Goldfish Bar & Restaurant Hunter Valley

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#20 of 61 Restaurants in Pokolbin$$ - $$$, Bar, Pizza, Vegetarian friendly

+61 2 4998 7671+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Mon

11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Tue

11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Wed

11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Thu

11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Fri

11:30 am - 10:30 pm

Sat

11:30 am - 10:30 pm

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.0

853 reviews

#20 of 61 Restaurants in Pokolbin

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

$18.00 – $51.00

CUISINES

Bar, Pizza, Australian, Wine Bar

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

Corner Broke Road and McDonald Road Located at Roche Estate, Pokolbin, Cessnock, New South Wales 2320 Australia

+61 2 4998 7671

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Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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Details

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About

Goldfish Bar & Restaurant is located at one of the Hunter's most iconic winery complexes - Roche Estate. Goldfish Bar & Restaurant Hunter Valley, provides an international pizza & food menu coupled with an exclusive beverage offering, including an award-winning cocktail list and new and old world wines.

PRICE RANGE

$18.00 – $51.00

CUISINES

Bar, Pizza, Australian, Wine Bar

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Gift Cards Available

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4.0

853 reviews

Excellent

330

Very good

274

Average

104

Poor

Terrible

meikadalton

Brisbane237 contributions

Poor Service, Average Food, Nice Outlook

Jan 2020 • friends

Should have read the recent reviews - something has obviously gone awry this January! We dined this evening and while service staff were friendly, they lacked a lot of experience and speed. Asked 3 times for table water, received completely incorrect drinks order despite both ourselves and the waiter repeating the order, waited a long time for requests and it didn't look like the wait staff communicated with each other. Food was fine - arancini average, duck pancakes came with 3 out of 4 pieces too bony and very little meat and the pizzas were alright but nothing remarkable. The view outside is lovely. The atmosphere inside was strange - too hot and a bit bright for the look they're going for. Bill for 3 people with a drink $39pp.

Written 21 January 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

POINT2260

Hi, Thank you for your review. As new owners of Goldfish Bar and Restaurant we appreciate all feedback we receive. Service systems have changed, new staff are in training, AC is currently being repaired and new ceiling fans being installed this week! We have a lot of teething problems we are working through and hope to see you back soon. Kind regards, The Goldfish Team

Written 9 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sydney_Traveller81

Sydney602 contributions

Pizza Enjoyable but restaurant not without issues

July 2020 • none

I booked via their website and changed the booking to an earlier time in person. They texted me for my details for Covid. I arrived and they had no record of our reservation at all - considering someone texted me for my name and number I find that highly unusual. We were given a table near the door, with small kids it wasn't ideal but I don't think the waitress thought I had a booking. I ordered a Cider and it was so flat I'm wondering if it was apple juice. Wasn't very pleasant at all. We came here with high hopes after seeing all the offers on Instagram, they advertised a seafood platter beginning of July but it was no where on menu mid July, we could only get share plates (3 portions per serving) and there was 4 of us. We ordered pizza instead which was nice. We were told you couldn't do the platters as they aren't allow in Covid - strange as pizza is sharing as well. I came on a Wednesday night so not sure if that's the reason? Not sure if we'd return, we were really looking forward to our dinner here. The lovely manager (or assistant manager) took the cider off the bill which was very lovely of her, considering it wasn't her fault. I just found the limited menu, losing our booking, being seated near the freezing cold door made our evening less than idea.

Written 26 July 2020

Ian M

Rutherford87 contributions

Nice lunch

Jan 2020 • couples

On the upside the tapas plate and two pizzas for $45 pp was reasonable value. On the downside the pizzas were a little pedestrian and it would have been nice to have little more calamari. The AC was struggling with the heat and I noticed that all the vents are at the rear of the room away from the seating areas. The decor was a little tired and the video screen of a fishbowl was a little anachronous.

Written 28 January 2020

POINT2260

Hi Ian, As new owners of Goldfish Bar and Restaurant we appreciate your feedback. We have been working tirelessly at fixing the AC and will be installing some ceiling fans this week. We hope to see you back soon. Many thanks, The Goldfish Team

Written 9 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

abcaso67

Newcastle83 contributions

Poor dining experience.

June 2020 • couples

I’m really sorry to have to write this, but our dining experience tonight was not good. We were a group of 6 that booked because of a previous good experience had at the restaurant by one of our couples. The experience tonight left them embarrassed that they had recommended Goldfish. The lack of quality service was the worst part of the night. Long wait for drinks order, which we had to prompt, incorrect drinks orders when they eventually arrived, incorrect food orders, no cutlery provided without promoting, plates not removed in a timely manner and a general lack of enthusiasm and professionalism from the wait staff. Food was average at best and no dishes that inspired us. Steaks (very small) were overcooked from requested medium rare. On the positive side, the mojitos were nice, but at $20 each, you would expect them to be. To top things off, there did not seem to be appropriate social distancing enforced. After reading the other comments, it is clear that this place is having difficulties, particularly with service levels. In all good faith, I can’t recommend this restaurant to anyone. They need to make significant improvements to return to the standards of previous management.

