Darleys Restaurant at Lilianfels

After hearing a new chef had taken over Darleys at the end of 2011, I thought I would take the chance. My previous visit earlier in the year was disappointing but wanted to give the restaurant and the new chef a chance to redeem the reputation of Darleys. I'm so glad I went as our evening was absolute perfection!!! Service was friendly, prompt and staff were knowledgable on the menu. We had the fresh crayfish with pickled vegetables and smoked bone marrow with local wild herbs and flowers. The dish was perfectly balanced and so delicate but full of flavour. The pig belly dish was mouth watering tender with a crispy skin on top. For mains we had the snapper and the beef. Both great portions and so delicious I didn't want them to end!! Dessert topped the night off beautifully with a Chocolate and orange cake which would keep any chocolate lover happy. The peach crumble was so unique and full of textures, every mouthful was a beautiful surprise. Overall, Darley's seems to be in good hands again, and I would highly recommend everyone to go and experience it. 25/02/2012

A very disappointing evening for my husband and I. Despite booking in advance for a special occasion and for the degustation, we were given an ordinary seat (requested a view) and there was no degustation at all. Darley's is sourcing top quality meat (free range pork, quail and great beef in our meal) but the pork belly (though tasty) in my entree wasn't crisp (I assume there was to be a nice textural contrast with the scallop and jellyfish - wasn't happening). The vegetables were honestly dreadful. I am fully convinced the side of potatoes were boiled supermarket chats. Lovely smoked butter on the beans. The sauce with the quail entree had a nasty end note - a bitter scratch at the back of the throat. I had the veg main and it was a thoughtless jumble (also poor presentation). The pea consomme tasted like a wheat grass shot. Beef main was excellent, the best cut of beef either of us had ever tasted with subtle wasabi. If everything had been this good we would have been in heaven. Cooking should be a combination of skill, generosity and self expression. These elements were not balanced for our dining experience at Darley's. 13/01/2012

A friend and I shared a High Tea experience here recently. Wonderful food, friendly, unobtrusive service by all the staff and the only disappointment was to find when we went to pay for our lovely afternoon tea we were charged an extra $6.50 for a second cup of black coffee. It did put a dampener on what had been one of those perfect afternoons. I felt that our waiter, who suggested I needed another cup perhaps should also have mentioned that it would incur a further charge. I would thoroughly recommend everything else. It was fabulous. 14/05/2011