Garuva Hidden Tranquility Restaurant & Bar

Posted by: SarFish | 6 December 2009, 4.51pm

Am I just older and grumpier or is Garuva not what it was 10-15 years ago. I went with a bunch of friends who were over from Britain and was so embarassed. The food was terrible. Really awful. I am no cook but I could have cooked better at home. The atmosphere is still pleasant but the bar area really needs some work on it as it looks old, grungy and tired. Service was lacklustre. There's at least 100 better restaurants in Brisbane these days. :(

Food:			Visit: Sat 7 November 2009 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: qld snoopy | 22 May 2009, 12.37pm

I'm at a loss because I read all the negative reviews, but decided to go for a birthday dinner. We went mid-week and early since it was a work day. We had a fantastic meal. The waiter brought drink straight away, then took our order. The meals arrived in about 15-20 minutes, cooked to perfection. The cajan blackened chicken was outstanding and ample. An order of octopus arrived tender and juicy with just enough spice...not too over powering. I have a bad right hand so I asked for a fork and some plates so we (5 of us) could share. No Worries! We ate and ate and everyone was very satisifed. I would highly recommend a mid week dinner, as I hear the week ends are overbooked. Enjoy, it very very good food.

Food:			Visit: Thu 21 May 2009 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: nescient | 17 December 2008, 8.50pm

I hadn't been there before and went for a friend's birthday. It was a Saturday night and sitting down on the ground on itchy cushions is not my thing.

The service was terrible - took forever to order our meals. I think I was there for 2 hours and I got 2 drinks(it was Saturday and they were alcoholic - I was disappointed).

The food was horrible - I ordered some sort of chicken kebab sticks from memory. I didn't even finish them. The quality of the meat was shocking and the taste didn't exist.

Sitting on the ground was one problem but sitting down right next to the next table I did not like. You can hear people's conversations loud and clear next to you and it feels quite intrusive for me and for them.

Will definitely not EVER be going back.

Food:			Visit: Wed 17 December 2008
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: Sniggles | 14 December 2008, 4.52pm

Well what can I say, Garuva isn't what it use to be. I went to Garuva last night for a Christmas function and I must say that the service, food, atmosphere and value for money was non-existent. I remember going to Garuva about 7 years ago at their old premises, where it was tranquil and the food, service, atmosphere and value for money was worth raving about to friends and family. But now it is just very average if that.

I also find it odd that they only accept cash and no EFTPOS or credit cards...

Food:			Visit: Sat 13 December 2008 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: JenO | 5 December 2008, 8.54pm

I'm surprised by many of the other reviews, which were the opposite of my experience. We had a lovely time. Booking was easy, the answering machine tells you which nights are already booked out, you leave the details and they call you to confirm your booking. They even adapted when I had to change my booking at late notice.

Meals were huge and tasty and neither of us could finish ours (the octopus and the vegetable tempura). Sitting outstretched on the floor was fun. You know what you're in for if you've heard of the place or seen the website so I don't think you can complain about the seating. It's all part of the experience. Yes, it can be hard to flag down a waiter from inside a curtained booth but we managed. The cocktail I had was lovely.

Prices were on the menu (maybe that's new) and being all the same price was easy. We had a great time and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

Food:			Visit: Thu 27 November 2008 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: Tracey-Leigh | 30 August 2008, 11.44pm

I ordered the octopus (which I love) and it was disgusting, not only did it taste bad it had bits of sand in it. I wanted to order something else but the waitress never came back, so I ate my bowl of rice. We flagged down a waitress when she was bringing the table next to us the bill and sent it back asking it be removed from our bill.

I was told it would not be taken off, it was an acquired taste and the sand was all part of the meal and charged me for it. Worse restaurant and service I have ever been to in all my life. We only saw the waitress when she took our first order and without request brought the bill, we wanted desert but we were told the next booking for the night was here and we had to leave. I strongly recommend you avoid the place!

Food:			Visit: Sat 30 August 2008 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: RachelR | 28 May 2008, 2.41pm

The food was watery and totally overpriced for what is on offer. I was appalled to see that vegetarian dishes were the same price as meat, considering how much cheaper they are to make. Not listing the price on the menu is quite annoying.

