Criniti's Darling Harbour

I can’t recommend this restaurant highly enough! Every Saturday night, my best friend and I come here. It’s a bit expensive for two, but the food is always outstanding, so I know I'm getting my money's worth!

The menu offers gluten-free options for pizza and pasta, along with a few other dishes. However, when I mentioned that I have celiac disease, the waitress informed me that the pasta is boiled in the same water as the gluten-containing options, and there is a risk of cross-contamination with the pizza. I’ve dined here before, and this was the first time I received this information. I don’t always experience symptoms right after eating, depending on the amount consumed, but it still causes damage, making it difficult for me to assess my reaction. I’m quite disappointed.

They offer gluten-free options for pizza and pasta, along with a few other dishes. However, when I mentioned my coeliac condition, the waitress informed me that all the pasta is cooked in the same water, and there is a risk of cross-contamination with the pizza. I've visited this restaurant before, and this is the first time I've received such a warning. I don't always experience symptoms when I'm exposed to gluten, depending on the amount, but I know that damage still happens, making it hard for me to gauge. I'm quite disappointed.

The staff seemed unprepared and lacked dedication to their work. Even with a reservation, we waited over 10 minutes to get into the restaurant. The employees ignored us and appeared confused. We had to repeatedly flag down the staff just to place our order. On two occasions, multiple waiters showed up at our table, dropped our food and drinks without a word, and left without checking on our order. To make matters worse, the food was lacking in quality, and one of the cocktails was simply unpalatable. Considering the high bill, we were very disappointed with the overall experience.

On a positive note, the cocktails were spot-on; I ordered one from the menu, and it was made to perfection. I had a starter that was delicious, but my second starter never arrived! I asked multiple waiters for updates, but none were provided. After an hour of waiting, the main courses finally came out, although our initial order had been placed long before, and while they were nice, they weren't anything special for the price. When I inquired about my missing starter after waiting almost an hour and a half, the waiter was apologetic, though I also noticed that one of the waiters didn't speak any English, which made things even more challenging. The service felt chaotic, with servers moving around without clear awareness of their surroundings. The restaurant was very cramped, but the views of the harbor were pleasant. When it came time to pay the bill, the process was confusing. I had to ask for directions twice since it wasn't obvious. I mentioned I'd registered for a membership online, which offered a 7% discount. However, I couldn't access my email because there was no reception at that moment. The man at the register seemed annoyed when I took some time to check. I asked if he could look up my membership using my email or phone number, but he refused, so we just had to let it go. In total, we spent about $250 for an average family meal, with a long wait and a missing dish that they didn’t account for. At the very least, they could have honored my membership verbally, as the 7% discount is not a significant amount, and who would carry a Criniti membership card around? I’m not sure if I’ll return, especially since communication was challenging and the service wasn't up to par. For that price, I definitely expect better.