| Address: | 89 Salamanca Place, Hobart |
| Phone No: | 03 6224 2929 |
| Web Site: | |
| Description: | Casual Australian |
| Comment: | Middle of the road eatery in Salamanca. Should appeal to most. |
| Rita Rating: | ** |
Click links below (added on date shown) to read more . . .
Rockwall website(added 1-1-2008)
Rockin' at Rockwall (Rita Blog)(added 27-11-2008)
Posts
22 comments:
Dinner on Monday night at Rockwall....a few teething problems with some of the orders (had to follow up on the salads, and a vegetable side order we didn’t ask for came to our table by mistake) but this was pretty minor, and didn’t detract from the lovely food. Pannacotta for dessert was to die for!!
Our party dined there last night - in the main, very disappointing - dry and bland sums it up - but the desserts were the highlight. The space is very loud and dinner conversation almost impossible.
we were extremely disappointed. poor service and bland meat.
I have never felt the need to critically judge and then tell the whole interwebs of any of the eateries I have dined at in my life, I have also never felt the need to make a complaint.
Oh how this all changed one night I visited a little "bar and grill" by the name of Rockwall.
My mind spins in a state of shock and disbelief and so I will begin with a chronological order of events to asauge and simplify my mental trauma.
We sat at 7.30 pm, a group of 7 including myself and drank wine and laughed and were merry until about 9pm, when our tummies began to rumble and eyes were cast looking for our food. The food arrived, standard fare if not a little pricey. My partner's "Barassi" turned out to be an eye fillet and my meal was nowhere to be seen. My friends began their meals after ten minutes upon my insistence that they not get cold. My meal arrived after most of them had finished. I had the Pork Loin, which was large and succulent (Although perhaps a little undercooked in the centre, this kind of thing doesn't bother me much though, provided I don't get sick). My partner inquired as to her meal and was told rather matter-of-factly by the waitress with a condescending hand on her shoulder, "Yes it is hun." There was no apology and we were made to feel stupid. The eye fillet was removed from the table and my partner decided not to take up the offer of another meal, lest we be there all night.
And perhaps the night could have taken a more positive turn here but alas, it is not so.
Upon reaching the counter to foot the bill we (my partner and a friend) asked to whom we could raise our concerns with. We were told that the Eye Fillet would be taken off the bill (the one that wasn't eaten? How thoughtful). The girl also told us that everyone else on our table enjoyed themselves and we were just causing a fuss. She also told me my meal was "only five minutes later" and that the waitress who made the original eye fillet-Barassi mistake was trying really hard to help us and that we were being difficult.
My friend noted that we weren't trying to be confrontational, merely passing on our concerns so that they may be rectified in future.
On a final note I asserted that we were disappointed because we wanted to have a good night out with our friends and that it was a bit embaressing. That I also wouldn't be recommending anyone there in future.
The waitress answered she didn't care, they were packed out every night of the week and so didn't need mine or my friends custom.
My partner replied that I was a concierge at a popular waterfront hotel, that it is my job to recommend restaurants and that this incident would be passed on.
We were given a dirty look and waiting staff appeared to stand around like some sort of guard.
At this point a drunken patron of the place told us, to put it kindly, to remove ourselves from the premises as we were only intent on causing trouble for the lovely young ladies who worked there.
This was a bit too much, we walked back to our table and had to sit sourly being stared at whilst our friends finished their drinks.
Upon actually leaving the god forsaken place some lovely gentleman sitting at the bar started the abuse once more.
I turned to the Maitre' d (the owner I think) who said to me, "What? Come back for another go have ya?"
I replied with, "I didn't come here to be confrontational, I just wanted to discuss with you guys some problems we had so that perhaps they could be rectified"
I was then told in no uncertain terms to go back to "that hotel your partner said you worked at".
We suffered more abuse, we were followed out by an intimidating thuggish character and we were shocked at what had happened.
An hour later I recieve an abusive phone call from someone (staff or perhaps drunken barfly who was given my number by staff)at rockwall.
