Risby Cove

Review summary

1. S

   Steve

   Berkshire

   6 reviews

   2.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on 9 February 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Very disappointed given Risby Coves claims. Maybe we were unlucky, there was a stand-in chef and/or they ran out of ingredients (Sunday evening). Or maybe, having won their award they have cut corners and let standards fall. Starters: Tempura mushrooms were very good. Scallops were average. They weren't overcooked - but nor did they have the flavour from some caramelization - they were pale and bland. The menu claimed "topped with velvety whipped butter, lemon, crispy cured meat, fresh parsley, and a sprinkle of chili pangrattato" . In reality there was just some melted butter and a few bread crumbs! Mains: 1) sous vide lamb special was tender - but grey, cooked through - one of the points of sous vide is that it makes it very easy to get pink all the way through! The "crispy" potatoes were brown, but not crispy. Large chunks of beetroot seemed like an after thought - they tasted warmed up beetroot from tin/jar. The side of carrots with nuts, spice and yoghurt was excellent - best part of the meal. 2) the "Pork belly, paired with a silky carrot puree, a crunchy Vietnamese-style Goi Ga salad, and finished with a sweet honey sesame glaze" was extremely disappointing. There was no "crunch" let alone Vietnamese flavours (lime, fish-sauce, herbs ...). The pistachios were the weirdest texture - almost translucent and mushy and lost their flavour. When we queried the waitress, she passed our comments to the chef and the reply came back that it was supposed to be like that, and she apologised for giving us a "wrong" description up front. I really feel for her - she actually correctly described what a Goi Ga salad should be like and was told, by the chef, to say she was wrong! The pork belly was stringy with no sign of the glaze. Watery carrot "puree" with very heavy cumin. Desert: Basque cheesecake, ice-ream and crumb were great, but let down by a bland "compote" from frozen berries (obvious from the texture) - come on, we're in Tassie in summer!
   

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2. A

   Alan

   Hampshire

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 8 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Contrary to some other reports we found the food and service very good even thought the restaurant was busy on a Saturday evening. The ambiance in the restaurant was good and the setting is spectacular as the sun sets. It’s relatively expensive, but with the food quality and exclusivity in a small catchment area, plus the setting it’s not surprising. However, we found the addition of a service charge a bit unusual in Australia, but that was really the only negative.
   

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3. M

   Molly

   Tasmania

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 5 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   The veegan salad main meal was a bag of mixed leaf salad with can of beets mixed through it with oil and vinegarette + salt. Not innovative nor appetising. Service was lovely though. Just not get dairy free options as when asked if salmon dish can be without butter that was not an option.
   

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4. M

   Mike

   Victoria

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Great location! Quite expensive for the quality of food served, but it is a tourist town. Food presentation was unimpressive, some care in plating and presentation would make a big difference.
   

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5. S

   Sally

   Sunshine Coast

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 29 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Small menu which unfortunately got considerably smaller when 2 dishes ran out! Entrees were ok, mains were just ok, bit like a midweek meal Id cook at home. Staff were lovely. Wont be back.
   

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6. K

   Kathryn

   Tasmania

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 29 January 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Lovely and attentive staff BUT didn’t have wine chilled that I wanted, didn’t represent value for money. Very happy to pay top dollar for great food but I found the food disappointing. Great outlook. Has the potential to show off great Tassie produce but a missed opportunity. Very expensive for what it was.
   

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7. D

   Derek

   London

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent food, carefully prepared & presented. We chose mostly seafood including salmon mains (special) which was delicious. Service was very prompt and team knew their stuff.
   

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8. W

   Wolfgang

   Brisbane

   23 reviews

   5.0

   23 reviews

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent service, great menu choice and the food was excellent, tempura mushrooms and pork with seafood to follow Highly recommend dining here, the location is also fabulous
   

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9. K

   Ken

   Tasmania

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 25 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Very happy with service and quality of food. Highly recommended.
   

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10. D

    Dave

    Sydney

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 24 January 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3

    The food offering was basic and the service poor. The waiter argued with me when I complained that the dish I ordered on the menu should have had creamed potatoes and instead come with roast potatoes. He argued that the potato type was called creamed not the way it was cooked. Both entree and main course was poor quality, I paid and left without desert or coffee never to return- best avoid read the trip advisor reviews I wish I had and eaten in the local tavern.
    

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