Aaliyah's Restaurant - Ipswich

My companions and I did not enjoy our dining experience here. The staff were attentive and friendly, but the meals did not meet our expectations for fine dining. The salmon was bland and poorly presented. Overall, we have had better meals at home.

We have dined here several times and never had a bad meal tonight's meals were lovely sad to see they weren't as busy tonight with the opening of some new places in town we really enjoy eating here

A group of 14 of us went for a Christmas function and were the only ones in the restaurant apart from one other couple which seemed strange at this time of year. I decided to order two entrees instead of one and a main and asked for garlic prawn skewers and calamari. Was told they had no calamari. Okay then I will have the soup. Oh we haven't got any soup, the supplier hasn't been. Oh and by the way we don't have any lemon squash either it will have to be lemonade. Then they advised to the lady who had organised it that they only had 4 lamb shanks and 5 people had ordered. She could order something else. You have to be kidding! When my garlic prawn skewers arrived as a main course there were about 8 small prawns on wooden skewers that were burnt and subsequently broke, sitting on a few wilted lettuce leaves. This was supposed to be a family celebration but it turned into something like Fawlty Towers. And since when does a waitress give one drink out at a time? Maybe they had run out of drink trays too. I am quite a prolific reviewer and have never been negative in any way but this just had to be said.

Recently visited had a booking of ten, which I might add we were the only ones present on this particular occasion. Arrived table was set nicely which I thought was a nice start, but unfortunately it was all downhill from there. Tried to order a bottle of wine was told they were out of stock, then tried to order another, this time only 3/4 of a bottle left so could only sell by the glass. By this time our only alternative was to order yet another bottle which was way more expensive. Managed to barter them down to the 2nd less expensive wine. Wine arrived at table, poured by waitress who then preceded to place bottle on table. Asked for a wine bucket, but told they couldn't find any. Moving on to order our meals, three of us tried to order the lamb shanks, alas had run out, bearing in mind we are the only table in restaurant. We then ordered our 2nd choice meal, which although was tasty, was COLD. Gave up after this didn't order dessert, although others did were left disappointed. Needless to say, won't be back again, but as a fine dining establishment you they to pick up their game.

We had our wedding reception at Aaylia’s on Limestone in Ipswich. They are not function ready at all, I had paid $100 deposit and I was told on many occasions when I would meet them to discuss the reception that I would get the deposit back on the night, this was not the case. They said that it was used on the final bill which was not discussed with us and I had said to them 2 days before my wedding that I would like the deposit back on the Saturday and it was not to be used on the final bill. They claim that after giving us discounts and free meals that they did not need to do this. The first time we had a free meal was with a voucher that they gave us. They told us that our meals at the reception was free for Nathan and Myself when our parents were going to pay for ours with everyone else’s meals. Also when I first contacted them about using their restaurant for the reception they said we could have decorations for free as long as they could take photos for promotion purposes which we were fine with, but all they gave us was napkins, table cloths, Nathan and I didn’t even get water glasses but everyone else did. They charged us for corkage when they were BYO because when we booked they weren’t licensed yet for alcohol. We pre-ordered the meals a week in advance so that they could be precooked and then finished by the time we had all arrived, two of the kids meals were 10mins late they didn’t get there’s until the mains for adults came out which arrived an hr and a half late my bridal party were last to get their meals which isn’t right they should of been after Nathan and myself. Our wedding cake was dessert which took 45mins to be served after being cut. Dirty plates and glasses were left on tables for half an hr before my mother in law asked them to be cleared away. We didn’t get our entrance song as there was no extension cord, my brother had to go home and get an extension cord and microphone. The tables weren’t even set up the way we wanted it and place settings where done, my mum was placed on Nathans side and Nathans aunt and uncle were on my side, the wedding cake table wasn’t set up correctly. So if you know someone who is wanting to have a function at their restaurant make sure that they get everything they want in writing and that whatever Aaylia’s is willing to provide in writing as well and especially if they are meant to receive their deposit back, and make sure all parties sign it so they don’t get screwed around like I did.