Rickys River Bar & Restaurant

I booked a dinner for my wifes b'day. It was a Wednesday at 5:30 and I requested a nice table near the front. We were seated 3 tables back from the waterfront. I asked the waitress if there was better table available (given had booked a couple of weeks prior and requested a nice table) and was told I'd have to book months in advance for a better table. Hmmmm, there was a table of screaming kids that was in a better position but ok. Our waitress was great. But then.....she disappeared to other tables. Didn't come back. Asked for the drinks menu to be returned, then she was gone. Had to ask a passing waiter. After that, it was like we didn't exist. The food was mixed. Oysters amazing. Kingfish entre was bland. Mains mixed. My wife didn't like the coral trout dish at all, but I kind of liked it (we swapped Mains). At $70+ it looked VERY underwhelming (pic attached) But the sauce was nice, fish a little over cooked. The eye fillet was nice but nothing special. We would have liked to have ordered desert, but sat there with our empty plates and empty glasses for 25 minutes. No-one asked how our meals were, if we'd like a drink, nothing nice done for my wife's bday (which as we're adults thats not a biggy), but don't ask if it's a special occasion when someone books and not treat them special. Got up and paid. Left a $1 tip, which was $1 more than was deserved.

I still cannot get over how good Ricky’s was. We started with oysters and honestly they were the best oysters I have ever had, and I’ve had a few! Came with some vinegary condiment - I’m not really selling that I appreciate that - but it was really good! For mains I had the crab spaghetti, and if you go you absolutely have to order this. It is non negotiable. The flavour was unreal. My partner had the fish of the day which was yellow snapper, paired with the cauliflower side. We couldn’t stop talking about how incredible everything tasted. To finish we shared the cheese and crackers which were such good value at $24 for two cheeses. It came with a generous assortment of crackers, fruit toast, quince paste, fig and even raisins. Such a perfect way to end the meal. The setting was stunning. We booked a table for 4.30pm which was the perfect time for the sunset. Sitting by the window as the light changed was just beautiful. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and elegant with soft lighting from chandeliers creating such a relaxed and special feel. The staff were brilliant. So kind and attentive, constantly checking in to see if we needed anything, topping up waters and even lowering the blinds when the sun was a bit strong. Service was flawless and made the whole experience even better. It’s easy to access and there are plenty of tables, though it does get busier later in the evening. You can also get a ferry straight from the restaurant to Hastings Street which is such a fun touch, although we missed the last one when we left around 6.30pm. Yes, it is on the expensive side, but you can see exactly why. The quality, the atmosphere and the service are all worth it. We will absolutely go back. In fact, we loved it so much that we booked our parents in for the following night because we knew they would love it just as much as us.