally, which led me to believe the staff had a certain level of training. But this, unfortunately, was not the case. We were told around 9:20 that there was a last call for the food, after which my friend went to the restroom. Due to the time being so early, I asked another waitress about this and was told that there was no such thing that we were able to take food until 10p. Then, after following my son up to the buffet, I noticed all but the desserts were cleared. I then got the opinion of a third waitress and was told they closed the buffet but that the desserts had a few minutes left. So, I proceeded to try and eat what I could. However, my son walked off yet again, and when I came back, my plate had been taken, but my son's and my friend's, who was still in the bathroom, remained. No one asked me if they could take my plate, and I was near my table. Then I noticed all the tables were being cleared and everyone was leaving. It was 9:36, and nearly everyone was gone.

I then gathered my things and my son and proceeded to leave. On the way, I spoke with the front door hostess and asked why we didn't get our promised 90-minute meal and everything was closed early. She said she wasn't sure herself as to why the buffet shut down early, and even she commented that it was odd.

I paid almost $300 NZD for this experience, only to eat a couple of pieces of lamb, three slices of wagyu roast beef, and a few potatoes. My plate was taken without consent, and the restaurant closed WAY earlier than we were promised.

As a customer, I formed a contract with the restaurant with the promise of a 90-minute dining experience only to be suggested by the hostess that I should have told the waitresses that my timeslot was until 10p, with the suggestion that this would force them to remain open. My experience was hardly an hour. And I assume that this was their attempt at going home early since there most likely wasn't anyone slowed for 8:45.

It felt more like a fast food experience than a proper fine-dining restaurant. I had to resort to order Uber Eats and eating some leftovers to fill my stomach before bed.

I also find it extremely dishonest that when we are promised a dining experience that it doesn't include non-alcoholic beverages in the price as all buffets typically do. This point also isn't mentioned upfront so that customers can make an informed decision.

Plus side: The staff were quite friendly and welcoming. The food was very varied, but I am not sure of the quality. My friend believes she could "have gotten more for [her] money" because she wasn't able to get a second plate due to how fast the buffet closed. She stated she would rather have gone to...

We were standing near the check-in counter and finding our ticket and the email reservation for the buffet we booked at 5pm on the day. We were called by several staff to the counter, telling us we don't need to present the ticket, just require to give them the reservation name. At the time they told us, my friend (who kept the tickets) found the ticket and the reservation email, gave it to the staff and they put it aside. After checking in, we were given the ticket back, and brought to the table by one of their staff.

Three of us went to get our food. When I back to my table, there are two managers standing in front of my friend, claiming that we walked in ourselves and has not done a proper check in - since our tickets have not been pouched a hole, never get a red buzzer and sitting in the wrong table. It's all their staff's fault and they spoke to us like we are idiots that we came in and start ourselves.

After they found out the fact - Checking their computer and confirmed we did check in, he just pouched the holes in our ticket without any apology. I have spent 10 minutes out of our 1.5 hours limit to deal with this issue.

Their staff missed (or did not even ask us to give them the ticket) to pouch the hole Their staff brought us to the wrong table There are no one waiting for the staff to bring them to the table, and the manager expect us to have a red buzzer - to wait for the call for their staff to bring us to the table

And all of the above is our fault!!!!!

Worst customer service I have ever had, with the most expensive meal I paid in Queenstown.

The only food that taste good in the buffet is the salmon sashimi: because it doesn't require cooking or any skills to make it taste good

The view - well I was not lucky enough that it was raining the whole night except for 10minutes with a clear view.

So for the price, I don't know what I paid for - worst food, worst service and no view at all

Even if someone paid the buffet for me, I will never ever...

Very disappointed. Went there 2weeks ago for a dinner and everything was absolutely going downhill compared with my last couple visits.

Lack of variety They used to provide clam and laksa soup before but this time they only have shrimp and mussel for cold dishes (seafood) and miso soup to replace the laksa soup. Obviously overpriced with this kind of food variety. The most disappointing thing is that there was NO ice cream provided on that night. The ice cream trolley sitting there without ice cream then why did they even put it there???

Shortage of staff The lady who led us to the table was nice. Yet, during the whole dining we had to refill the water jar by ourselves and no staff came to clear our used plates as we couldn’t find anyone to come help or they looked too busy serving the others or just stood there talking.

Dirty utensils The spoon was soooooo dirty (as shown in the picture below) which made me shocked😭 the plates have dust on it and people kept leaving the dirty ones aside with no staff took them away… well they did but it was like after most of the customers were gone🙃

The food was only refilled when requested. The soup was empty and one of us had to wait for quite a while for a refill. At last my friend asked one of the staffs and finally got refilled after a long wait… apparently not only the soup wasn’t being refilled but other dishes as well…

Staff were eating at the food bar in front of the customers. The dining time is limited to 90mins. However the staff working at the food bar were no longer serving anymore after the first 45mins but chatting and eating there. Tbh it shouldn’t be shown to the customer. I don’t feel any respect with that. Also we were seated 15mins after the reservation time.

It was such an awful experience and definitely not going again. Reflected most of the above situations to the manager right after the dining and only got a replied of sorry. Think...