Pilu at Freshwater

• Overall 1.3 - Food 0, Ambience 3, Value 0, Service 2

  Spatchcock was deboned battery produced chicken totally lacking in flavour. Potatoes poorly cooked, brussel sprouts overcooked.

  Overall very disappointing.   (Disappointed - July, 2012)

• Overall 4 - Food 2, Ambience 7, Value 1, Service 6

  This restaurant is in a beautiful location.

  The building is lovely, although with a sloping floor that hasn't been corrected at table level, so your bread rolls really do roll, and your wine is very easy to knock over...

  The staff are attentive, even if not all of them are fully informed. "what's this on the pasta?" reply "herbs" Yes well, we knew that much!

  What really let this place down for us was the food.

  Unimaginative dishes served over-salted and yet still bland. The risotto con calamaretti (29) was utterly tasteless with invisible squid, the tagliolini con vongole ($27) far too salty with gritty shellfish.

  The Zuppa del pescatore ($45) was too salty and rather spartan for the price. Porcetto arrosto ($43) , with various cuts of oven roasted suckling pig was rather dry, although the crackling was good. The side of chicory($9) was slimy and over-cooked.

  Desert needed to be spectacular to bring us back on track, but it wasn't.

  With expensive wine, this meal cost us about $150 a head and I have to say it really wasn't worth it. I won't be back. My wife's final comment on the food? "Well, the bread rolls were nice...."   (disappointing - August, 2010)

• Overall 5.5 - Food 1, Ambience 10, Value 1, Service 10

  The starters were very rustic and salty..and small for the price. The suckling pig must be hit and miss because mine was dry , fatty and impossible to eat. Very overpriced/ over rated. Based on the pig...I didn't order anything else.

  I was shocked actually because I expected great things from this venue. Don't judge a book by its' cover!   (vivalavida - See my reviews (3) - December, 2008)

• Overall 7.5 - Food 8, Ambience 8, Value 6, Service 8

  We chose the 6 course degustation menu, absolutely delicious, variety of flavours and textures, a few dishes a little oily, but that's up to individual taste I guess. Waiter knowledge and description of unknown ingredients to table was impecible, service excellent on the evening. Prior visit overall not as impressive as this, but would try again and recommend.   (April, 2008)

• Overall 4.8 - Food 6, Ambience 6, Value 4, Service 3

  Manager has an unwanted arrogance that contradicts a limited knowledge of cuisine and her training--if she's even had that! What a pity. When things go wrong, THAT's when managerial skill is assessed - any galah can be positive and friendly when all is going well. Being condescedning to customers is not accepable. This restaurant can be awarded all the hats in the world but customers will vote with their feet if the management is a let-down.   (January, 2008)

• Overall 9.3 - Food 10, Ambience 9, Value 9, Service 9

  Wow what an amazing experience. Suckling pig was to die for, so succulent and the best crackling ever. Great traditional Italian food with a comprehensive wine list and very knowledgable service. Highly recommended to any food fanatics.   (Amazing - March, 2007)

• Overall 5 - Food 5, Ambience 5, Value 5, Service 5

  Booked in advance for window table with ocean views for birthday, then seated elsewhere on evening. If known, would have changed booking. Agree with Anonymous that the signature dish, suckling pig, was dreadful and cold like Xmas leftovers. The meat wasn't letting go of the bone and hardly any crackle. Other meals okay, left before having dessert.   (Adventurous - See my reviews (5) - March, 2007)

• Overall 2.3 - Food 2, Ambience 2, Value 1, Service 4

  Whilst the pasta was excellent the 4 pieces for $24 for an entree was rude. The main dish of the Chef's specialty of suckling pig was fatty, bland, no flavour and was the most overrated dish I have had in years. $240 for lunch absurd, and pathetic. Definitely overrated. Drop the prices and concentrate on actual flavour for the overpriced dishes... Don't go there...   (January, 2007)

• Overall 7.8 - Food 8, Ambience 9, Value 6, Service 8

  The food is amazing and the setting even better.   (yum - January, 2007)

• Overall 9.8 - Food 10, Ambience 10, Value 9, Service 10

  We were at Pilu for a birthday lunch a couple of months ago and really enjoyed ourselves. The food is great - I had one of the best seafood marinaras ever. The service was friendly. The views really make it.   (Nat - See my reviews (6) - January, 2007)

Plus Overall 7.6 - Food 7.3, Ambience 8.3, Value 7, Service 7.7 From 70 reviews