“Run, run, get into the car before they attack us!” we yell at each other. We’re running away fron two very angry guests at Ripples, Chowder Bay and we’ve unwittingly just taken their taxi and they don’t look happy. Just minutes before they were swearing and creating a scene at Ripples and demanding that their food be comped so we are eager to avoid being caught in their ire. Allow me to rewind a few hours.
I was asked by Tourism Australia to dine with Valeria Di Napoli, an Italian screenwriter, book author, journalist and blogger who was visiting Sydney. They had suggested Ripples at Milsons Point but as I’d already blogged it, I suggested the Ripples in Chowder Bay which is another scenic location which also showed off the harbour.
Warm sun dried olives, chilli, orange and basil $7.50
We start with the olives which are actually lovely and warm which is new for me. They’re topped with anchovies, chilli and orange which helps to give it an added flavour dimension and saltiness from the anchovies. Valeria likes these a lot and it must be a good thing when an Italian person likes them surely?
Freshly Shucked Oysters with a Campari and Lime Vinaigrette $3.60 each
We order a half dozen fresh oysters with a campari vinagrette. Truth be told is I found the vinaigrette a bit too sour from the combination of Campari and lime so I ate the oysters by themselves.
Ravioli of Sandcrab with Mooloolah River prawns and bisque $29
My ravioli appear to be made from won ton wrappers and are filled with sandcrab meat and topped with four large king prawns and sitting in a pool of bisque. I would have loved a bit more bisque but the prawns although I would have preferred fresh pasta to won ton wrappers as I use those at home for speed and ease.
Roast Blue Eye Trevalla with braised white beans, chorizo and chilli oil $29
“Is this meat and fish?” Valeria asks curiously. She explains that in Italy they don’t often see this combination of meat and fish together. We explain that chorizo is somewhat of a national sausage here popping up everywhere nowadays.
Ripples Famous Fish and Chips with home-made Tartare sauce and lemon $24
I don’t try any of Valeria’s Fish and Chips as I had tried them on a visit to another Ripples in Pyrmont. Trinity tells us the Tourism Australia Ambassador program where celebrities are asked to endorse Australia and be aware of any events that may be coming up. It is unpaid role but one where they are given certain perks and trips. Celebrity ambassadors include Megan Gale, Lance Armstrong, Bindi Irwin and the Sass & Bide designers.
Salad of candied fruit with melon sorbet and wafer biscotti $14
I studied the dessert menu carefully. One item intrigued me as I do love fruit desserts. It was the candied fruit. Would I get glace fruit in a bowl? That didn’t appeal to me very much at all. I ask the waitress who talks to the kitchen – apparently it’s fruit that is soaked and poached in a sugar syrup. I’m still curious so at Valeria’s urging I try it. It’s unusual. Each spoonful of this mint laced dish is different. The first bimte is a touch vegetable-y, the second spoonful quite nice and the third spoonful not very good. I find the offending ingredient: candied fennel and separate it and eat the citrus which when paired with the melon sorbet is very refreshing. But I can see how it wouldn’t be the dessert for everyone.
Hot Chocolate truffle cake with rose petal marshmallows $14
The chocolate cake comes with fresh-made marshamallows and rose petals. The cake is actually not bad – quite moist and soft although not quite swoonworthy and I wouldn’t call it a truffle cake and as Trinity points out, it needs ice cream.
“Did you hear that?” Trinity asks. Behind us, a scene unfolds. A diner is deeply unhappy witg his food and calls it all sorts of names. There’s swearing and raised voices and the people around us are whispering, wondering what the commotion is about. It’s around this time that our cab arrives but perhaps in the kerfuffle it left and we inadvertently took the other couple’s cab only adding to their ire.
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever witnessed or made a scene in a restaurant and what was it over?
Ripples
Deck C Chowder Bay Road, Mosman NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9960 3000
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48 Comments | Add your own
I’ve eaten at Ripples Chowder Bay a few times and enjoyed it very much. As much for the view as anything else. Not cheap though, at $3.60 an oyster!
