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Reviews for The Phoenix

by Amanda C.
29th March 2013

Was down in Tauranga recently with my family and we decided to go out for dinner and ended up here. The decor was amazing.

I ordered the ribs, and the meat fell off the bone and was absolutely delicious. Didn’t even need to pick them up in my hands.

The staff were still in need of a bit more training, however it was still a very pleasant evening and I would head back here if I was back in Tauranga.

by Lesleyann J.
29th January 2013

We have been twice now since it’s re-incarnation. (previously the Horny Bull which we were regulars at). The food is as great as ever but we have found the service just okay and both visits we left early as we couldn’t hear ourselves over the music and other noise. The noise is the reason we have decided not to re-visit for an evening meal but we are going to give lunch a go. We guess Mark is after a younger clientele so good luck.

Comment from Mark L. of The Phoenix 29/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Lesleyann Thank-you for your feedback, I am glad that you…    More »

Hi Lesleyann
Thank-you for your feedback, I am glad that you enjoyed our meals, however it is concerning the service has not met your expectations, and it is something I guarantee we will always strive to improve on. Our aim is certainly not to attract a younger market, and although Friday nights tend to be more of a drinking occasion with after work corporates enjoying $5 Heinys, $5 house wines & $15 for all gourmet pizzas…Saturday tends to be a very popular dining occasion with ex regulars enjoying new and updated surroundings, and our famous $25 steak N Ale deal on Saturday is as good, if not better than before. Hope to serve you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Vanessa
21st January 2013

Great food, service and atmosphere. We went for a drink and a snack meal before the movies on a Thursday – perfect, yummy potato skins and pizza.

Took the family on Saturday night, had the Saturday steak special and the steaks were awesome (as was the dessert). Our teenage sons are still raving about their meal!

Great to have a place to go that feels relaxed with really modern and welcoming decor. Suits all occasions, out with friends or family, an occasion or just a drink. The food is delicious and the staff are great.

We can’t wait to go again, soon.

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 26/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Vanessa Glad you had a great experience with us, and a popular…    More »

Hi Vanessa
Glad you had a great experience with us, and a popular choice on Saturday night with our $25 Steak N Ale deal (300gm Scotch fillet, curly fries, salad & sauce selection…Plus a glass of your favourite Monteith’s) Look forward to serving you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Sierra S.
18th January 2013

I’ve had the pleasure of eating at this lovely restaurant.
At very short notice for the staff we turned up and asked for a table for 15 and possibly outside. The waiter came out and reassembled all of the tables so we could sit together. Service was great, drinks were great and food exceeded expectations for everyone within our group. I really must recommend the fish and chips!!
Thank you staff.
Will definitely be returning with another big group soon enough.

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 26/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Sierra Thanks for your positive comments…Yes, you can’t beat…    More »

Hi Sierra
Thanks for your positive comments…Yes, you can’t beat the fresh Tarakihi in a crispy Monteith’s Pilsner beer batter. Look forward to serving you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Shar
17th January 2013

Dinner on 24/1/2013 – GREAT IMPROVEMENT ! Staff were wonderful, service was very good and food was delicious ! The tasting plate for desert was wonderful ! Congrats to owner who has obviously taken feedback onboard.
Will dine again.

Dinner – 8/12/2012
Very nice atmosphere, quite busy !
Ordered Entrees (Shrimp cocktail with sauce on the side please and Garlic bread for me) and Mains (Eye Fillets wrapped in bacon, one without any salt please) for my husband and I.
Waiter (male) advised us of the Steak & Ale deal which was brilliant !
Entrees – his arrived as requested but mine took antoher 15 minutes to come out. It arrived – with a very big apology from another older male waiter.
Mains arrived as requested and we delicious.

Went to pay the bill – very big apology from ‘older male waiter’ who happened to be the owner – and a hefty discount for our troubles – thanks for looking out for us !!!

As a very regular visitor of Horny Bull (both Lunch and Dinner), I think they have done well with the refit, but there were definately some menu items and prices that keep us all being regulars !
The new prices are in line with any other restaurant in town and at the moment, the food, service and menu options are all on on par too.

