Cream Cafe Bar

Posted by: Pummiefan | 22 March 2010, 12.28am

I've always loved their pomegranate chicken salad and they do an OK dessert and coffee. But the service is rubbish. I have, on more than one occasion, been completely ignored by wait staff when waiting for a table, despite several of them looking in my direction and my attempts to wave at them. You can imagine how frustrating this is when people who arrive after I do are promptly shown to a table. You can imagine how much more angry I get when, having been seated by a waitress who apologised only after I made a fuss, I am still ignored. A waiter proceeds to take the drink order from the people who arrived after me and pours them water even as I'm still waiting with nothing on my table. Frustating? Very. I must be the invisible person. Watching this, I and my dining companion get up and leave, vowing never to return.

Food:			Visit: Wed 13 January 2010 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Thursday | 22 February 2010, 10.50am

The venue was extremely loud - we had to yell to be heard and it was impossible to get the waiters attention.

Service was extremely slow. We waited 30min for orders to be taken, and at least a further 30 minutes for the meals to arrive. Some meals arrived more than 15mins apart. We were told one dessert would take 20mins to cook. It arrived after 30 mins, with the other desserts (for which no warning was given) arriving after 40 mins.

Meals themselves were disappointing. We asked for the Jambalaya without chilli but when it arrived was told 'Sorry darlin, the waitress should've told you, it can't be done'. No apology for the mix-up. Even with the chilli the meal was very bland. Another meal was priced over $30 and was extremely small (not even a full chicken breast), and yet another meal was mostly raw (for at least two people on the table). The waitress responded with 'well, you didn't specify that you wanted it medium-rare'! Two desserts were under- cooked. All desserts were served with icecream but this was no larger than the size of a golf-ball. The chocolate pudding was good, the only positive of the night.

The most disappointing thing was that the waiters did not take any of the feedback on board, or back to the chefs, so I can't see Cream ever improving.

Food:			Visit: Sat 20 February 2010 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: northsidefoodie | 28 October 2009, 2.17pm

I love the coffee here and have always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. The last couple of times that I've eaten here I have been pleased with the food. On one of my first visits, when I was really disappointed in my meal, the waiter asked me about it, accepted my explanation, apologised and we weren't charged for the very underwhelming dish.

Food:			Visit: Wed 28 October 2009
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Posted by: Charlie87 | 6 September 2009, 4.14pm

Following all the other reviews before me entitled "Disappointed" in addition to several of my own dissappointing experiences of my own at Cream, I should have known better than to go there again for breakfast. But what can go wrong with breakfast?

While the atmosphere was buzzing and vibrant as usual, the service was slow, with others who ordered after us being served long before us. My waffles with berry compote were soggy and uncooked which, according to the apologetic waitress, are always made that way yet the majority of them that get sent unsatisfactorily back to the kitchen do not seem to serve as a hint to the chefs to cook them properly or take them off the menu. My replacement poached eggs were hard in the centre and placed on one piece of unbuttered toast on a plate about 10 times the size.

I'm looking forward to the day Canberra cafes stop being wanky and pretentious and start serving good quality, well-priced food coupled with friendly service.

Food:			Visit: Sun 6 September 2009 Mealtime: breakfast
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Posted by: spiceoflife | 1 June 2009, 9.48pm

Being a lover of food and dining out, I had to give Cream a go. I have avoided this place for a whole year given my first initiation when it first opened was so horrible. Back then it was a coffee and cake round, but alas the vile nature of the waiters, the mediocre food and the artificial trendy vibe has not ceased. My sister and I decided for dinner this time around and instantly knew it was a bad idea. First of all, apparently showing up 2 mins late for a reserved dinner is a crime in the world of khaki coloured

Food:			Visit: Tue 12 May 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Britski | 21 May 2009, 9.15am

I went here for dinner and being lactose intolerant ordered the roast veg salad (the ingredients of which were itemised on the menu) and the olives as an appetiser. Various other meals were ordered by my friends.
The olives were basically jarred olives dumped into a rammikin and we were charged $8 for the honour. I thought they would be big tasty olives not jarred olives. Pretty disappointing.
The "trendy" waitress seemed pretty abrupt and when my salad came out 40 minutes later, it was smothered in fetta. Exasperated and having my mind made up that i would just buy some food elsewhere, i set the salad aside and waited for my friends to finish. When the waitress eventually came to take the plates away she noticed mine was untouched and asked if there was something wrong with it.
I explained I didn't eat dairy and she said "oh, so you just assumed there was no dairy in it?"
And I said "well, your itemised menu listing each of the ingredients stipulated otherwise". She gave me a dirty look and then quickly changed her expression and offered to make me something else free of charge. I declined...

