Aura Cafe - Kingston

This was an annual event for our club. More than 40 members turned up for dinner and entertainment. Outstanding result well managed by the staff and manager.

We have trouble finding a pub meal on Mondays often the staff's day off. Southern Lights is open and it did a really good meal for the 3 of us, including dessert. We'd heard service could be slow here and it was. But to be fair we were the only patrons and they did a different main meal for each of us properly cooked and delivered and certainly value for money and in a lovely setting.

Six of us went to the Café for lunch. Staff were welcoming and explained the menu in detail. The food was delicious and well presented. Drinks were reasonably priced. The Seniors Lunch Menu is good value for money. The seating was comfortable and the premises were clean and spacious.

The schnitzel was disappointingly small for the price, the gravy was watery, and the salad was limp and uninspired. The service was slow and unfriendly, despite the restaurant being nearly empty. It's frustrating when establishments can't even cook basic pub food properly. There was a lack of passion in the food, resulting in a bland and boring meal. I won't be returning.

When our food finally came, some of the dishes, particularly the gnocchi and duck, did not look appetizing at all. The service was slow, causing the first dishes to become cold while waiting for everyone else to be served. Regrettably, almost all of the meals, with the exception of the steak, were unappetizing and close to inedible. Six dishes were left half-eaten, and the gnocchi dishes were barely touched. It was clear from the discarded plates that the quality of the meals was subpar. When we raised our concerns with the staff, we received little response from a younger server, while a senior female waitress apologized and promised a reduced bill. However, when it came time to pay, we discovered that no discount had been applied, despite our inquiry. I was embarrassed that I had recommended this restaurant to my family, and most of us left feeling unsatisfied and hungry. The fact that only one out of the nine meals was fully eaten speaks volumes about the poor quality of the food.