Red Grapevine Restaurant & Bar

After booking in February for a booking of 20 (family & friends group of people travelling from 200-250km) to celebrate a graduation we were told today...3 days before the booking that the kitchen was closed and our booking was cancelled. Such a let down and not at all what you'd expect from a restaurant that has a good reputation. My advice, be wary, if they can let us down, they could do the same to you.What did I like least? The disappointment, lack of genuine care for clientele and disrespect that such treatment represents.

Being a local of Armidale my whole life, the Red Grapevine had always been a star in hosting special occasion dinners or drinks. The food was fabulous, the atmosphere classy and private and the customer service was impeccable. Over the years it has hosted many celebratory occasions for myself and friends, with many memories being made here. Until recently (the past 12 months) it has been the go to place. I am writing this review for as a customer who is appalled that such a special place to myself and the town has been beyond disappointing the past 2 times I have dined here with family and friends. I am lost for words at the shocking down hill turn this once fantastic place has taken. This is not the first time myself and many others have been severely disappointed, but this was too over the top to not say anything about. We had a farewell dinner reservation booked for 7 people at 6:30, granted we were running 15 minutes late. Upon arrival, we were seated in the bar area, waiting for the final 2 family members to arrive. We were not greeted with menus, water was not provided, and after a 25 minute wait in the ridiculously hot area a member of our group decided he had to go to the bar to order drinks for our whole table because no waiter/waitress had even approached us after we were seated. Throughout the bar other guests were fanning themselves with objects as it was so hot (there was aircon but not nearly enough). Once our drinks were brought to us, we continued to wait another 20 minutes until we again realised we would have to approach a waiter to ask for menus, and for the fans to be turned on to try cool everyone down. The menus came, and our order was taken at around 7:30. We received our entrees of bread at 7:45 and then nothing. Nothing. Our entree plates sat in front of us for an hour, until we called a waitress over who asked us if we were ready to order our entrees which we clearly had already had a very long time before. Once our entree plates were taken, our mains did not arrive until 9:40. We had watched people eat their mains and desserts and leave in the time it took to receive ours. The owner did not once speak to us about the extensive wait, close to 2 hours, yet sent waiters to apologise on behalf of the poor management. We were offered a round of complimentary drinks for our wait, which was a lovely gesture we must admit, until the drinks were spilt all over myself and the lady who was being farewelled at our dinner. We were very understanding as it does happen and the waiter was very apologetic, yet not once did the manager come and say anything even though we saw her numerous times after this incident. Once the food arrived, the two $40 steaks did not come with any steak knife, thus having to use the same cutlery from entrees and it was all well below standard for the prices charged and to top it all off, it was cold. The food we had waited almost 2 hours for; 5/7 dishes were COLD. Upon payment for our experience, the manager apologised and blamed the delays on a table requesting their food an hour later, thus "putting out the timing mechanism".A terrible excuse for a terrible night at a place of which myself and many others once loved. Thank you for the free drinks, but please return this place to its prior glory so I can once again have nice things to say about it, because right now I do not recommend anyone to your restaurant.Management- if you have any questions regarding my review you are more then welcome to respond with a email address that I can contact.