Review Byblos Bar And Restaurant - Brisbane

Get the negative out of the way first. The place is noisy, but not much they can do about that. The lady that took our order did it all by memory, impressive, till she forgot our drinks. The table at the end of the meal took a little longer to clear than I would have liked. The positive, great food well cooked and plenty of it. For me the snails were a standout. Would have no trouble recommending, or going back to try a few more other dishes. For me it was reasonably priced, considering restaurants of this quality. Well done guys.

Great food, tasty, fresh, good quality! Average service, staff is very friendly, but the bad timing for serving food, and the slow service didn’t allow us to have a satisfied experience with the food. Lovely ambiance, and great location.

Absolutely amazing experience. Ordered a lot of food and everything was so rich with flavours we cleared up every plate. Table service was on point and loved the rum infused dessert special. Orientation of the place was also beautiful. We are definitely coming back.

Amazing dining experience all round. Great service, and excellent food. If it weren't for poor weather it would have been a lovely view of the river, too.

Amazing food and service. The staff were really helpful and recommended the platter for two that could be made for three people. It was just the right amount of food for us and was delicious!!

Have eaten here a few times. The food is always good , however , it's so noisey that you can't have a sensible conversation. The other negative is the service. Sadly , every time we have been , it's been inattentive ( table not completely cleaned between courses), slow, occasionally lazy ( waiter couldn't be bothered stepping around table to set a dish down, instead trying to pass plate over guests heads) and forgetful. We had to ask multiple times at then end for the Lebanese coffee ( which took nearly 20mins to get ). I wouldn't recommend coming on the weekend if you are a family and / or you want to simply hear each other talk ( it's not family friendly and the noise is deafening at times ). Good to come with friends if you want a night out.

Highest quality of staff, friendliness and service I've had in a long time. High end. The food presentation and flavours were exceptional. Compliments to the Chef 😊

With 5 people we decided to get the banquet. It was light on (unless you like to fill up on bread, which we had to order extra), the service was very slow, and after 2 & a quarter hours we were still waiting for our final course. Dishes remained piled up around us as clueless staff wandered past. For $350 you could do better elsewhere. Disappointed and won't be coming back.

Went here for dinner and the food and and staff were great. Our waitress was bubbly and very helpful. We ordered 4 dishes to share, good portion sizes and every bite had me wanting more. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

Nice atmosphere and fantastic staff. Our waitress was really knowledgeable about the menu and our coeliac requirement. Love the no pretentiousness of the place and willingness to explain the menu. If you like whiskey then the Perfect Pear cocktail is a must try. Small in volume but just beautiful to drink.

My fiancé threw my 27th birthday party here in the lounge area on Saturday night with our closest friends. We were incredibly impressed with the outstanding serving from the staff members who were looking after us for the night. They were so attentive and friendly and we're happy to be there! The food was amazing and so were the cocktails. My fiancé also surprised me and proposed during the night and management made the moment extra special with champagne to celebrate. We cannot thank you enough or recommend Byblos any higher. What a great place! We are very much looking forward to coming back... thank you for making the night so special!

Menu has changed and is very average reads well but delivery ( except eggplant dip) was average at best. Floor and bar staff we had contact with had bad attitude and excelled in ignoring bring back the old Byblos the new version is disappointing

Great food, good atmosphere and our waiter lovely but that's where it ends... We got there at 7, were seated, but did not see anyone again for over half an hour. Slow to serve, slow for meals, slow for everything. I know it was a Tuesday night and it wasn't all that busy, but there seemed to be only 2 wait staff on. Can't fault your food and beverage but please have your staff at least be interested in the clientele and speed up the service. It is a bit annoying when you are paying good money.

Wine and view were good. That's where it ended. Ordered a trio of dips. They were under seasoned, really bland. The bread was store bought and cold. It was like eating rubber and rubber has more flavour. Could never find a waiter, when we needed one. We would we of ordered more. But it was that bad.

