South Bank Surf Club Review

The Southbank Surf Cub restaurant and bar is in a prime spot beside the Brisbane downtown beach pool in the Southbank park and as such is in a landmark position and should reflect the superb standard of this development. I went there two days during the busy Christmas period and felt let down both times. The decor, presentation and general attractiveness of the bar is beyond question which is a very good reason for consistency. Service from the bar was great - friendly efficient and professional and made it easy to decide to order food. Big mistake. The cafe is rubbish. Day one: we were a group of eight wanting lunch. Two prime tables were vacant along with some smaller tables. We were told all tables were booked. We chose to wait until one was available and were assured we would be called. We drank for half an hour and perused the menu which was expensive but acceptable for the quality offered. Finally with table staff conspicuously absent we left - the two tables we were refused were still empty three quarters of an hour after our request. Day Two: after a swim with my adult daughter I decided to take her to the Surf Club having been impressed with the decor and service the day before for a drink a appetisers. We ordered wine, bruschetta and spicy hot fried chicken wings. The bruschetta arrived looking and tasting like commercial salsa but worse served on white bread burned black on both side and tasting like the charcoal it was. Not one but eight pieces. The chicken wings were deep fried and dry and were absolutely drowned in hot Peri-peri sauce to a point where it was impossible to taste the chicken. This was not a question of personal taste just a totally dumb way of serving food. There was twice the amount of sauce any normal person would have expected and the chicken had not been prepared or marinated at all. Hot yes but tasting like chicken wings? No. But then I don't suppose the staff cared. Two modest glasses of wine eight pieces of burned toast and some d