The Survey Co. - Brisbane

This week on Thursday night a few of us went for dinner at Survey Co. We've been there before but this time was a real disappointment. Instead of leaving with the feeling of being cared for and enjoying a delicious midweek dinner together we decided they must be struggling. The staff seemed new and naive or unprepared. They even appeared bored. We saw other tables sending back food so obviously ours wasn't the only disappointed group. Their location is great and they used to be a go to place now it feels as if their standards are sliding. The Pissaladière did not in any way resemble the classic. The caramelised onions were exceedingly sweet and I have a strong suspicion were out of a jar. Irrespective they were not baked into the crust and the dish contained non of the saltiness you'd expect as the anchovies and olives bake with the onions and pastry. The crab sandwich was something you'd find at an afternoon tea but without rich creaminess or sweetness you'd expect and the bread was the bread your school lunches were likely made out of. The warm beetroot salad had no freshness or acidity, it was simply beetroot with some goats cheese drizzle. To add insult to injury it was a minuscule serving for a shared side dish that costs more than you'd expect for a side dish. The $98 whole duck dish served with fennel salad and cassoulet was good in flavour but serious lacking in portions to serve 4 people and was served in a cold enamel pot that I'm certain has never been anywhere near an oven. Don't try and give the impression you've been roasting the duck all day if you in fact assembled the dish in the kitchen with very little love, attention or French finesse. If you're ever in Sydney head to Four Fourteen (Colin Fassnidge's restaurant) that is how you serve a whole duck. The fennel salad could not be classified as a salad. It was shaved fennel with no other identifiable flavours. The cassoulet was not saucy or flavourful as you'd expect this beautiful French country comfort food to be. For such an inexpensive dish to create they could definitely splash out and serve 4 diners enough cassoulet to fill them up. The Negronis were good as was the bottle of wine we ordered

This week on Thursday night a few of us went for dinner at Survey Co. We've been there before but this time was a real disappointment. Instead of leaving with the feeling of being cared for and enjoying a delicious midweek dinner together we decided they must be struggling. The staff seemed new and naive or unprepared. They even appeared bored. We saw other tables sending back food so obviously ours wasn't the only disappointed group. Their location is great and they used to be a go to place now it feels as if their standards are sliding. The Pissaladière did not in any way resemble the classic. The caramelised onions were exceedingly sweet and I have a strong suspicion were out of a jar. Irrespective they were not baked into the crust and the dish contained non of the saltiness you'd expect as the anchovies and olives bake with the onions and pastry. The crab sandwich was something you'd find at an afternoon tea but without rich creaminess or sweetness... read more

The environment is really nice, food is delicious. Cooked really well. But the desert a little bit disappointed. We expected more delicate presentation for the desert.

Absolutely amazing! The Survey Co has an amazing ambiance from the moment you walk in, the staff are very personable and are brilliant at their jobs. The service is from these guys is outstanding. The food is to die for, some surprising combinations but absolutely mouth water! Can't rate this place high enough! Will definitely be a repeat customer.

Reservations are highly recommended at The Survey Co., which is why my wife and I have never made it past their fabulous bar. While the dining room may be booked out, the bar is often empty, which is great for us, but odd when you consider the fact that you can eat the same food there that they serve on the other side of the wall. We love The Survey Co. for their take on classic cocktails, like the Survey Sazerac (cognac, absinthe and bitters) and their ever changing menu. One night my wife had an amazing Banh Mi. Another night it was Pork Belly Tacos. More recently it was the Char Siu Pork Buns. One of these nights we'll make a reservation and order two Death Row Meals. Until then, we'll enjoy the great drinks, wonderful food and amazing service in the bar! ***I was holding off on writing a review until we have the Death Row Meals, but when I passed by last night and found brown paper on the windows and doors I feared they had closed permanently. Thankfully they will reopen on 16 January! Apologies for the false alarm Cino's Mum.***