I heard this place was great. The overall ambiance and the espresso martinis was good. But other than that I was very disappointed by the food, and Lebanese food is my favourite. Baba Ganoush is my guilty pleasure so I ordered it as a starter an it was quite blend, I even had to check with the waiter that it was the right dip. Then had Shawarma beef which is meant to be rich and flavourful, it was poor quality of meat and over cooked. I’ve literally had better $10 kebab take away!!! Step up your game...

Kudos to Dio, our waitress on Saturday evening - she was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Well done Dio - thanks for looking after us ����

Nice venue good spot and friendly and efficient staff. Had an excellent Melbourne cup function would with great food. Would def go again

Delicious food! Perfect atmosphere and wonderful service! Highly recommend

Would highly recommend. The food was amazing. Will definetly be back!

I attended a hosted event for my friends birthday and I was very disappointed in the service. Staff were uneducated in good hospitality service, forgetting basic things and pulling faces at good paying customers. There was much confusion about our bar tab with multiple staff giving varied information. Very unprofessional, would not recommend. It is unfortunate as the food was very good and location lovely. Our host was refunded some of her bar tab as compensation for the trouble.

Great food Great place Fantastic to be with family A place to be

A lavish restaurant serving up some of the best Lebanese food I've had in a long time. The skewers were my favourite dish of the night followed by the white bait then the dumplings. Portions were generous and it's safe to say that I didn't leave with an empty stomach. Also, this place serves the best moscato - I've been on the hunt for a bottle ever since!<br/><br/>If you'd like to read more of my reviews, please check out my Zomato page and visit @cynthiaeats_ on Instagram for more photos!

The location, staff, cocktails and food were all fantastic, best feed I’ve had so far in Brisbane. <br/>Everything we tried was delicious, my favourites were the pumpkin balls filled with spinach and spices (I forget the name) and the calamari.<br/>Definitely likely to return!

We dined here on Saturday 25th 3pm . Ordered a platter for 2 . For the price I could best describe it as very poor value for money . Cold , stale store brought breads , dry almost unedible chicken and lamb , and dry stale/old pastries with very average flavours for $79 dollars I was totally underwhelmed. My local pub puts out better finger food for free !! I must say the service was excellent. We told the waitress about the food when we paid and she passed it onto a manager who in turn did nothing about it and didn’t even acknowledge us 😡

Good food, came quickly. Booked a last minute table with ease. Would recommend. They have booths which makes it easy when you have a number of kids with you,

This review really has been a long time coming. After coming here for years, I would strongly argue that Byblos is one of the best restaurants in Brisbane. <br/><br/>Shrouded in moody lighting, Byblos manages to weave a fantasy-like experience. As soon as one walks down the canopied enclosure towards the restaurant, it feels you’ve almost entered another world.<br/><br/>When walking in, one is promptly greeted and led to their seat. I recommend booking a both in advance. It’s a much more private experience and the seating is quite comfortable.<br/><br/>On my most recent visit to Byblos, we started off by ordering some drinks. My drink of choice is usually a cocktail at Byblos, so this time I ordered the Xxx Spritz. The fresh berries elevated the drink and overall, it was quite refreshing. I was also quite surprised at how large my glass was (see photo!).<br/><br/>To start, we ordered a few meze and then skewers to share. The ‘rekakat’ is delicious and cheesy, encased in flaky pastry. This is a favourite among my friends and family. I personally love the ‘Lahim Bil Ajeen’ and the ‘Falafel’. The former is filled with tasty lamb mince that is elevated by delicious spices. The latter has a crusty shell but the insides are soft and fluffy. I truly believe that this is the best falafel in Brisbane.<br/><br/>I am also quite a big fan of the ‘Trio of Dips’, which comes with a large bowl of flat bread triangles, Hummus, Baba Ganouj and Labneh. Each dip stands out in its own right, but the Baba Ganouj is rich and smoky in flavour. I always go back for more. Additional highlights include the Batatas Haras (lemon potatos) and the falafel salad.<br/><br/><br/>Now to the main event, the skewers!! I have tried all of the skewers offered by Byblos but the John Dory skewer is out of this world. Paired with the accompanying Toum (garlic emulsion style cream), the flavour combination is out of this world. Every time I have visited Byblos, the fish skewers have been cooked to absolute perfection. The fish is lightly golden, but still tender, flaky and with the perfect amount of seasoning. I have tried all of the different skewer types, and I really would recommend all of them!<br/><br/>Whilst this restaurant is quite expensive compared to other places I review, I would highly recommend coming to Byblos. The quality of the food, excellent service and general atmosphere is (in my opinion) worth the higher price point.<br/><br/>It is truly one of my special places and I guarantee it will quickly become one of your special places too. Enjoy 😊<br/>

