Absynthe

Posted by: loving couple | 21 May 2011, 10.12am

Service was good to begin with but something as filling water glasses lacked by the end of mealtime. Long bench seating was comfortable but very impersonal - where was the romance in this restaurant? I thought the French were a romantic race. We had a spreets voucher for 2 x 350g Rib Eye Angus steaks but were served up tiny - maybe 120g -excuse for steaks. They were cooked beautifully but after 6 mouthfuls from me - a woman - my meal was over. The expressions on our faces as we were served dinner was priceless - certainly a winner for funniest home videos !! The steaks were served with caramelised onions and mashed potato - that's it, nothing else. Will not be going back - what was promised was not delivered and will never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Good luck to other diners.

Food:			Visit: Thu 19 May 2011 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: foody74 | 19 January 2011, 1.38pm

We took my mother in law here for the degustation menu and the evening started off very promising. Our first waitress (Libby) was mature and seemed to have loads of personality - I was looking forward to having a bit of fun with her over the course of the evening. But we only got to speak to her once or twice, served each time by someone different.

The wine matching was excellent, but the food itself was not particularly inspiring which was disappointing for the cost ($250 for 8 courses), if it was $150 each I would feel that we had better value for money.

I felt the use of puree (on nearly each course) was over done and indicated a lack of imagination.

I was also disppointed in the lack of description from the wait staff about the food, basically they sat each dish down and told us the name and ducked off. Explaining a bit about each dish and/or the wine would have really enhanced our experience.

The evening wasn't a complete write off - but I would hesitate at spending that amount fo money there again.

Food:			Visit: Fri 14 January 2011 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: home cook | 1 August 2009, 8.19pm

We were really looking forward to experiencing the degustation menu in a restaurant advertising a 2 star Michelin chef.

Firstly we were the only people in the restaurant, so not the most conducive atmosphere, (and maybe we should have taken our cue from that!)
Obviously it wasnt a busy enough night for the owner to be in the kitchen either as the food was definitely not Michelin quality. (Is he ever in the kitchen?)

The seating system, long bench seating for one of us, was very uncomfortable and not at all French chic.

The courses were all very similar with no distinction between textures, flavours, temperature etc...ie. lots of frothy, light purees with nearly every course and absolutely no great taste sensation throughout the entire menu (with the exception of the oysters!)

None of the courses appeared to present any particular skill in subtlety of flavours or well presented plating...certainly not what one would expect of Michelin rating. The 2 dessert courses were strange attempts at something interesting but failed on both taste and presentation (both also comprised mainly of froth and not very tasty chocolate mousse)

This is the first time I have taken the trouble to write a review and although I do feel guilty about writing a bad review, I am doing so as I am annoyed at having had to put up with a bad and expensive (for the mediocre standard) eating experience after reading good reviews of this restaurant in Gourmet traveller, etc. We certainly had no such positive eating experience.

Food:			Visit: Sat 1 August 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: sporty | 9 February 2009, 12.31pm

White, white, white! This place is not very welcoming at all from the decor on display. It is very stark with no soft touches like table clothes or carpet. Plus the background music was appalling. I'm sorry but I don't want to hear Christina A. warbling 'Lady Marmalade' as I eat my fairly expensive dinner.

Moving on though, the food is very good. I ordered the degustation with wine for the princely sum of $175. The food was inventive and the wines were perfectly matched. The sommelier does his/her job finely. However, there are some small issues with the front of house. They should be attentive and inconspicuous neither of which was achieved here. I don't think it is too much to ask when my expectations are that my water glass be refilled without having to ask and being asked if I would like another drink when I have finished that one. It's the small things like this that can spoil your night so some shaping up is required here.

So overall, although I enjoyed trying Absynthe on for size, I don't think I will be returning.

Food:			Visit: Mon 2 February 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Peter_Sandgate | 7 October 2008, 7.54pm

We had a wretched experience at Absynthe with the degustation menu back in January 2008 and had sworn never to go back, but tried again in September and had a vastly improved meal and service. This time we ordered a la carte and the food and service were excellent. It cost about $110 a head for a family of five, but then agin we did try all the truffle dishes as well as caviar with blinis, plus wine. The caviar was like nothing I ever had before, and the kids loved it, but truffles didn't really add much to the delicious rissoto and ravioli they were served with. Although the staff are authentically French (and the wine waiter very good) it is a severely modern restaurant without much French atmosphere, and families are kept well away from the couples in a sort of alcove near the entrance. Highly recommended for a splurge, but go a la carte.

Food:			Visit: Tue 7 October 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: GCAdam | 17 March 2008, 6.48pm

We live a short walk away, and love our gourmet food, so had been saving this restaurant for a very special night out. Perhaps the advertising had built our expectations up too much.

The restaurant is nicely designed and screams expensive elegance. Perhaps unfortunately the Gold Coast clientele will always be more casual than a 2-star Michelin French chef is used to, and we felt slightly overdressed. The majority of tables are next to the long bench seat running along one wall, and I found it slightly uncomfortable to not have a seat back for a few hours.

We had been planning on having the seven-course tasting menu, however it was entirely different to the one advertised on the Absynthe website, with removal of interesting dishes like prawn and parmesan custard and lobster ravioli, and the Angus beef replaced by 'poached lamb'. So we went a la carte.

I started with the venison. It was a creation to behold, a perfect blend of flavours of venison, foie gras, raspberry, chocolate and macadamia nut. The only faults were that the foie gras was not as good a quality as you would expect, and for $40 it was a small serving.

Similar complaints about the main, curry-crusted Moreton Bay bugs. Two small bugs, seemingly rolled in supermarket-bought curry powder. I found the flavour combination unpleasant, but obviously that's just me.

My wife had the Angus beef, which was perfect and a decent size. Although the side of steamed spinach was literally two mouthfuls.

Desserts were interesting, delicate and very well presented. The cheese selection could be expanded a little, with only one French cheese available.

The wine list, available on the internet, as you can see is expansive. The mark-up is more than average, but from the look of the selection, you are guaranteed a good drop. On arrival you are presented with a single page list of wines, most under $100.

Overall, it was an interesting meal, but not the best restaurant we've been to on the Coast, and nowhere near the standard of similarly reputed restaurants around the world.

Food:			Visit: Wed 5 March 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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