Tagine Thursday! On Thursday nights, this restaurant has a…read moretagine night with BYO wine. We had a really enjoyable meal with friends on Thursday night - we loved the lamb and chicken tagines and the cous cous!

With my friend arriving before me; he messaged to let me know it was "Very hipster. Not…read moreexcruciatingly. But a bit". Not that I'm against that and need forewarning but sometimes it's good to know what you're walking in to. To a lesser extent I got what he meant; a few man buns, messy hair, tatts and nose piercings but my main concern is always the food. Will it be too adventurous, too small, too ridiculous etc. The only faux pas I can think of was my brother assuming it was table service and asking for some drinks only to be told it was order at the counter. The staff were good about it and had a laugh with my brother as he apologised. I believe they got the drinks anyway so that was nice. The all day breakfast menu and fabada special (pork, chorizo and bean stew) caught my eye but I ultimately went with the smoked salmon, poached eggs, asparagus and potato cakes with added haloumi. We were there for a birthday with drinks and more food intended so this was a light but satisfying start. The restaurant itself is small but cozy with outdoor seating and booths inside.

Fiancé Yelp and Googled searched them; found high stars and I found them in the current…read moreEntertainment book. Win, win, win. Arriving in the nick of time. Beating the kitchen closing hour of 3pm for a late Sunday lunch. Not much to look at from the outside with an inside quirky-ness that's not in your face. Menu isn't over the top either but covers what you'd expect. I went with the Rueben which was fantastic. The chips as side gave me something to munch on as I contemplated how best to tackle the mammoth stack of pulled corned beef and slaw. A firm squash down and centre cut worked well. I was truly satisfied by the end. My partner enjoyed The Pourhouse burger. Washing it down with schooners of Akasha (lager) and two heads (pale ale). I forgot to use the Entertainment voucher but the delicious food, great beer selection and relaxed music will have me coming back soon enough.

Highly recommend the ribs so yummy Lovely friendly staff…read moreCaters to children Recommend you visit

The best restaurant in the Hunter Valley. Hands down you wont find a better place. Because of that,…read morebook! Don't try just rocking up, you won't find a place. Minimum two course order, it is $75 a head. Or you can pay $120 and get the taster. Either way all is good! Each meal is better than the last, you won't be disappointed. From the noodles in sake cream to the 70 hour slow cooked steak, it is all good. You will be sharing and enjoying each dish. If you get the taster, they will also give you wine for each meal. The service here is also nothing less than amazing. But you wouldn't expect any different. If you haven't got from this review, I love this place! I come here anytime I am in the Hunter, and every time I have never been disappointed. So come a long, and come with an empty stomach.

Went here based on previous reviews. I wasn't disappointed! Thi place served up fantastic courses…read moreof chicken, duck, venison and pork. Every mouthful of food was incredibly delicious! The wine recommended was absolutely amazing. Also, given the somewhat dated exterior of the restaurant, the interior was superbly designed and laid out. The on the house starter also tipped me over the edge to a perfect score. These people run a seriously tight ship, with perfect customer service. I'm very impressed, and will 100% come back to Muse on my next visit to the Hunter!

Food was delicious Service absolutely very good…read more Ambiance is amazing We enjoyed 3 courses dinners and show I would totally recommend Lizette's restaurant and bar

Excellent venue for live music. Downstairs seating has full menu meals. Upstairs has optional bar…read moremenu.

Outstanding service Food was amazing…read moreGreat atmosphere and excellent view 10/10 experience

A perfect 5 star experience all thanks to an amazing location, outstanding food and a manager named…read moreSharon who made my recent visit something to rave to friends about! After touring some of the wineries in the area, I wanted to sit outside, enjoy the beautiful scenery and have some terrific food and wine. The Verandah, located at the Calais Estate, was the perfect solution with their wrap around upstairs porch overlooking the rolling estate. There were two choices for lunch- a pre selected "Tapas Tower" which is a feast for two with several daily selections ($80) or a la carte tapas items listed a few pages back in the menu. I went with the latter and had a chance to taste a wide range of their offerings and all were amazingly good. My favs were the polenta coated soft shell crab, the mushroom aranachi, and the jambon. They also had a nice wine list and were able to find me a local Cabernet that was quite nice! The service staff was super helpful, even re directing the fan my way given it was a very hot day on the veranda. But my visit was really topped off by the welcoming nature of Sharon, the manager. She kept stopping at my table to ensure all was well and even related a story about her recent trip to Chicago where someone went out of their way to help her and her husband. It made for a great visit. So I'll end where I began. If you want a great location, outstanding food and a staff that cares, look no further than The Verandah. It really will make your entire experience in the Hunter Valley one to remember!

Stopped in for a dinner with friends. The location is right on the water, the atmosphere inside was…read morecozy and quaint. The service was good, our waiter was very attentive. The food was very good and priced reasonably.

The food is nice but the prices are outrageous. What's worse is you order a chicken salad and then…read morethey charge an extra $7 for the chicken!!! I questioned it because the title is literally "chicken salad" and they said yes, but the chicken is extra. WTF? Fortunately they waived the $7 but come on. A "chicken salad" that has an extra fee for chicken? Be aware of the ridiculous prices here.

Photo doesn't do the burger justice. It was a little on the small side in comparison to other…read moreburger places but it made up for size in flavour. Lots of ketchup and mustard, pickles, onion, BACON and a delicious patty. Served with choice of thick cut or shoestring fries and Cajun onion rings for an additional $4. Venue is noisy but it's a large space and was very busy so noise level was appropriate. Enjoyed watching the bartender with the awesome hair and moustache. He was continually on the go but made it look easy and like he enjoyed what he did. Menu doesn't stop at burgers. Steaks, salad and a variety of Mexican options in the South of the Border section. 2 burgers and 2 cokes for $52 is steep but as I said it was a tasty burger so I'll let it slide this time.

Exceptional service, vintage decor, spacious and delicious food. We went for Mother's Day and…read moretables were reserved everywhere. We tried our luck and went there without a reservation. The guy that greeted us and the staff were all amazing! They found us a free table and managed to make an extra table for a family coming in behind us. Will be back.

My relationship with the Happy Wombat began when I stayed at the Quest for a work trip in…read moreNewcastle. I began with the "Daddy Wombat" - a 400g grass fed rib eye. The steak was tender and the polenta chips and beans matched perfectly. After leaving dinner, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Quest Hotel provides a chargeback service with the Wombat, and breakfast would be served in this pub. I woke up the next morning without the highest expectations. Steak was a safe bet at a pub, but gormet breakfast at a pub is more unusual than seeing a real wombat in the streets of Newcastle. Breakfast at this "pub" was fantastic. In the morning you're greeted by friendly staff, fantastic coffee and a good breakfast selection. My only annoyance was that breakfast is not served until 7:30AM, which is late for an early-morning person. After leaving the Quest, I have not left The Wombat. I'm in the 8th week of my "short" visit to Newcastle, and I buy a coffee from the Wombat daily. I tend to have dinner at least once a week, and my office has had 2 small functions in this restaurant since the first day of my visit. I leave Newcastle this week, and it only seemed fitting that I had my going away dinner at The Wombat.