Food:			Visit: Sat 9 May 2009
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Posted by: canberradiner | 24 April 2009, 12.22pm

Myself and my partner dined here for a special occasion. We had booked our table earlier in the week however, when we arrived they told us they did not have our booking and they were full, so we would have to wait for our table while sitting at the bar/bench.

We were slightly annoyed but not prepared to let that slip ruin our evening, so we sat at the bench and ordered a cocktail each. We must have waited at least 20 minutes and no cocktail. We were then offered a table, and still no cocktails had arrived, after asking for them several times.

We then started ordering and the food was quite nice, if a little expensive. Eventually our cocktails came. We finished eating and plates cleared when another waiter came to our table and asked if we were ready to order? We had to explain we had been there for long enough and had eaten and were ready for the bill.

Food:			Visit: Fri 24 April 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Customer19 | 16 March 2009, 12.06am

We had a group of about 30 people dining at Cream. We had the set menu banquet and the restaurant was aware of our entree requirements prior to our arrival. Despite this, the wait between the various entree courses was long. The restaurant wasn't paricularly busy but it took an hour and a half for our main meals to be brought out to us. Whilst the food was good, the waiting time was ridiculous and the staff were not particularly attentive - surprising, given that we gave them about $1500 worth of business for the night. I would not bother going to Cream again.

Food:			Visit: Sat 14 March 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Myrna | 10 February 2008, 10.11pm

Cream has so much to offer. Great coffee, food and amazing service. The atmosphere is chic and the design of the space has been well thought out.
I was a little disappointed in a few meals when I first went (especially the pad Thai) but the friendly staff were able to point out few dishes, all of which were divine.
Cream has the lot!

Food:			Visit: Sun 10 February 2008
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Posted by: Kay26 | 28 January 2008, 5.38pm

Great hot chocolates! Good location. Fresh, trendy atmosphere. Friendly service.

Food:			Visit: Fri 25 January 2008 Mealtime: supper
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Posted by: Mdee | 21 November 2007, 5.19pm

Yes, it's a little pricey, but it is good gourmet food. It wasn't busy when we were there and the service was prompt and friendly. Once the construction finishes next door (early '08), I'll be there more often!

Food:			Visit: Wed 21 November 2007 Mealtime: breakfast
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Posted by: ashley_forde | 3 November 2007, 6.39pm

Went in on a busy Friday night, no reservation. Was seated almost immediately, good so far.
Took around 25 mintues before our order was taken (no drink order either), getting annoyed.
Meals came in 15 mins, incredible food, tasty, hot, looked great, happy again.
Waited for 20 mins after finishing dinner, plates weren't cleared, no bill, no dessert menu, annoyed again. Got up and paid at the front myself after waiting another 10 mins in the line.

Overall: Service was friendly but way too slow. Atmosphere had a trendy feel, but was hugely noisy and not very intimate. Food was pricey, but way too tasty not to go back.

Food:			Visit: Fri 2 November 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: food lover 2007 | 16 September 2007, 2.56pm

I found it to be disappointing. The food was overpriced for what it was. It was very ordinary. There is a lot of hype about this place but it did not deliver. The portions were small and was not presented nicely.

Food:			Visit: Sun 16 September 2007 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Janie Painie | 5 September 2007, 11.47am

I was quite disappointed on the two occasions I attended for dinner. Meals are quite nice, but very small. You end up spending a fortune to get some side dishes to plump up the meal, where these dishes would normally be provided with your main in other venues. Their cocktails and cakes are superb.

Food:			Visit: Wed 5 September 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: BirdofParadise | 23 July 2007, 6.05pm

Best atmosphere, food and service. Cream is just what Canberra needed!

Food:			Visit: Mon 23 July 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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