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A Disappointing Experience That Missed the Mark As a professional chef with years in the industry, I always approach new dining experiences with an open mind and a genuine appreciation for diverse concepts. Unfortunately, this visit left me deeply underwhelmed. The venue struggles with identity—seemingly torn between being a bar, tavern, casual kitchen, and restaurant. In attempting to cater to all, it fails to truly deliver on any one experience. The ambience felt confused and disjointed, and lacked the focus that typically anchors a cohesive dining environment. Service was equally inconsistent. Staff appeared either undertrained or disengaged. Taking our order felt repetitive and clumsy, and when meals arrived, they were placed hurriedly on the table before staff quickly retreated to the back. All of this occurred during a quiet period, with plenty of staff visibly wandering without direction or purpose. But it was the food that disappointed the most. The menu pricing does not reflect the quality or substance of what’s served. Many mains require basic additions at extra cost—items that would ordinarily be included to complete a dish. The meatballs lacked seasoning and, from a chef’s perspective, clearly weren’t freshly made or cooked to order. The veal parmigiana was bland, and the crumb coating had become soggy—a clear indicator of poor technique or improper holding. The chips were either par-cooked long before service or fried in oil well past its prime. Portion sizes were modest and relied heavily on what we refer to in the industry as “plate fillers”—overuse of garnish or salad to compensate for a lack of substance. While the experience wasn’t outright terrible, it certainly failed to justify the pricing or promise of a quality meal. Regrettably, I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant, especially given the better options available at a similar price point. Dining out should feel considered, comforting, and worthwhile—this, sadly, did not.
We just returned from our favourite restaurant, Sarbas, where we celebrated my husband’s birthday—and once again, they didn’t disappoint! I ordered the gnocchi, and I have to say, these were the best I've ever had, even better than my own homemade or any I’ve tasted in Italy. The sauce was so delicious that I ended up eating it by the spoonful. The pizza was just as impressive—perfectly cooked with a crunchy cornicione that wasn’t overly thick, and the mozzarella was wonderfully stringy. The seafood toppings were tender and fresh. Even the beer was reasonably priced, which is rare these days when prices seem to be skyrocketing everywhere. Sarbas is a fantastic family restaurant where you can relax and enjoy a break from cooking. While service has sometimes been hit or miss, today it was outstanding. This place truly has it all: delicious food, fair prices, and a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you. I don't know how to do a second post, so I will add to this one. We went to sarbas again today, 29/10/25. The food was amazing! My husband got the big breakfast, and I got the seafood (bush?) Salad. I can't praise the chef enough. The breakfast was abundant, and my husband loved every bite. He has hollow legs and needs a big feed, and he was satisfied with both the portion size and the way it was prepared. My seafood salad was so delicious, I'm still drooling thinking about it. The seafood was so tender, and the salad was more than a bunch of leaves. It had avocado and cherry tomatoes and was simply delightful! Thank you, Sarbas, for always making our day special.
Have you been to Sarba's? If not you are missing out. The service was excellent, the facilities were well kept and the food and drink were great. There is honestly some really excellent flavours in sarba's meals. I was absolutely surprised, particularly with the flavours of the sauces of each dish. The pesto sauce on the scallop entree has a little something that puts a salted spice on your tongue. The creamy garlic sauce in the scallop and prawn ravioli is thick and rich, with just the right mix of garlic and spices, complimenting the soft, seafood filled ravioli pouches. The arancini balls come with rich tomato and onion flavours in its pastata, and all these flavours prove how well the staff can cook. After every bite I simply had to stop and really appreciate the taste of each dish. Thank you to the staff for your efforts. I highly recommend Sarba's restaraunt to anyone around the south side of Perth. We will be back to support this amazing local business. Cheers
*** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *** Once again SARBA has returned to it's old self with great food, very competitive prices, especially breaky, and the staff are excellent. So glad this is My favourite local again. Thank you. Update 2023 - Unfortunately after COVID, the service and serving portions have declined. I understand that nearly everything has a price increase, but this place needs to be competitive, especially when the new pub opens soon. It used to be a local favourite, and the food is usually good, but I find that some of the staff can be indifferent, or one server is running flat out, when the others don't seem to help out. Also they don't follow up to see if everything is ok. The serving size of fetticini for example was only half the amount that we've been accustomed to. Several friends of our have the same feeling and don't visit anymore. Please SARBA return to the previous version of a business model which offered great service and food at a great value for money option. *** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*** Again still great food, good prices especially breaky, and the staff are excellent, as usual. My favourite local..
Beautiful friendly staff and atmosphere which has lovely Decor and open aired floor plan. Staff are ready and able to cater to your needs and specifics with a beautiful range of eating options from breakfast all the way through to dinner and nightcaps.