Two different vegetarian dishes were basically the same thing - same sauce and content. And tasteless at that.

The service was terrible. There were no sharing plates provided, nor napkins.

The atmosphere is cramped and uncomfortable. What about people with disabilities? It seems quite obscene that if you can't sit cross-legged, you can't sit at the table.

The cocktails were disappointing. They were watery and in dire need of fresh ingredients.

For the 40 dollars I paid for 1 dish, some rice, one cocktail and shared bread and dips, I walked away feeling ripped off and dissatisfied. I can think of much better value at many other places in Brisbane.

Food:			Visit: Wed 28 May 2008 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: frouste | 4 March 2007, 10.30pm

It took me six phonecalls to make my Garuva booking, and I can say quite firmly, that it wasn't worth the effort. The cocktails were good, and I may go back for $8 happy hour, but you couldn't pay me to eat there again.

The service is bordering on poor; from the time it took me to book (they don't answer the phone, just call you and tell you to call back), to the waiter who got lost in the curtains trying to find our table, and the waitress who didn't bring us any plates/napkins, I'm left hard-pressed to find something good to say about the service.

The meals are all one price, which makes things easy. Though that price isn't listed on your menu ($17.50 on the website). The portions are described as 'large entree size', which is a grand overstatement. We ordered:
Thai pepper pork: tasty though chewy, six small slices of meat.
Prawn and pumpkin fritters: four large greasy, burnt, doughy and flavourless balls. These left me feeling rather bloated and uncomfortable. They did have decent chunks of prawn in them though.
Garuva Tantaliser: "tropical fruit and cheese platter". Three halved strawberries that had seen better days, half a brown apple, a small bunch of grapes that had begun to shrivel, a few slices of honeydew and a half a block of cheddar. There were two small wedges of camembert and a blue-cheese pressed in the side. But beyond that, we left 90% of the cheddar even though my partner and I realised it was very expensive cheddar to leave behind at $17.50. I had some crystallised ginger in my bag, so we nibbled on that to take the edge off. It was all served with a plate of dry burnt toast, which neither of us knew what to do with. We attempted to smear the camembert on the bread with our chopsticks, which was an interesting voyage into cross-cultural dining to say the least.

We weren't given any plates beyond the dishes we ordered, so sharing was 'difficult', and boy did we make a mess. The curtains and cushions were fun, though when you're in a curtained room, it is impossible to hail a waiter. It also allows them to cram more people in to a seemingly neverending hall, which means you can sit beside a stranger with a thin white gauze between you, and pretend you're dining alone.

If you do go, be prepared to: share your conversation with the people beside you, behind you, and on the same cushion as you; leave hungry and disappointed; wait in line for a toilet and dry your hands on your pants; fill up on cheap cocktails before 7pm; wander about looking for someone to take your payment; lie to the staff when they ask you how your meal was.

Food:			Visit: Sat 3 March 2007 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: LaurenM | 5 January 2007, 12.50pm

I recently had my 30th birthday celebrations at Garuva and it was a great hit - the food is good, light and tasty and good value at $17 for all mains. The service, especially for a large group was excellent, speedy and no mistakes, done with smiles and personality.

More than this though, Garuva offers something different and a real 'atmosphere'. Also the bar at the back is worth mentioning, with a great range of cocktails and lots of cushions, bean bags and low tables to luxuriate upon. May be worth mentioning though that wearing skirts makes it hard to relax in style...

Food:			Visit: Fri 5 January 2007 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: M.L. | 18 November 2006, 8.14pm

Garuva has a unique set up and nice atmosphere - very different and pretty cool. Unfortunately, the meals are overpriced given the small serves, whilst the service was okay but nothing special. Wouldn't go back and probably better for groups.

Food:			Visit: Fri 11 August 2006 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: moontorch | 5 May 2006, 11.24am

Food average, but atmosphere and cocktails very good.

Food:			Visit: Fri 5 May 2006 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: Unregistered user | 27 March 2006, 9.55pm

The meals are miniature, some consisting of meat only and are extremely overpriced for such small servings. The atmosphere is different while the layout is awkward and makes service difficult.

Food:			Visit: Mon 27 March 2006 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere: