Bargara Beach Hotel Motel

The food was good and came out quickly, even though the restaurant was really busy. But our interaction with Chelsea at the counter was disappointing. We were a little unsure while ordering and needed a moment, and even though no one else was waiting, her expressions and manner felt rude and impatient. When we collected our food, it was put down roughly, almost thrown. That felt disrespectful to us and to the food, with no basic courtesy during the interaction. I know hospitality can be stressful, but it wasn’t busy at that time. A little patience and respect would have helped. The food was good, but the customer service needs work.

The Hawaiian pizza was actually very good, and the Pearl Perch with chips and salad was pretty good too, though the dressing was awful. The baked Pearl Perch was just a lump of fish beside an okay tomato sauce with Mediterranean bits and some nice zucchini slices with melted cheese. It was okay, but a lot was missing for a $35 meal. The Scotch Fillet wasn’t cooked as ordered, and the meat wasn’t good enough for the price. We came on two nights for drinks and dinner and also bought from the bottle shop. The staff were mostly nice, but didn’t add anything to the experience beyond pouring drinks and using the POS. Training in engagement, rapport and the service and sales journey could make a world of difference. We had the same food issues other reviewers mentioned. For instance, the menu lists Pearl Perch with chips and salad next to salmon with mash and vegetables. When we asked for mash and vegetables with the Pearl Perch, we were curtly told we could do it, but would have to pay extra. It’s a beautiful venue, and people who haven’t been to Bargara might be amazed by how striking it looks. But the service doesn’t match the image, and the food is overpriced and inconsistent. I really want it to improve because we love the place. Better service could get it into the high 4s, which is what the space deserves.

The food came out fast even though they were really busy. They’d forgotten the Cajun spice on my salmon, but when I asked, they added it very quickly. The salmon itself tasted pretty ordinary. My partner’s creamy carbonara fettuccine with added chicken was so yum, I’d recommend trying that. The chips and chicken were crispy, not soggy.

We went for Sunday lunch when the restaurant was full. The menu is extensive and there are lunch specials. Of our four meals, the salmon salad was tasty and well priced, with a lovely dressing and great papaya. The other three were lacklustre to poor, and mostly overpriced. The chicken schnitzel was awful, thin, dry and oily. The gravy sounded good, but was watery with a strange flavour, and not worth the extra $4.40. The vegetables were cold, though the chips were okay. The fish and chips special was cheap but not cheerful. The menu pricing for the salad seems wrong: $16 for salad plus another $27 for salmon comes to $43. The decor is great and it can seat a lot of people. The bar and cafe area look good, but I haven’t eaten there yet.