I love that fish and chips rising like Venus from the plate… I do miss having it… lovely story. One day I’ll share with you my story of glace fruit, mid summer with hot lights… oh my!
Me, cause a scene! Never!
Sounds like Australia could introduce Italy to the good old “surf & turf”!
I went to the Ripples at Chowder Bay when I was last in Sydney. I love how you can suddenly be in a place that feels so isolated and relaxed and so far away from everything.
Oh godh, I thought that first photo was of anchovies and prunes – so glad that wasn’t the case!
I’ve never made a scene nor seen anyone make a big one – I’m all for meekness and chirpiness when eating out. I have a fear of the waiters doing something to my food!!
You know, if folks knew what was in chorizo, espiecially SA chorizo, they wouldn’t want to eat it…
How awkward. I really hate it when people make a scene. These dishes looked really good. Candied fennel that is totally too weird.
lovely view and the food looks pleasant. I dont make a scene at restaurants but I certainly have complained about food items e.g a fly in my salad, and in a seperate instance- dirt on my lettuce. Most places are usually very nice and replace the item swiftly- so no need to cause a scene
i guess the irate couple will now know who took their cab since you’ve posted it. looks like a lovely view and menu to try. thanks for sharing and hope your discussions with Valeria Di Napoli were fruitful in promoting Australia
Luckily you finished your meal before it happened. I’m too nice to make a scene! Though once I did have to send my ice cream back because there was a LONG hair ENTWINED in it. I’ve even sat through and eaten a salty tasting waffle when I clearly should have sent it back – I drowned it in maple syrup and ice cream. When waitstaff do the obligatory “How was everything” I just force a smile and say “okay” even when I’ve been unhappy. Usually when voicing opinions in the negative the waitstaff seem to get a little arrogant and make it out as if you’re in the wrong – in my experiences anyway. Shame because I just don’t revisit when the food or service hasn’t been great.
I was there on Sunday – what a fabulous restaurant (3rd return visit I may add) it has a fabulous atmosphere just the perfect spot for taking overseas visitors. The food and service is 1st class, just love it.
I have had a scene in a restaurant with another customer that totally spoilt my 30th wedding anniversary dinner and I will never forget it, he won’t remember as he was so intoxicated, enough said.
The thought of candied fennel upsets me. I am glad the olives were good though. Mostly I am just a bit sad because the name of this post tricked me and I thought I’d be reading about my one true love in the world of otherwise questionable fish soup, delicious chowder
PS just a note that the map shown is not quite accurate – the restaurant is actually just off the beach.
I like to visit Australia vicariously through your blog! Quite fun! and so cheap!
This restaurant has a great view, nice food, (maybe not exceptional) and elegant table settings; that couple must have been venting to hide the fact that their marriage is on the rocks or she just found out he is cheating on her or lost all their savings cause he is a gambler.
I like Ripples at Chowder Bay although it’s a bit of a problem to get to – particularly if you have older folk in the party. Always found the food very good. No I don’t make scenes even when the food is bad, bad, bad. I prefer to quietly ask the waiter to take it back to the kitchen and ask the chef to taste it himself – done that a few times.
I would have ordered the hot chocolate truffle cake just to taste the rose petal marshmallows. Hmmm you seem to be having a few adventures as of late. First the note on the car and now running away with a cab. ehehehe. Thats gold.
Those oysters look terrific and I would love to try the candied fruit dessert!
wow. the food. looks gorgeous. I had fish and chips last night but looks nothing like the one pictured in this post! haha (: nice ambience and would really love to go there to unwind! Thanks for sharing!
oh dear. Badly behaved people having tantrums in public places are so inconsiderate. Sure they might have had a terrible mel or experience, but do they really have to ruin everyone else’s experience too?!
