Benchmark Wine Bar

Overall 8.3 - Food 9, Ambience 9, Value 7, Service 8

Quite possibly the best restaurant in Canberra. Having been here 6 times in the last 3 or 4 years I can happily say that the food is always divine, the wine matched perfectly and the waitstaff respectful and knowledgable. Never a bad experience.   (June - May, 2012)

Overall 2.5 - Food 7, Ambience 1, Value 1, Service 1

A very disappointing experience. Service was appalling, very, very slow, with rude wait staff who didn't care.

It took ages for our waiter to come and take a drink order, he did not explain our menu or offer any knowledge on the wine he was serving. One of our party asked for information regarding the wine tastings on the blackboard, only to get a reply that went along the lines of don't even bother, we are too busy for that tonight!

Entree was served an hour after we placed our order and was brought to the table by the chef. As it turned out the order was not even ours.

The service went from bad to worse, dishes began piling up on the floor outside the kitchen, it was joke to even try and get the attention of any waiter, wine and water was continually poured on the table and guests rather then in the glasses and the waiters were behind the bar drinking beer before our party had even been served our last course.

We were at Benchmark for 5 hours and it was 11pm by the time our dessert arrived. Some of our guests left before dessert arrived as it was getting beyond a joke.

We went to Benchmark to celebrate a birthday with a large group. We took part in the set menu and spent over $1000. Would NEVER return to Benchmark. A terrible dining experience.   (js - February, 2010)

Overall 3.5 - Food 6, Ambience 5, Value 2, Service 1

If the defence for the terrible service and attitude of the staff is the food that Benchmark Wine Bar serves, then it would want to be a lot better. After waiting for nearly an hour for our food order to be taken with only half of the table of ten receiving any form of drinks service, the Benchmark experience was sub standard. The wines, supposedly matched to the menu, were far from outstanding but it is difficult to enhance cold eye fillet and potato or the over-cooked rack of lamb that had been promised to be a loin. When waiting an 90 mins between courses you would hope the drink service would help you through the night, but as the dishes piled up on the floor (literally!) the table was scarcely able to get water let alone wine. When a waiter graced us with their presence, it was more often than not that the wine not available. A terrible experience, but a $1200 mistake that won't be made again.   (Justin Taylor - February, 2010)

Overall 9 - Food 10, Ambience 8, Value 8, Service 10

We took people for a business dinner. Everybody had a great time. Food was excellent. Wine fantasic. Will be going back.   (fam48 - See my reviews (4) - February, 2009)

Overall 6.5 - Food 9, Ambience 7, Value 2, Service 8

A fine meal and fine wine, but simply too extensive   (claybe - See my reviews (4) - January, 2008)

Overall 7.3 - Food 9, Ambience 8, Value 4, Service 8

Excellent food, great wine list, pleasant and attentive service. Only spoilt by highly inflated wine prices, eg $55 for a bottle which can be bought for $30 normal price and $20 on special.   (May, 2007)