The Deck @ Red Beret Hotel

we have always found the red hat a bit hit and miss (usually inconsistency with the quality of the meals) and depending on how bust the place is influences the service, but we had s table of 8 on Sunday night and our meals were spot on and the waitress was lovely. We had the pleasure of the deck pretty much to ourselves and it was relaxing ! So thank you red hat
P.s though we do miss the beautiful murial of the frog and green scenic background and can't believe you replaced it with wallpaper !!!

Visited the Red Beret for lunch with a little trepidation after seeing the previous reviews. Our experience could not have been more different.

The food was great, priced at a reasonable level (not cheap, but where I'd expect for a bistro experience), but good sized servings. It arrived fairly quickly (within 10 minutes or so) after ordering. The staff all appeared friendly and courteous - save for one waitress who could smile a little more.

Would definitely go back if were back in Cairns. (Come from WA)

First the qualification to this review : We're locals, and this is our local boozer, so we're now known by the staff. That said, we've never had a bad meal ever, and they've always been accommodating. This is NOT a fine-dining restaurant, but it is an excellent dining pub, good quality food and lots of it.

Steak sandwiches at lunch-time are enough for two. Main courses hearty and wholesome and delicious- I always look forward to the steaks, and the shoulder of lamb! The Italian starter platter brilliant - the sea-food platters good, loved the pasta (when I wasn't gluten intolerant) and the specials board usually well worth trying. (The mushroom risotto has been disappointing a few times.)

Of course I'd recommend it - we're there on average twice a week, and practically lived there with our own reserved table during the Rugby World Cup!

We have lived in the area now for nearly 12 months and have used the courtesy bus on many occasions, the service has all was been friendly and timely, the facilities for the kids is wonderful, the raffle night on Friday is fantastic, when we have had interstate visitors its the first place we go, we now consider it "Our Local" we love it. Keep up the great work...

I thought we would have learned the first time we went to Red Beret on Mother's Day, but no. We decided to give them another go after having an awful experience on Mother's Day with them. It was hubby's birthday last night, we were a party of 4 with a toddler of almost 2. I ordered the kids meal upfront early and got it reasonably quick and then we ordered our mains for the adults and we waited 1.5 hours. By that time I was just livid as I had a toddler who was getting increasingly difficult as it was way over her bed time. Then we were offered a bottle of wine for our wait! So when our food eventually arrived we decided to take it as take away as it would be a night mare to try and enjoy our meal with a toddler going off at you cause she is so tired.

This was the last time for us and no more. I am appalled at the bad service we got and this wasn't the first time. Made a special occasion a dreadful and awful one.

Had lunch at the Red Beret Redlynch today. Very disappointing, the service was totally unacceptable. No cutlery was provided even after several requests. So we had to eat with our fingers. The attitude of the staff was dismissive, and the food was tasteless.

My husband and I live in Cairns and could have become regular customers, however we are English and I believe the staff thought we were tourists. No wonder the tourism industry is in trouble if this is how visitors to this beautiful city are treated.

We are locals and eat regularly at the Red Beret. The new decor and menu are great. I like the salt and pepper calamari on salad with mango chili salsa. Other menu items are great (chicken parma, for eg). Wednesday is kids eat free night with one free kid meal for every paying adult. The kids play area is fantastic (playground and computer games) and they bring in a bounce house for Wednesday nights. Highly recommended and very popular.

As a Ceoliac I had very few choices but what a surprise when I paid $17.95 for a bowl of lettuce with a couple of small pieces of bacon topped with an egg. What a rip off.

The menu is getting tired and the chefs special last night was minestrone soup for main course!

We could not hear ourselves talk when the incoherent singer started playing and we left an hour earlier than intended. The happy hour has been cut and there was talk of limiting the courtesy bus. Pick your act up. The name above the door suggests fair play.

Its hard for me to comment on the food at the Red Beret Hotel because even though we went there last night (a Tuesday night), with the bistro less than full of patrons, and even though we had children with us, we ordered our food at 7.05pm and walked out at 8.45pm without having received our meals!! Just simply terrible, they either have big problems in the kitchen with staffing or big problems with however is running it these days, - it was a shocker!

The Red Beret of old was great - what exists in its place today is a noisy shell lacking the atmosphere this once great pub was famous for.......unfotunately I dont think there is a pub in Cairns that has any atmosphere...they have all become modernised sterile food halls. The food was fine but the venue was definitely lacking for me. Great place for families.

When we first moved to Cairns, it was difficult to find a well priced, but decent sized meal where the quality wasn't compromised and had friendly, competent staff.

We have dined at the Red Beret Hotel in Redlycnch (Cairns) several times, and never have we been dissapointed.

The food is always hot and tasty and the service friendly.

I couldn't give a higher reccommendation.

Being locals, we get to sample just about every fare available in Cairns...and you can't beat a pub for putting on a decent sized nosh. The Red Beret, and other Hedley pubs in Cairns, are no exception. At least once a fortnight I, the missus, and our 8YO head to the beret for a feed in a friendly, lively atmosphere.

Food is always fresh (great salads and/or vegetables) and the servings are generous. Reef & Beef is usually to my taste, and the missus goes for the veal parmesan. No complaints from either of us. Throw in the kids treats like free ice cream..providing she quaffs her dinner, and we're always left replete. A couple of Crown Lagers me/Chardonnay for the boss to wash it all down, tops the night off.

We've never had a concern with the Red Beret, and we've been coming here regularly, fortnightly for over 4 years now. I have no problems recommending the pub for a decent feed in a decent environment.

I travel around Australia a fair bit and a lot in North Queensland.

I am a vegetarian and you might think being a vegetarian is limiting cuisine wise..fish and salads.

Not so ...imaginitive menus occasionaly throw up interesting food. I do mean jusr occasionally and the "best " restraunts frequently disappoint.

I get surprised when I least expect it.

For instance passing though your area today I went into your restaurant area for a quick lunch expecting nothing much at all to be honest. I ordered a "big salad" and my wife had a chicken salad (kebab).

Well the salads were excellent. Flavoursome ( and in my case big enough to be filling...quite a task with a salad.

The salad was interesting and had an overall flavour mixed with a good variety of lettuces, some sun dried tomato and nuts etc.

Anyhow I did take the time to identify and thank the young apprentice for good preparation.

Hope he appreciated that as I rarely thank people for good work I expect they should do as a matter of course.

I thought you should know your staff and at least the food I and my wife had had surprised a sometimes disappointed palate.

Culture of the North
Reviewed on: 2003-03-30
Reviewer's rating: 3

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