Like children, you should never favour one parent over the other. When we went to celebrate a late Father’s Day this year, as we had booked into Garfish Kirriblli for Mother’s Day, we booked into Garfish Manly for our belated Father’s day. It was aided by the fact that I had a $50 gift voucher from the nice people at Garfish. You see they had seen my review where I was a bit confused at why a sauce was taken away and then replaced and then charged for and sent me the voucher as a way to make up for it. And whilst I never expected them to do that, I did think that it was a very nice way of them to respond.
We make a booking at the Manly Garfish which sits opposite the ferry wharf. Interestingly, even though they have our booking, there is no table set aside for us and we received the best available table at the time. As we were eating at 1pm and most of the restaurant was already full this meant that the table was pretty far back form the front and from the view. I think if anything, dining a bit earlier might nab you a prized front table in front of the view. It is an airy, chic very North Shore and Manly dining space with maximum views and lots of light colours and a bar at the side. And there are huge flatscreen televisions which play footage from the open kitchen.
Ze instruments of torture!
Wood fired focaccia with house made taramasalata $7
I was hungry as I had missed breakfast and it was getting onto 1:30pm so we ordered some quick tummy fillers. We could have the foccacia with caramelised garlic and rosemary but I am a taramasalata fiend so it was a no brainer for me. The bread is warm and buttery and soft and my mother and I are big fans of the spongey bread and the creamy dip.
Sour dough with EVOO and za’atar $3.50
None of us were particularly smitten with the combination here. Perhaps it was because we all really loved the foccacia or maybe none of the three elements really stood out for us.
Live Southern Rock Lobster $84.50
The crab that we loved from last time is not on the menu as it was a market priced item but we make do with lobster. Understand that when I say “make do with lobster” I mean it very tongue in cheek 
The lobster is priced at $16 per 100grams and they have three left. Our waitress, who is fantastic and much better than the one we had the strange brush with at the Kirribilli location, finds out the exact price and they range from $81-$84. The lobsters are simply brushed with lemon and garlic butter and served with aioli. Comparing it to the crab when it comes out, it’s much smaller -the crab was designed to feed two people and it came with salad and bread whereas the lobster doesn’t. Whilst the crab was priced for two at $70 this could have been made a meal for two if there was salad and bread that went along with it – I think that many people would be quite delighted to have half a lobster, bread and salad for $40 a person. The lobster meat itself is delicious and the garlic butter is an ideal flavouring for it but the lemon is hard to squeeze any juice out of as they had cooked or baked the lemon and all of the juice had evaporated.
Wood fired pot of South Australian black mussels 900g $20
Mr NQN and my dad really liked the mussels with chorizo, tomato, chilli and gremolata herbs. It’s tasty indeed but I’m onto the barramundi instead. The sauce is very tomatoey and I try a soft, small mussel with the chorizo which gives it a robust garlic flavour.
Chips $6.50
Chips are where places often disappoint, especially thick cut chips (French fries always seem much safer). Fat ones seem more prone to flouriness. But these are fantastic and well seasoned and golden crisp.
Crisp fried whole baby barramundi $31
My mother and I both love the baby barramundi although my dad finds the meat a bit too soft for his taste. My mum and I like the sweet chilli sauce and the crispiness of the fish so that it’s all sweet and crunchy. In fact we didn’t leave any of this behind. Whilst he dessert sounded nice (caramelised banana Paris Brest-yum!) we are just way too full for any more.
Interestingly, there is a bit of a situation with the bill and a few days later I see that we are charged for our meal as well as another table’s. This necessitates a few phone calls and it is over a week before the charges are refunded although they are apologetic about it. I suppose mistakes happen in busy restaurants!
So tell me Dear Reader, do your parents have very different food taste from another?
Funny truck sticker
NQN used a $50 gift voucher from Garfish but paid for the rest of the meal
Garfish
1/39 East Esplanade, Manly, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9977 0707
Open 7 days lunch and dinner
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47 Comments | Add your own
Oh, that top picture is just beautiful! I am looking out my window at some fine, soft snow that is falling right now, which is gorgeous too, but damn that beach looks lovely!
In terms of the review – two different visits and significant problems both times. It sounds like this restaurant needs to get its act together!
I love sourdough and oil…drool!
What a lovely Father’s Day meal, Lorraine! The lobster looks especially fantastic. Very odd that they charged another table’s bill to your table — didn’t the other table think something was amiss when they walked out without paying, lol? People can be so frustrating.
Lorraine, what a nice place…the food look delicious and so nicely presented…love the photos
Happy New Year!
that bowl of mussels looks delicious, I seem to eat mussels far too infrequently… Bugger about the bill mix up.
oh my – how wonderful is all that seafood! You were very lucky!
Neither of my parents are very adventurous when it comes to food. I am, however, working on that
Beautiful view! There is a clean and bright quality to the Sydney harbourside sunshine that you don’t get anywhere else, not even in my beloved Qld. The lobster looks amazing – the lobster and chips would do me very nicely, thanks. My parents are like chalk and cheeese in everything.
