Reviews for Lone Star Bar & Cafe

by Aaron B.
25th August 2010

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

Lone star is never anything less that AWESOME.

The branch in New Lynn always has awesome service (and generally the wait staff are fairly easy on the eye too lol).

Had the ribs last time I was there…. SO GOOD.

A little pricey for what you get though, which makes it a 4 star

by Janene
18th April 2012

I have not been to Lone Star for years having been unimpressed by the first visit but decided it was time to give it another go. With family, including two young children, we went. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table for a start, which was ok to a point as some of the party were still to arrive. But with all bar seating inside taken up, we were left with a table outside which, was not ideal given it wasn’t exactly freezing but it was not a summer evening either and I had not come dressed to sit outside for 45 minutes. It was either that or our whole party, kids included, would have had to perch at the bar. Also not an appealing option but we live with that part.

After seating however, it took TWO HOURS from seating to the wait staff taking our orders and delivering just entrees and mains. It was 10pm by the time we got out of there which was about 10 minutes after we’d finished our mains and is far too late when you have children in tow. Looking around the restaurant, whilst it was busy during our actual wait for the table, by the time we were seated there were a number of empty tables. So to have such lengthy waits for our meals was inexplicable and frankly, unacceptable.

The food itself, well, I ordered the Pork which sounded yummy on the menu. It arrived and the portion was HUGE, yes, far too big in fact. The slab of pork was too big that it clearly was too difficult for the chef to avoid the meat being dry. Perhaps this was the reason for the complete drowning in a fairly tasteless apple sauce. The meal came delivered with a pile of average tasting coleslaw and what is described as chips, turns out to be chunks of deep fried potato. I could have gone and bought the ingredients, gone home and cooked a tastier meal for less cost and in less time than we had to wait.

I enjoy going out to a nice restaurant and dine out regularly at some of Auckland’s restaurant offerings. But overall I thought the food at Lone Star was, at best, average. It was too expensive for being average and the table service far too slow. I will not be returning.

by Ivana
4th April 2012

We visited Lone Star restaurant one year ago, the food was really delicious, so we went there last week, and we have been disappointed, food was average, same as I will cook dinner at home, my husband was waiting too long time for his wine to arrive, very slow service. We will be not back anytime soon. It’s look like the chef has changed.

by kolzee
20th November 2011

Had a very poor experience here, substandard food which they apologised for and tried to make up for but even after deducting from the bill I still felt I’d paid twice what the meals deserved. And if I charged them by the hour for waiting they would’ve owed me… unacceptably slow service.

by Sam D.
24th October 2011

Big portions, simple food, been here a quite a few times. Good place to come if your hungry.
Don’t have a starter if you want dessert because the portions are pretty substantial.

by Georgina
10th October 2011

I have been going here over the past six months, some days are really great, but the service is slow and slack so get your order ready to go at once.

The waiting girl staff do not tend to your needs, they wait until you try to wave them down. But overall I have found the food yummy

by Lynda
3rd October 2011

Lone Star have a high reputation which they guard jealously – and no wonder, competition is fierce in the area where there seems to be an eatery of some kind every few yards.
I’ve eaten at Lone Star several times and never been disappointed (I’ve also never been able to finish the gigantic meal I’ve been served but the staff provide take-away boxes so it can all be enjoyed again at home).
Lone Star pride themselves not just on good food but on the friendliness of their staff and this really comes across. There is nothing worse than wait staff who treat you as if you are an inconvenience in their evening.
Here you’ll find smiles, jokes and an appropriate level of familiarity to put you at your ease.
My tiny, tiny criticism, is that for an older chook like me, with a vision problem, the lighting is a bit too subdued and that makes me nervous about falling over a step or dog or baby!
But apart from that, I’d take anyone there for a special meal. In fact, I have four friends who all have birthdays within a week of mine, so that means we ALL get free desserts – well, it’s worth a try

by karim
22nd September 2011

My 3rd visit here and I have to say the kids are always begging to go. The staff are second to none in friendliness and service i cannot fault them and a lesson could be taken from there book by a lot of city restaurants that I visit.Good on you all!
My previous experiences at Lone Star were average to good but this time It was much better.
I had the ribeye which was tasty and the kids scoffed everything in sight, they couldn’t get enough of it and absolutely love the place.
if I had a fault it would be the price on the mains they are up there but I guess everyone knows that before visiting any Lone Star and that is beyond the control of the people actually working the restaurant on a day to day basis.
Yes we’ll go back and next time I’m gonna have to have me the ribs,they look the best…….