At Lucio’s in Paddington, witnessed a guy threatening poor old Lucio for taking our order first as he was in a hurry (we were there first and there were only two of us so how long could it take?). Lucio took it all in his stride and told the guy if he was in that much of a hurry he should just leave which he eventually did after much huffing and puffing.
Funny, I would think that pairing olives and anchovies together would be an overkill in saltiness!
Oh my goodness, it is so uncomfortable when people behave like that. I have witnessed the RUDEST behaviour from a customer who proceeded to head out the front of the restaurant and swear loudly to passers- by about the food. I fon’t think that was any way to deal with the situation! Sounds like you had some irate people too! Oh gosh!
I am far too scared to make a scene in a restaurant. Someone might blog about it! LOL
That candied fruit dessert would be right up my alley, love fennel in all forms! It’s always embarrassing seeing someone else make a scene, it means they’ve loss all sense of decorum and dignity, if they need to complain, then surely they can do it discreetly? Serves them right to lose their taxi but I felt sorry for the waitstaff who were likely to suffer the consequences!
oh my they must be really unhappy! good thing u got away after u have tasted the wonderful meal! it looks like alovely place to relax and watch teh water..sigh
My husband has made a scene at a restaurant once.
He ordered a freshly made pineapple juice, and from the very first sniff and taste it was obviously just some cheap reconstituted stuff from the supermarket. He wouldn’t have bothered to complain, but at 5 euros for a tiny glass, it was basically theft!
The waitress accused him of lying, saying she’d personally blended it…but my husband wouldn’t give up, and then finally she admitted that she’d actually blended a couple of cubes of fresh fruit with bottled juice.
I was embarassed at the time, but now I see he was right to make a scene. Imagine how much money they were making from that scam!
Thank you for telling us about Ripples…I’ve not been before, mainly because I’ve got no money & I’m not a fan of seafood…except for fish & chips! I know that I’m ok at a seafood restaurant if they have fish & chips on the menu! And, of course, it has to have tartare sauce and lemon with it!
The fish & chips @ Ripples looks nice…is $24 a good price? I wouldn’t have a clue! LOL
The desserts look nice…a shame about the weirdness of the fruit dessert…but the choc cake looks nice – but just from the photo, I can see that ice cream would be needed!
Thanks again for the review!
That looks like a lovely spot to eat out, a nice reason to explore another of Sydney’s bays. I agree with all the other comments that there is a good way and a bad way to complain, I tend to just say the food was good whenever the waitress asks, even if it wasn’t that great. If there is something really wrong though then I do ask for it to be fixed as feel that is part of what you pay for, and people are generally great about it…other than when I went with a group of friends to a restaurant specialising in risotto in London, they forgot one of the orders and then got really stroppy when we voiced that we weren’t pleased with that, with the manager saying that as we were a group of 12 we couldn’t expect the orders to all come at once (or even within 30 mins of each other apparently) – err, that is why we were in a restaurant rather than my kitchen…Anyway, most good places are normally great about anything like that so there is really no need for people to cause a scene.
how do you afford to eat all these wonderful food? All I can afford to blog about is my $10 combination beef pho. haha
I unintentionally made a scene at a ramen shop in Shibuya, Japan.
My partner and I ordered two bowels of ramen, fried rice, pickles and gyoza. Half way through our meals I realised we didn’t get our gyoza. I politely told the waitress that we have not received our gyoza. She looks stunned and becomes frozen, she then leans over to the open kitchen and tells one of the cooks. All the cooks in the kitchen freeze and have fear and shock in their faces, they all bow and apologize to us in Japanese. All the patrons in the full restaurant turn to us and stare.
My partner and I were stunned by their reaction and did not mean any malice! I guess they pride themselves on perfection.
OMG, Lorraine … the oysters!!! And the desserts. Salivating as I type.
Crazy coincidence, I was at Ripples (Sydney Wharf though) today for a work lunch! I have to say, I was quite impressed with their dessert actually, great servings with interesting variety.