That seems like very expensive lobster, goodness! In any case, I’m with you: I could be happy with taramasalata alone, it’s one of my favorite things.
Is Manly the new Neutral Bay or is Neutral Bay the new Manly? So many great new nosheries at both!
The food did look nice but I think the mix up with the bill and then being charged too much would have finished me for Garfish restuarants.
I know the problem was sorted out in the end but it is the overall experience that counts and for the price of the meals everything needs to be nice.
I think you have been very patient and diplomatic.
My Dad was a meat and potatoes kind of man. Mum is a little more adventurous. I like the look of the baby barramundi.
This looks like a nice lunch overall, what beautiful weather as well – although odd about not having a table set, and the bill situation (at a Melbourne restaurant last year they charged my card twice, and it took around a week to sort it out!).
My parents are very different – my Mum is a vegetarian and my Dad is a “meat & 3 veg” kinda guy (they’re not together though, so it’s ok)
I think your review of Garfish Manly summed it up well – I’ve had a similar experience there and Kirribilli is the worst of the 3 Garfish locations. Crows Nest is the best by far and has the nicest ambience of all of them. I love the snapper pie – not great for Summer but a must try in Winter.
Happy New Year!!
Best wishes
Heidi
PS: It’s such a joy reading your blog!
PPS: I have vastly different taste to my Father who is a meat and three veg guy. He wouldn’t ever dream of eatin pasta or rice
I do generally have a good meal at Garfish (live on Nth Beaches) but have found that don’t always have your table ready.
Nice to see some great SA produce on the menu!
Sounds like it was a good meal, but could have been a little less troublesome!
Nice write up of what sounds like a bit of a fuddle up, the pics of the food are seriously drool worthy
That’s a great photo of the baby barra.
It’s disappointing that they messed up the bill after your first not-so-good experience.
My parents are pretty similar in their food preferences but dad can be rather fussy (as men can be!).
oh my goodness, look at that lobster!! mmm I adore seafood. Cooked simply like this, with a little aioli = perfection. Garfish Manly looks like a lovely restaurant, nice big open windows right on the water.
My parent’s have very similar tastes, but my dad also has a sweet tooth on top of it, while mum is more of a savoury gal.
Heidi xo
I love lobster. And it should come with salad and bread for 40 bucks! I would order that!
I have to say I haven’t had the best service at Garfish, so have stopped going. But looking at the views and the food, makes me want to try it again.
Darnit, I’m so hungry right now and this post isn’t helping!
I think my parents have very similar, open-to-almost-anything tastes, except for the fact that my mum’s allergies prevent them always enjoying the same things! They both, for example, were willing ot try whale meat when a Japanese girl sent us some…
Started the New Year finding non-existent funds for a new monitor for my computer, so don’t think I’ll be buying lobster at prices stated awhile! Mom/Dad/me as far as food went? My parents were boringly alike in their liking for what I would call Germanic (no value judgment meant!) meat and potatoes fare: remember HUGE boiled meatballs (yes, boiled!) called ‘Konigsberger Klopse’ served with a sardine sauce and a ring of potato mash! Regularly! Not a vegetable or salad in sight! I guess they found it awfully strange when I dived into various kinds of Chinese, Thai, Malayan, and, above all, Indian offerings as soon as I was wed and had to please one ‘foodie’ of a husband! Love Med food and some Viking dishes, but mid-European still does not thrill! Sorry Mom/Dad!
I too have had problems with service at Garfish – they seem a bit arrogant about bookings etc. I wrote them an email too – they just sent an explanation to me. I suppose I didn’t have a blog that thousands of people read. We turned up at 7pm, they told us it would take an hour to get a table – but we waited and waited, and finally got our food at 10pm… not good!
Food looks amazing though
I’m a massive fan of Garfish (all of them) and I think the food is always delicious. Having said that I hate that the only place you can book is Manly, and even then it’s a bit chaotic. Last time we went for lunch they lost our booking completely! But their fish and chips are insanely good. Just awesome. I think my favourite in Sydney!
Haha I love that sticker!
The lobster looks amazing. Shame about the lemon. For $85 you would want a decent lemon??
Im not sure about the barramundi. Love love love the meat but having it look at me while I am eating it freaks me out slightly haha. Perhaps a fillet would do me better
It’s ashame about the standards of customer service.Well at least the food was good to compensate for it.
My parents have “I want what she’s having syndrome”(my dad that it) he always waits to be the last one to order so that he can hear everyone else’s pick to compare choices and suss out the best one.lol
Lobster with a side of salad and bread for $40 would be heavenly mmm…
The food here definitely looks tempting and when the fat chips are lovely and golden, I’m won over!
They don’t sound very organised,unfortunately this is what turns customers off.
My mum and dad have very different tastes from each other, and completly different tastes from me. They have dietary laws, I have dietary Intolerances, plain meat and veggies are the safest bet!
