Bella Baci

Garlic bread in any self-respecting restaurant should be either free - or consist of a loaf. I am very much unimpressed that a single slice of garlic bread 6cmx10cm, cut in half - cost $5.00.

Oysters Kilpatrick - badly shucked, pieces of oyster shell mixed with the bacon; sauce overpowered the oysters.

Duck: 2 legs ($34). This is one of the cardinal sins of food presentation. If serving duck - serve half a duck or leg and breast. No orange glaze seen in the vicinity of the plate, as stated on the menu. Vegetables accompanying duck: 3 tiny brocoli florettes (size of 10cent piece); 2 snow pea pods, one snap pea pod, 3 beans, 2 tiny florettes of cauliflower, the same size as broccoli. 4 very small pieces of roast potato were cooked well.

The "special reef and beef" ($42) was definitely not special, in fact it was dreadful. The "rib eye" was not a decent piece of meat; the meat was chewy and sinewy, the king prawns on top (3) were the smallest foetal king prawns known to the sea. Accompanying vegetables were similar to those with duck.

The chef's special dessert ($14.50) was a joke. It was supposed to be a sticky raisin pudding; it actually was a piece of dry raisin cake 3cmx7cmx6cm accompanied by ?maple syrup, chocolate sauce decoration, cream and icecream.

Service was cheerful; wine list was good; however we will not recommend this restaurant or return to it again as the food was well below standard

bella baci is a magnificent restaurant on the lovely williams esplanade in palm cove. last saturday my wife and i dined at bella baci and couldent have been more impressed. The food was so fresh (i highly recommend the Zuppa Di Mare - tast is out of this world) and service was fast and efficient. The ambiance complemented everything from the fresh mediteranian seafood to the still calm ocean that lies just accross the street.