I will happily dine her again, but I’m just saying

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 26/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Shar Thanks for giving us another shot, glad you enjoyed your…    More »

Hi Shar
Thanks for giving us another shot, glad you enjoyed your experience 2nd time around and I appreciate your updated comments. We will always strive to improve our standards and I thank everyone who provides us with constructive feedback. Look forward to serving you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Anon
14th January 2013

We went on a Sunday night, they were about 70% full.

We asked for a table and the guy pointed outside and said “there was one over there” and left us to find our own way.

The two blonde waitresses were ok, but the brunette – you’d swear her face would break if she tried to smile.

The main was average, the desert was delicious. Everything took a very long time to come out to us, and the last main arrived about 3 mins after everyone else’s mains were served.

Recommend getting bubblier staff, they all seemed really shy.

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 26/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Anon Thanks for your feedback…As Restauranteurs we do…    More »

Hi Anon
Thanks for your feedback…As Restauranteurs we do appreciate constructive critisism…Without it, we can’t improve…However I do draw the line at personal insults to staff on public websites, so best we leave it at that.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Leah G.
14th January 2013

Went in recently for drinks and nibbles and had a ball. We ordered a platter and a beer selection. The service was friendly and prompt and food was delicious (so was the beer..)

Comment from Mark L. of The Phoenix 29/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Leah Glad you had a great time with us, and yes, our…    More »

Hi Leah
Glad you had a great time with us, and yes, our Monteith’s tasting trays you enjoyed are very popular indeed, where the customer can sample any 5 x 200ml glasses of any tap beer or cider for $20.
Look forward to serving you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Annie H.
11th January 2013

Just had the best beef salad at The Phoenix – absolutely delicious with lots of different textures and tastes. Wonderful service and a great place to sit and while away an hour!

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 26/01/2013    Hide »

Hi Annie Yes a very popular salad, with eye fillet steak, gooey…    More »

Hi Annie
Yes a very popular salad, with eye fillet steak, gooey camembert, cashews, bell peppers and cranberry vinagrette. Look forward to serving you again soon.
Kind Regards
Mark

by Paul W.
5th January 2013

We’ve been regulars of this restaurant’s former incarnation (the Horny Bull) for years and had reserved a table at the newly reopened and renamed Phoenix. What a disaster. Got seated at a horrible table right in the doorway despite other tables being available and were told bluntly we couldn’t sit elsewhere.

Waitress didn’t ask us if we wanted breads or entrees, and removed the drinks menu from the table (somehow assuming we didn’t want to drink). Ended up only ordering mains. After a long wait (they weren’t that busy) the 2 steaks ordered medium were delivered past well done. They were boot leather. My fish was fried to death, and smelt strongly (bad fish smell). The sides were tiny compared to previous portions. Green peppercorn sauce was just a load of peppercorns in a thin liquid – not nice.

We complained about the steak and fish, only to be told that the poor food was because they were busy (!!!). Manager said he’d come back and talk to us, then never reappeared. Paid the bill and got the feeling they just wanted us out of there – they didn’t want to know about poor service or bad food at this place it seems. Won’t be going back and definitely not recommended.

Comment from Melissa L. of The Phoenix 10/01/2013    Hide »

Dear Paul, I am very sorry about your dining experience with us…    More »

Dear Paul,
I am very sorry about your dining experience with us the other night. I can assure you that your matter has been discussed with the wait staff, chef and manager in question so as this does not occur again. I hope that you can appreciate that we are a new business, with new systems and new staff and with that will come initial teething problems which we are rapidly striving to improve. We are not the Horny Bull any more, and have up-dated the menu in accordance with the times and trends of today, so please don’t write us off just yet. Our mission is to offer the best service in Tauranga and I would like to personally invite you and your partner back to our establishment in the near future for a complimentary meal on us to hope that you may see for yourself the guaranteed improvements, and to let other readers of this website know that your previous experience was just a once off.
I look forward to your call any time.
Kind Regards,
Mark Lawrence
(Director)

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