Monster Kitchen & Bar

Review summary

1. A

   Adrian

   Victoria1 review

   3.0

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   I booked a table in the restaurant expecting an a la carte menu for my partner's birthday dinner, only to be told that the restaurant wasn't operating and we had to choose from a limited bar menu and sit in the bar area. Very disappointing. The food was reasonably good, although we weren't offered deserts or coffee. In addition, we were told that cocktails weren't available after 8.00pm. More like a modest country venue than dining in a five star hotel. We won't return.
   

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2. L

   Lasitha

   Canberra3 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on February 24, 2025

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

   Great Value. Big potions. Need a bit more work on matched wines.
   

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3. E

   ELLIE

   Canberra6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on February 21, 2025

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

   This restaurant was great! The service was great from the moment we walked in. Drinks and meals arrived in a timely manner. We ordered the scallops (these were our favourite dish), tuna tartare, pork belly skewers (YUM), striploin, fries and cos lettuce salad (this was surprisingly reallyyyyyy good). Everything was great quality, and good flavours! We will definitely go back!
   

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4. T

   Tanya

   New South Wales3 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on February 19, 2025

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

   This was a disappointing dinner. It was to mark a milestone birthday (which we advised the restaurant of well in advance). The main restaurant was closed (without notification) and everyone was crammed into a small space off the lobby. No ambiance, poor service (it took forever to order) and the food was mediocre (except the corn ribs - they were great). A very stark experience to when we went last year. We wont be returning.
   

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5. P

   Paul

   Canberra3 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on February 17, 2025

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

   Probably the worst dining experience of my life. I ordered a Caesar salad to be told there was no bacon, so this ruled out my second option the Monster burger with bacon!! The contents of the charcuterie board delivered was not what was described on the menu and as a result it was sent back to the kitchen. The entree oysters were totally overpowered by the salsa, the green leaf salad was simply cos lettuce leaves and overly dressed. Two of my 8 mussels were not open, the sauce was overly garlicky. The chef came out but remained mute and did not discuss our issues. I will never return.
   

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6. L

   Levi

   Canberra1 review

   4.0

   Dined on February 15, 2025

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

   Lovely food, definitely a place for a special occasion as it’s a bit pricey but overall it was a beautiful experience. The pork belly, spatchcock and salad was delicious. Leave room for dessert too as the tiramisu and hazelnut cream/mouse thing was delicious!
   

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7. S

   Shaun

   Canberra1 review

   1.0

   Dined on February 14, 2025

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

   Booked here for a fixed menu dinner yet despite the hotel in which it is housed advertising it as "our in-house vegetarian restaurant" it wasn't and therefore had to go with what they gave me. Ordered champagne when sitting down which arrived at same time as cocktail which was pre-ordered approximately 45 minutes later. After 1 hour 15 mins second course arrived and was pretty ordinary. Dessert arrived 2hrs and 30 mins after arrival and they literally tried to serve it to another table who said 'too late, we are leaving' so they just dumped it over on mine. Paid almost $400 for this? Complained to the manager who just stood there staring at me. Never going back.
   

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8. L

   Leah

   Tropical QLD1 review

   1.0

   Dined on February 14, 2025

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

   Overpriced, average food, terrible service. Nice wine. Would not go again.
   

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9. D

   Deb

   Canberra1 review

   3.0

   Dined on February 6, 2025

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

   I knew it to be a good option for vegetarians. Yes, there were vegetarian dishes but not the previous variety. Food, still excellent Service, still ordinary to ok. We had to look for staff to get menus (damaged pages in the drinks folder) and coffee. Payment is card or exact cash. Yes, you can split the bill. Ambience. Unless you are sitting near the windows it is a dark space. Even in the day. Honestly, it’s a good place to go before or after a movie and I do go there regularly to study, but I wouldn’t bother again for a nice catch-up with friends. It’s too hard to get served. The space is open with multiple areas making it hard for the staff to actually see what is going on in each area. The day we visited there appeared to be two staff doing the floor for multiple areas. They did their best.
   

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10. D

    Debbie

    Canberra1 review

    1.0

    Dined on January 29, 2025

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

    I won't go back, we had both the vegetarian and meat tasting plates and all but 2 items were awful. Past meals here were awesome, I have no idea how they have fallen so far. The food was tasteless and oily, the chairs all stained and glasses dirty, 3 attempts to get a clean wine glass due to lipstick is unheard of.
    

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