Glasshouse - Table reservation

I'll start with the one positive - the recent make over looks lovely. Given the space the designer had to work with, one that previously resembled a departure lounge, the transformation is brilliant. Sadly, the positives end here. We arrived at the Glasshouse just before 6 on a Sunday evening and were asked if we had a reservation, before being told that there were no seats, despite the restaurant looking half empty. Apparently, around half of the Glasshouse is now reserved only for adults, and so we were unable to sit there as we had our 10 year old daughter with us. Offered a choice of either going to Nonna's (previous experience of this restaurant left us unimpressed with the soggy based pizzas) or sitting in Potters Cafe and having to collect our meals, we opted for the latter. This space, being attached to the play area was also quite full, but we found a seat and ordered.Meals are around the $30 mark, with two steaks, two fish dishes and a children cheese burger ordered. The fish was OK, not bad, but certainly not good for the price. The cheeseburger was undercooked in parts. The steaks were terrible. Medium rare was ordered, well done was received. The accompanying salad was described as a "wedge salad", a beast previously unknown to me, and comprised a wedge of iceberg lettuce topped with a creamy dressing, some chopped tomato and croutons. Clearly it was dreamt up by a marketing team trying to pare cost back to the absolute minimum while appearing funky. I never though I would look back longingly at the old RSL side salad, a leaf salad mix enlivened by red cabbage, carrot and dressed with that dressing that comes in little sachets like tomato sauce. I was wrong. The steak itself was difficult to cut, as the steak knives lacked the serrated edge that usually assists in this chore. In addition to being overdone, they lacked any form of BBQ charring and appeared to have been cooked on too low a heat. Meanwhile, the noise in the cafe was increasing in volume, and on finishing our meals, we sought a quieter location to finish our drinks. Aside from the small pockets of boisterous children and their parents, there was an eerie, Marie Celeste-like vibe to the place. Due to the presence of our child, we were unable to enter either of the bars, as these had been designated 18+ only, and ended up sitting in the foyer. It felt much later than it actually was, by 7pm the venue felt like it was just about to close, which was not helped by the fact that the central bar actually did close at this time, plunging the club into a deeper gloom. I also observed a staff member engaged in what appeared to be mopping the bar counter. I sincerely hope that this was a special bar-counter-cleaning-mop, and not the more usual floor cleaning mop, but I have my doubts. Fundamentally, the night was full of large and small disappointments. The food is over priced and not worth the money, The previously reasonable members discount has been reduced to 5% off the bill, an amount so small I would question why they bother. The atmosphere was unwelcoming, both in the lack of any form of buzz or vibe in the venue and because the management are clearly uninterested in making families feel welcome in any but small pockets of the club. Over the years we often frequented Pittwater RSL for its friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and decent, good value food. It was an enjoyable place to go for a quick meal. Not any more. In trying to become something it isn't, it's lost the things that made it enjoyable.

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we paid top price for Baked Lamb, the lamb was yuk, the so called baked potatoes were soggy and absolutely no flavour with a big blob of mint gel in the middle of the meat - ok if you like Mint gel, tiniest bit of gravy in a minute bowl and on the menu it says if you want more gravy you have to pay extra. The other vegetables on the plate were okay, but the meal was cold and a completely disappointing. This is my 4th visit to this restaurant and will be my last. I dont mind paying good money for good food, but this food is rubbish & the other thing is in 4 visits you never get a dessert menu, you have to chase one of the waitresses around to get one, I asked her why they dont give you one to start and she said they dont want them to get dirty!!! Would I recommend this restaurant to anyone - NO - the Italian restaurant is great, the Chinese is just okay but Glasshouse is a major disappointment. I also wrote to the Club to tell them of my disappointment and was sent a rude letter saying that I could relinquish my membership if I wanted - I think she thought I wanted something for nothing which is far from the truth, I only wanted value for money!

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First time I've come to the RSL for a while. New Glasshouse restaurant has typically pub grub. We had a large group (20) with kids and had good service, although it took a little while for food, as they brought it all out together.Schnitzel and parmigiana rated well in the group. And so did the big rack of pork ribs. My chicken burger was ok, but nothing special.Kids meals were $12 with soft serve ice cream and drink included, good value.Kids love the new playground and the new games zone downstairs.

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Never going again Absolutely terrible Waiting 1 1/2 hours for kids meals They didn't care Food so below average and over cooked. The time before this time my food was served still frozen. This is the glasshouse restaurant within the club.

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Four of us had a great dinner at the Glasshouse on thursday night the10th of August, the food was well presented and tasty, staff were friendly we will be back Mike Connors

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