Written 12 June 2020

Lucy W

Sydney11 contributions

Lackless lunch

June 2020 • couples

Booked in advance so we had everything organised with the Covid-19 restrictions. Once seated it took 20 minutes for a waiter to take our order, even though there was only one other table in our section. We ordered 4 small starters to share as we were left with limited time until our next Wine Tasting, only three of them arrived, at staggered times, cold and tasteless. Will not return and can not recommend as there was nothing redeeming about this place.

Written 6 June 2020

Delish

Newcastle5 contributions

Terrible service

Jan 2020 • none

Terrible service - food was okay.... took 30 minutes for a cocktail to arrive at our table, which they kept coming and asking what it was a few times. There was a rude waitress, who i think may have been the manager. She could have been dressed more professionally, not with her bra showing......The live music was way too loud. This place has definitely gone down hill.

Written 22 January 2020

POINT2260

Hi Delish, Many thanks for your review. As new owners of Goldfish Bar and Restaurant we appreciate all feedback received by our customers. We are still ironing out teething problems and training new and old staff. New service systems are our priority. We hope to see you again soon. The Goldfish Team

Written 9 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Boris Novak

Newcastle39 contributions

Disappointing

Aug 2020 • none

I rang for a takeaway pizza and was very specific about the addition of chili. Clarification was sought, flaked or fresh? Anything, though fresh is preferred, please. On picking up our takeaway, I clarified that our pizza had chili on it, which was confirmed "yes, this has extra chili as ordered". Great, especially as the standard one didn't even feature chili! Taking it back to our accommodation, and voila...no sign of any chili. Maybe its within the sauce under the cheese. Nope. No chili. Not anywhere, no flakes, no fresh stuff, not even any seeds. The pizza itself, not too bad if you like very thin crust, and the base is actually quite okay, even if not in the traditional woodfire style. The sauce is okay as well. But that's where it ends. For what you pay, not worth it. The act of not receiving what was ordered, and especially at the very fast speed at which it was made, makes me wonder if the pizzas are pre-prepared, which would also explain away the thin crusts. It would especially explain why no chili featured despite the request and repeated clarifications. It's awful to say, but I can't help but feel like people have taken the Mickey out of us customers. It feels so disingenuous to say "yep, this has got extra chili" after you've just paid for it, knowing you're about to walk away with it, when there is nothing of the sort on the pizza, and knowing that it will be too late to rectify later, when difficult to do so. I recommend steering well clear of this place.

Written 11 August 2020

Samantha W

14 contributions

Not worth the overpriced charges

Feb 2021 • family

Went today with a group of ten family members When we arrived there was a large table that were sculling cocktails straight from the jug, screaming yelling and falling off chairs and just generally being rude and disruptive bar staff did nothing to calm them down except shake their head from behind the bar and continue to give them more.cocktail jugs On the opposite side of the dinning room it was impossible to have a conversation with the person besides you without yelling above their racket Eight of our ten party ordered the set menu... What a waste of money! $50 a head and the menu had changed and gone up in price since I checked the menu last week It arrived in a mess the fish tacos were impossible to pick up because the salad was just dumped in the top of all eight The pizzas were swimming in oil which wasn't very appealing at all The worst part was though one member of the party had ordered a seperate pizza and didnt partake in the set menu .... All the set menu food arrived and approx half an hour later his pizza still hadn't arrived... The pizzas for the set menu were sitting there the kids menu item had arrived and nine of us were nearly finished and he was still waiting Twice I asked where it was because he was waiting while everyone else ate Go to a pub instead and save your money

Written 5 February 2021

Peterleahy

51 contributions

Terrible service

Jan 2020 • family

AVOID! A bit deceiving really. This place is locating within the Roche Estate which from the outside looks amazing. Unfortunately when you start looking for food it goes downhill.....and in a big way. The service was terrible. It took way too long to order food and then another length of time to order drinks. The staff even struggled to get water to the tables... They are clearly understaffed and are unable to adequately serve the amount of people that come to dine there. When the food finally arrived and not all at once, the pizza was cold and food a little flavourless. I would avoid this place and to be honest it doesn’t even deserve one star.

Written 12 January 2020

POINT2260

Hi, Thank you for your review. As new owners of Goldfish Bar and Restaurant we appreciate all feedback we receive. We admit to having a lot of teething problems the last couple of weeks however we are working through these and hope to see you back soon. Kind regards, The Goldfish Team

Written 9 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ToniOstwald-Brown

Newcastle103 contributions

Really bad food and "service".