The dishes are all beautifully presented and the location is splendid, shame they are having some issues with service though! I hope it was a very happy birthday day!
Such a nice location and so airy. Food looks good too. Particularly like the look of the baby barra.
Great post as always! That focaccia looks SO good!and love that sticker, so cool.
I don’t understand the issues around the final bill in these days of electronic ordering. There is a hotel I stayed in 3 times in Canberra which never got my accommodation invoice right. The second stay was supposed to be complimentary but when I checked out they charged me. Ultimately I got the amount refunded, plus compensation of another night free paid in cash. The third time they got the bill right – but I was holding a conference in the hotel at the time – whilst the other two were trips to see what I thought of it. Proper invoicing should not be that hard!! It should also not take a week to be refunded (or longer). Complain bitterly and write to the owner/manager. Frankly, it is just not good enough.
After a glut of pork over the Holidays, all that seafood you posted were a welcome sight!
Hmm.. pity about some of the mistakes that occurred.
Happy New Year Lorraine! I hope you had a fantastic year – I’m looking forward to many more of your posts, I hope to get a bit more time to visit your and others’ blogs…
Having Italian parents gives me a double gene of loving all food be it savoury or sweet, lol but hey what would the world be , without delicious food in it to eat!!
Funny you covered Garfish today as I read another independent review of it and some comments reflected the high prices of not just this establishment but Australian restaurants in general. My brother-in-law who resides in Long Island, NY and flies over every Christmas to gather with family, voiced his opinion that Australian prices especially fine dining are way too expensive when compared to American fine-dining restaurants. He said that a main meal in any one of the best restaurants in New York City would cost no more than $40. Given that our dollar is on par , some restaurant prices seem rather steep. I replied that it’s the wage/ tip ratio that evens things up but I think he has a point.
My parents passed on their love of food to me. I have to say, I think they would be even more adventurous than me as I won’t eat most offal. On the other hand, My mum in law will try new things while my dad in law only enjoys asian food.
I love taramasalata & the lobster looks divine (although pricey!) Shame about the recurring bill mishaps!
Wow, there isn’t really an excuse for charging for two tables on one bill. It’s hard to believe that in a competitive Sydney food market there are still some restaurants with shocking service!
Great customer service by Garfish. Love the look of that lobster as well! Delicious.
I go to Garfish in Kirribilli regularly, especially for breakfast…and they are very hit and miss with service. This is such a shame because the food is delicious, but not knowing what the service will be like prevents me from taking guests.
The staff are always lovely, just sometimes leave you waiting ages for the menu, water, to take your order etc, (and I think I’m pretty relaxed when it comes to service in cafes). Such a shame the service lets down a potential ‘favourite’.
YES. My mom’s tastes are similar to mine. We like the same stuff – seafood, goose liver, truffles, goose liver sausages, sour pickles etc.
My dad’s tastes are similar to my sister – chocolate, salty pickles, coffee…
Ain’t this funny? I laugh about it all the time.
I love the photos and I just HAVE to ask. Did you actually take a camera into the restaurant? What kind of camera? How about equipment (lighting, tripod, flash)? Hope you don’t mind my asking….
Aww it’s never nice to have bad experiences at a restaurant, let alone 2! I would usually give a place a second chance if the food’s nice but to give a third chance would be too much. They should have known to not mess with bloggers
My dad is probably the fussiest eater I’ve ever known…he really only eats Chinese food…:( no pizza or pasta, no sushi, he’s even picky with chinese! To think he used to be a chef as well, a bit strange. My mum’s quite accepting of new foods so I get along with her more
I’m sorry but there are SO many wonderful restaurants around that I wouldn’t, no matter how wonderful the food tasted, waste my time and money on going to any of the Garfish Restaurants now. I could never enjoy a meal with such bad service.
The food looks great, especially the singaporean crab in you previous blog entry on garfish. However, I do find it difficult justifying going to a mid to high range priced restaurants that displays such lack of attention to detail. I hope your blog serves as a learning point that their staff is a large representation of their restaurant and should be trained accordingly. However i do find it strange that you didn’t notice being charged for another table’s bill initially..unless it was not a significant amount? Oh well, great blog and keep the great work
While the food sounds amazing the regularity of mistakes is a little alarming given the calibre of the establishment (self proclaimed or otherwise)and their recent foray into social media suggests they are interested in what people are saying. Prior to Xmas I was double-billed by accident as well – dinner was Friday night and the money deposited (including the tip I left they were so embarrassed) by Sunday. Sounds like Garfish has grown quickly & is losing its intimacy in the process. I don’t think I would be booking a ‘special’ occasion there because its always awkward when things don’t go to plan when you are trying to spoil someone! Am otherwise tempted by the menu!
Although I love lobster and crab I can never justify spending so much money on either of them. I save those experiences for my trips to Asia!
What a beautiful view! And the food looks great too.
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