Zebu Bar & Restaurant

Zebu Bar and Restaurant in Port Macquarie offers a dining experience that seamlessly marries culinary excellence with stunning waterfront views. My recent visit left me thoroughly impressed with its vibrant ambiance, delectable cuisine, and impeccable service. The moment I stepped into Zebu, the modern and chic decor caught my eye. The restaurant's open layout and expansive windows provided unobstructed views of the picturesque Hastings River. The combination of sleek design and the soothing sight of water created a truly inviting atmosphere. The menu, a testament to creativity and quality, featured a diverse array of dishes that catered to a variety of tastes. From fresh seafood to sumptuous steaks, each plate was a masterpiece that celebrated local produce. The attention to flavors and presentation was evident in every bite. The standout moment was undoubtedly the seafood offerings. The freshness of the oysters and the succulence of the prawns were a testament to the restaurant's commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients. The fusion of international and local flavors was a delightful journey for the taste buds. Equally remarkable was the service. The staff's attentiveness and knowledge of the menu were exceptional. They guided me through the options with enthusiasm, ensuring my preferences were met and any dietary concerns were addressed. What truly elevated my dining experience was the waterfront view. As the sun began to set, the golden hues danced on the river's surface, creating a tranquil and magical ambiance. It's a setting that transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary memory. Zebu Bar and Restaurant is more than just a place to eat; it's a destination that captures the essence of Port Macquarie's coastal charm. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a romantic dinner, or simply seeking a memorable culinary experience, Zebu offers an exquisite blend of flavors, views, and hospitality. My visit to Zebu Bar and Restaurant was an exploration of taste and aesthetics. It's a place where impeccable cuisine and waterfront elegance converge, leaving a lasting impression that beckons me to return for another remarkable dining adventure.

On the last Saturday of January, we dined at Zebu to mark the end of our holiday. Evening started off as usual, greeted at reception. Ordered drinks (which were great) to start off, and the waitress took our orders for food after that. That's where things started to go downhill. Ordered entrees, mains, and a bottle of wine with table water. She didn't repeat the order as what we expected from past dining experiences all around to start off. Entrees came after a reasonable time (15ish mins). After finishing, the main course came after 25 or so mins. However, between finishing entrees and mains being served, the entree plates and some finished cocktail glasses were not taken away despite the staff being active in welcoming other guests and walking around, we felt a bit disregarded relative to other guests. Mains came, and only then did another staff member - who was stationed at the front the whole time - come with the main plates and then made the effort to take our starter plates and glasses. Mains were very good, no issues there. Throughout this, the wine originally ordered never came. After our plates from mains were taken, another waitress (who didn't take our order) asked if there was anything else needed, where then I brought up the wine issue and said for that to be cancelled. Our water throughout this whole evening was never topped up until the very end when I asked. Even then, my own empty glass wasn't filled, only my wife's. At the end of our time at Zebu, the initial ordering waitress came by, and I explained to her our experience so far. She said she'll inform her manager and soon after the gentleman from the front, who was the supervisor that evening, apologised and added a discount to our check. I explained to him as well what happened and being someone who's worked in the same industry for many years, and also knowing what the Rydges reputation in general is, being of a higher standard, I was extremely underwhelmed with the service. He was very nice and genuine during this interaction. I thanked the chefs at the end for their hard work but told them about the service issues, which they acknowledged. That ordering waitress never came around to top up our water, but did so for every other table (all but 1 table was occupied) as per our observations. Once I asked for the check, the waitress stopped pouring water. (At any bar or restaurant with alcohol, water must be available) The F&B director was also spotted speaking to the supervisor as we left. I had to take 2 glasses of water from the adjacent bar just to have something to drink after the first glass and cocktail. Finally, I told the restaurant to call me as my number was on the reservation records. No one called me until I, just before this post was written, called them myself after 1 week, where I was told that due to staff shortages that shift, they were undermanned, but the F&B director Patrick never apologised during the call, saying no one told him to give me a call. He cut the line at the end to add insult, I didn't feel he genuinely wanted to speak to me. Overall, there were fantastic food and drinks which were enjoyed, but very underwhelming service which soured the evening.

Summary - not very good value, food or service. We went for a conference dinner at $90 a head - for this you would expect some good food and some wine on the table. We got one drink each and then had to purchase - which was not cheap. The food was not very good - overcooked and quite plain, with small serves. There were no sides or salads on the table. The service was poor - to the effect that the wait staff didn’t pay attention to how they served and provided those on our table with chicken for entree and chicken for a main - good if you like chicken. Dessert was poor too - they obviously didn’t have enough brownies and therefore smashed what they had into the base of bowls - so you had two small bits below some ice cream. Port Macquarie is expensive and this dining experience was poor too. My views were reiterated by 6 others I asked - so it wasn’t just me. 2 stars cause the food was prompt and the view was good.

We had dinner here recently. Atmosphere was nice but I did not feel it delivered on the expectation. The service was good but not really relational - the staff did not seem happy but just doing their duty. At one point a waiter came and said our meals were taking longer than expected and asked if we wanted garlic bread. We didn’t think it had taken that long but with the prospect of it taking longer we said yes to the bread. I did feel this was more a marketing ploy to sell more because we got the bread and the meals came almost straight after. The meals we had were pretty unremarkable. Nice, but nothing ‘restaurant special’. The fact I happily paid $45 for a steak and it came very small and not especially tasty was disappointing. Really felt we could have had better at home. So just three stars from me - I usually give 5 but just didn’t feel this was honest for this one.

Customer service is great, with a smile and our waiter was Mark. For my drink requested a pinacolada… it came in a martini glass with orange ……. For entrees requested kilpatrick oysters and they came back very burned bacon and hardly any Worcestershire sauce. They had a garlic bread, which I requested can it be cheese garlic bread and they said yes .. then as they put it on the table it had no cheese, so they apologized and said we don’t have cheese and took it away. The main course was alright .. something I could have cooked at home. The restaurant was clean and nicely presented

This was a tricky one to review as there were so many variants. The initial greeting was amazing. The location was fantastic. The staff were all amazing, some were pretty green as they seemed to be in training, but the experienced staff made you feel welcome. That side of the service was great. The service wasn’t quite right in the sense that everything took so long, even getting a drink brought to the table took over 25 minutes. It was hard to get upset as the staff were so nice. We came here for an easy dining experience as it’s part of the Rydges Hotel we were staying at. I hope they get some training into their staff as this has great potential to be an amazing place for a great dining experience, however, it’s not quite there yet. They did a knowledge that things took a little long. It’s possible they were understaffed this day. I’d go there for a drink and a chat with the waitstaff as they were great to chat to 10 out of 10 to them.