Jan 2020 • none

My partner and I ate at Goldfish two nights ago whilst on a break in Pokolbin. It didn't look promising when, with only three other tables occupied, we could not flag down the waitress. I contemplated sending up a flare, but eventually a bartender came over and served us. This game of "catch the waitstaff" continued to the end of our visit. Then came the food... We ordered the Seafood Skewers, with Baramundi, prawns and scallops and a Margharita pizza. The skewers were dreadful. For our $41.00 we received three skewers of the driest, most tasteless seafood we've ever had. They tasted like they'd been pre-cooked and heated up. There was no char on them and they could really have benefited from a lemon butter or beure blanc sauce. The pizza was ordinary and $20.00 for a 12 inch pizza. All in all a great disappointment and we won't be back.

Written 8 January 2020

POINT2260

Hi, Thank you for your review. As new owners of Goldfish Bar and Restaurant we appreciate all feedback we receive. We admit to having a lot of teething problems over the last couple of weeks however we are working through these and hope to see you back soon. New menu coming soon. Kind regards, The Goldfish Team

Written 9 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SugarBeanz

Mascot8 contributions

Good lunch place at Huntervalley

June 2020 • none

Ordered seafood platter and 1 Larger and 1 Chardonnay. Considering the quantity and quality of food, it was little bit pricey. Nothing special about the seafood platter (Small bowl of chips, 4 Prawns, Calamari, Salmon, 4 Scallops and rocket salad) Were seated promptly, ordering food and drinks took more than 20 min even though there were several staffs walking around. Didn't want to wave or call them out, in case they were busy doing something else. Received water bottle without glasses. Ordered Larger, but for sure it was ale. Didn't complain since don't mind drinking ale. Food came; Calamari was little bit too salty, and only could tasted butter from scallops. Overall it was good lunch. Recommend to people who have lots of time since it will take time to order and receive what you order. They have nice view while you are waiting :)

Written 23 June 2020

gordonn526

Lightning Ridge201 contributions

Good night out

Mar 2020 • none

A booking for a group of 12 for dinner on Saturday night, no problems accommodating us. We were inside, so no problem talking despite the live music outside. Staff were very quick to take our orders, couples shared dishes. The food was all good, although we had an issue with the salmon which was quickly sorted. Drinks are a little on the expensive side, but worth watching the effort going in to make all the cocktails, those guys loved their work. Recommend the Pizzas, reasonably priced and tasted good.

Written 8 March 2020

Nicole K

3 contributions

Zac = we’ll be back!!

Jan 2021 • couples

Approaching this restaurant we were greeted by one of their amazing staff who gave us our first impression of this amazing restaurant. He set the stage high for what we would be expecting and he didn’t disappoint. From meeting Zac at the door, to our entre, to our mains & cocktails it just kept getting better & better. We had such a great dinner that we had to come back for lunch the next day. We first tired to book online in the morning for lunch however it said it was fully booked. Disappointed but hopeful, we called to see if we could still order for take away. Instead of just saying yes to taking our order, Zack answered the phone & managed a booking for us for 1:30. When we arrived, he greeted us with the same welcoming personality, exceptional customer service that you can tell he loves his job & he does it well. His attention to details, exceptional service, his welcoming personality, & his professionalism is exactly what makes this restaurant stand out to us during our stay at the Hunter. Zac definitely stands out in the crowd, his smile and demeanour is a pleasure to witness in that environment, he’s a top employee who takes service to an entirely new level. Zac, thank you for accompanying us, for doing your job so well it seems so natural and thank you for inspiring others to have a great time, not only your fellow coworkers but your partitions as well. The food can be good, but if the staff don’t set the tone for the right atmosphere, it can make for an unpleasant awkward experience. I hope the next time on our trip to the Hunter, we’ll have the pleasure of meeting Zac again & enjoying this great restaurant with its delicious gluten free Calamari and cocktails. We can’t wait to come back.

Written 31 January 2021

TheGoodOil

Canberra81 contributions

Beware!

Dec 2020 • family

OK, we very recently had dinner at Goldfish. The bottom line was that the food was fine, nothing startling but fine. But the effort it took for us actually to get to the eating point is why I have rated it so poorly. Half an hour for the drinks to arrive and an hour for us to get even a smell of food is simply unacceptable. Apparently, despite a packed restaurant, they only had two people working in the kitchen and three wait staff. Not good enough and really not worth a visit until they lift their game. And it’s very expensive. The cheapest/cheapest bottle of white wine - and this in the middle of one of Australia’s biggest and best wine growing regions - was $50. Daylight robbery.

Written 9 December 2020

Leanne Culina-Penza

Sydney844 contributions

Good grazing board

Feb 2021 • none

This is a nice place to stop and grab a bite during your day in the Hunter. The grazing board was a great size and reasonable price for the size (it fed 3 of us). Whilst it was nice, there was nothing special for me to rave about.

Written 4 March 2021