I am disgusted at the behaviour that was exhibited by staff this evening.
It feels good to get it off ones chest!
Yet another quality dining experience in Hobart....
Do you still have the number? Because you can take it to a lawyer or the cops possibly...
Unfortunately it was a private number.
It was the owner that left the message though. I have discovered that since.
A situation that resulted in obscene behaviour which could have been easily rectified.
When you realise who is cooking there it shouldn't come as a surprise that the food is below average-ex PB ex Sals chef
Are Sals staff there too?
I was actually followed out of Sals one night about 8 years ago,and abused by the manager. A three page letter I painstakingly sent went unanswered and I've never darkened their doorway again, nor will I in the future.
What an unfortunate experience for you anon.
I was apparently naive enough to believe that an industry centred around service and enjoyment could produce such behaviour.
I am not sure about the history of the chef or the staff though, although not surprised that they might find their way into work with owners such as this.
The Sals experience sounds just as unfortunate Christina, and who do you turn to when you can't even communicate your concerns with the highest level of their management?
The vast masses who inhabit the internet and all your friends and colleagues... That is who.
I have dined at this venue twice now - the last only 1 week ago and can easily say NEVER AGAIN. The service is absolutely disgusting and to think that the owner is there you would think that she would have a better understanding of what is happening within the place to control such shocking service. The meals were just average. By the end of the night we had staff "bitching" about other tables near our table. Of the 8 people on our table four confirmed that night that they would never be going back to Rockwall. Don't bother is what I would say!
An establishment run by bogans who serve bad counter meals and charge too much.
Will never go back to give them a second chance!
Kim
Yep.... Quite possibly the worst restaurant in the country at the moment...
PS... sorry if this comes up twice. I tried posting earlier but my Internet connection dropped out as I sent it.
Having eaten there at Xmas I would have to say
1. The food was average given the price;
2. The meals took a long time to arrive, with great distance between first and last; and
3. Service was pretty slack.
I wouldn't be too concerned, Hobart us small and the waterfront scene is compedetive. Tell your friends, if they carry on like that they will be gone in 12 months.
Are these the same owners/operators of Rockwater at Blackmans Bay???
Anon 4.19 - that would be a 'yes'!
the worst food i have ever ever had (ex Sals Chef) - no wonder the food is terrible! ill never return there again and never recommend to any of my friends either.
It really is horrible isn't it. I went about 8-9 months ago and it was bad. Really bad. I would much rather eat Macca's off the ground of a nightclub toilet than eat their again. Rude waitstaff, poorly executed food and overpriced. I actually think one of the staff had been drinking. Their breathe smelt of red wine and they were slurring and stumbling a little. I too had problems with regulars. We also tried complaining but was abused by an older regular. I remember him pretty well. Tallish guy, bald head seemed pretty fit around fifty I suppose. The manager just smiled at him, and served him another drink. I wasn't escorted, but I got the feeling I wasn't welcome their any more. Oh well... I guess if you have Mr Barassi on your menu you can do whatever you want.
Your right its the Sals chef who runs the kitchen & Rockwall& he's tyhe one who got the sack from Peppermint bay a couple of years ago
Andrew M(something) I think his name is... I can't recall his last name.
When I went there i saw ants running over the kitchen pass!! Maybe dug up a nest while doing the renovations either way the health inspector should get onto that! The Maitre'd was rude! and we had dealt with her before so didn't bother staying for a meal! and i think the abusive drunk is Gary Barker! Poor excuse for a restaurant! Bring back Mummaluka's anyday!
It's Not Andrew he left a while ago and i don't think he worked at Sals or Peppermint Bay!
I have also had a terrible experience at Rock wall and not in the least surprised by the above comments. When one is spending money on good wine, you dont expect the wrong bottle to appear at the table accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders when the mistake is pointed out.The food was fine for us and I dont think we waited too long, the service was just very common and rude.We could have caused a fuss, but Im afraid we couldn't be bothered and prefer not to return.
Post a Comment