by Caroline R.
19th September 2011

Went to Lone Star in New Lynn for the first time on Friday night.
The waitress did not tell us the specials. We waited 45 minutes after ordering then asked how much longer the food would be, it took another 15 minutes, this was for the entree. We noted people who arrived after us got their food first. We had to call the waitress 3 times to get dessert ordered. Food wasn’t that great not what was listed on the menu. ie Salad was very disappointing.
Definitely will not be returning.

by treena
24th May 2011

Went here for the first time in the weekend, with a group. Very disappointing, service was slow. We waited a good hour before mains arrived.
I had the johny cash dish, dry… I heard the ribs didn’t have much meat or sauce on it.
Waitress was alittle on the pushy side.
I don’t think i’ll be back any time soon.

by Lily
13th May 2011

Ended up at the Lone Star restaurant last night for the first time in years.

The service was fine, not too pushy and the food came out in a good time. Hard to hear anything over the music however.

Impressed with the portion sizes – I ended up taking my meal home for breakfast AND lunch the next day! Although, eating it now I must admit that at the time, alcohol helped with the taste. It’s fairly average.

by Sophie C.
17th April 2011

Hands down, this was the most disappointing dining experience of my life. If any one knows anything about food, than this would be similar to eating the grime of the bottom of somebodies shoe..

Not only was the service was appalling…(the waitress did not even know what Budweiser was, or any of the prices of the specials, plus she acted like she couldn’t give a damn in the world) but the food was disgusting…The ribs tasted like they were marinated in salty water, not hoisin sauce and sweet and sour and the chicken breast had the attitude of a dead mans arm…

Appalling. Please any one that is in their right mind would not go here!!!!

by David
26th February 2011

First experience with the place was terrible. We walked in and asked if we could just have a drink. They told us no worries and the bar is over there. We asked for Cider (on the menu) but didn’t have. We asked for another thing off the menu but they didn’t have it either so decided to go for just a simple beer and were then told that we were only allowed to drink if we would order food with it so we left.

Gave it a second shot a few weeks back. First waitress was very unfriendly but the one serving us on the table was very nice introducing herself to us and really looked after us during the night without being pushy. Started with some bread, recommended! Real good home baked bread. As a main we both had chicken. Absolutely fantastic but next time I’ll take the small portion because it was HUUUGE! Food was a little pricy but good flavour and good atmosphere.

by Paul M.
17th October 2009

I’m in two minds about Lone Star. The food is pretty nice, but perhaps a bit pricey for what it is – its not complicated stuff, its comfort food you could whip up at home.

The normal size dinners are pretty large, with smaller servings available for those who don’t want huge – but the Blackboard specials I’ve tried (usually the nicest option) are more expensive than the large size menu meals but the size of the smaller servings at best.

by Clare
10th February 2009

This was my second time at this restaurant. The first experience was very good, however really disappointed with my most recent visit. I asked for my meat to be well done, it came out very rare, the blood had seeped out of my steak and been soaked up by my potatoes and coleslaw etc. I sent it back and asked for it to be cooked for a bit longer, which they did and I started eating my meal. Upon my first forkful of coleslaw I encountered a very long human hair embedded in it. Don’t know if it was put there on purpose after returning my steak or whether it was a complete accident. I did not eat any more of my meal, however they did give me a complimentary glass of wine while I waited for my meal to come back out, did not charge me for my meal and gave us a voucher to the value of my meal to come back again. I have not been back but tempted to try the branch on the North Shore instead.

by Vanessa
17th June 2008

Food is always great here and they offer half sized meals for those who don’t like to gorge. Definately recommend.

Write Review