That scenic view is so calming! What a pretty setting to eat in. Everything looks wonderful, but that trevalla dish really caught my eye!
what a gorgeous place! Candied fennel sounds fairly revolting – I can see why it would be a very jarring taste in what sounds otherwise a lovely dish.
I’m not a big fan of making a scene in restuarants – although I will say if something’s not right and ask to speak to a manager if it’s something serious , simply because it’s their job to deal with it, but there’s a polite non-sceney way to do that!
You go to so many amazing restaurants! Mega jealousy!
Love the oysters! Fresh, the only way for them to be served
Being an ambassador for Tourism Australia sounds pretty cool and it sounds like you got to be an ambassador for a meal at least Lorraine – great location to show off Australia’s dining scene with a view.
I like a place and the view, I like to eat in a restaurant overlooking the water, reminds me of some coastal restaurants in Lebanon. Famous for their seafood as the Mediterranean right at their door.
The food looks very good. I hope your guest enjoyed her evening after all the excitment.
My daughter and I actually witnessed a fist fight in a local Vietnamese restaurant. An
American vet got into a fight with a waiter. We did not hear how it started, but they ended up going outside and the police were called. The vet’s entire family was there and didn’t seem to be trying to stop him, but then neither did the owners of the restaurant try to stop the waiter.
What a beautiful place to eat. Expensive, yes, but the view, awesome. It is the same in California, you pay for the view in so many restaurants on the coast. Thanks for sharing. Love your Blog.
ah, i enjoy a good restaurant kerfuffle–it’s like dinner and a movie but only for the price of dinner!
candied fennel? hmm.
I love the idea of anchovies with the olives.
As someone who has worked in customer service for almost 15 years, I have learnt that some people seemingly go through life waiting to complain about things and be mean spirited. There are ways to make your opinion known without yelling and shouting. Or pulling out the “I’m a lawyer” line – yes, I’ve actually got that one before!
I agree, the chocolate truffle cake definitely needs a ice-cream perk!
The scenery looks delicious though!
I remember getting extra huffy with a waitress once for refusing to take my 5cent coins and then looking at me like I couldn’t afford the bill. And speaking to me like I was stupid. Clearly I never went back (it was just a roadside cafe place)
we saved up for an evening at ARIA.the food was fantastic, but the couple beside us started to disect their divorce with all the mucky (who had been sleeping with whom) bits. We heard way to many details… especially about the nanny! We had to ask to be moved to another table. the food was great, the service was great, but those 2 people ruined an lovely -and expensive!- evening. Why had they come there in the first place??? very very disappointing.
I have a long history of working in various forms of customer service and it really doesn’t endear people to your plight if you make a big scene about it. Moreover, observers just think you’re a big idiot for doing so and really it is best to politely express your discontent. Always so embarrassing for others that are around! =p
I’ve witnessed those encounters and always feel sorry for the service people! I love the fish & chips at Ripples, pity about the desserts… Is the menu different at different locations? The desserts we had at the Pyrmont one were fabulous, although that was a few months ago, so it may have changed
The melon ice cream looks wonderful, but i wouldn’t be happy with the fennel. I have never been one for fennel, to be honest. I always pick it out.
Oh heavens! What a kerfuffle! I’m glad you escaped unscathed
People who make scenes in public in the way you describe only make fools of themselves. No one thinks big of them and if they can’t handle problems in a mature fashion they shoouldn’t go out at all. Too bad about their taxi, let them walk.
Looks like a nice scenic place for lunch, and not too badly price either.
I haven’t made a scene at a restaurant, but I do remember being at Gloria Jeans once when I heard a tourist complaining that his blueberry muffin was mouldy. The poor girls behind the counter tried their hardest to explain to the man that the purpley colour was from the blueberries and not mould. He was not convinced and was appeased by a complimentary apple and cinnamon muffin instead.
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