We hosted a function 1 1/2 months ago at Byblos and it was fabulous. The private lounge area was perfect for our group of 18 and everyone complimented on the venue. We ordered platters for the group which ended up being way too much as the portions were much larger than expected, and we felt bad we could not eat it all. All food was delicious as were the amazing cocktails. The staff on the night and in the lead up to the function were very professional and fantastic to interact with. We were well looked after on the night and would highly recommend Byblos as a venue for groups.

Currently this is the hammers go-to in the home territory, omg the lamb is too die for and the halloumi salad is a bonus, located on the river is an added bonus and staff are usually on the ball- do yourself a favor

Can’t fault this place, food is delish. Staff are helpful and welcoming. We have brought family each time and no one left disappointed. Will be back for more.

Went with a group of friends to Byblos for the first on the weekend. I had heard mixed reviews about the food and now having eaten there I can understand why. The venue itself has a nice fit out. I like the decor and atmosphere it creates. If portside was a bit more lively, maybe it would help. The problem is that it’s a little bit isolated and a little bit tame. The food is quite good without being amazing. There were definitely delicious dishes devoured. However it did lack a little finesse in its presentation. The cocktails were good but not really a place I would go to drink as it’s just a little too far from city/valley. Overall, good experience but quality of presentation would be a nice touch. In terms of the quantity, I’d say great value for money!

Dined here with a mate, we shared a platter for two for 80 bucks. We demolished it! The pastries filled with cheese were amazing among other items.

My family went here for a birthday last night. Firstly we had booked for 10 people. When we arrived there was certainly no table ready for 10. <br/><br/>We were seated and the drinks were ordered. Fast service I must say. Then we ordered our food. A couple of platters to share and some main courses. The food did come out quite quickly. I had ordered the Byblos mixed grill. A couple of lamb skewers, a chicken and vege. No veg came out. Instead a fish skewer I don’t eat fish, but ok a mistake. I gave it to my wife. The menu stated each skewer is 100grm. Wow. The smallest 100grms I have ever seen. Very small chunks of lamb. <br/><br/>But the worst part was that one of our group had ordered a steak meal. Well it didn’t turn up. So we asked. Oh the chef looks like he had forgotten this meal. 20 mins after everyone else had finished, his steak appears. <br/><br/>The waiter apologised, but certainly not good enough. We went to pay, and you would have thought you might get a small discount for the problems. But not even an apology <br/><br/>So to sum up. Very expensive for what you get. Don’t really care about their customers, and a very disappointing evening

Beautiful Turkish food, well presented. Efficient, knowledgeable service. A great atmosphere that feels welcoming and upbeat. Good value for your money.

Foodora had messed up my order when trying to get delivery from here - despite it not being the restaurant’s fault, they went above and beyond to help me and ensure I got my food. By far the best customer service experience I’ve had, and the food was incredible!

Byblos is a restaurant that serves lebanese style food. It is recommended on various website as one of the must dine restaurant for date nights as the restaurant is just located alongside the Brisbane river. Jacky and I went before sunset so that we were able to have our meal while watching the beautiful view.

Went on a Saturday night for a family dinner. The restaurant is located on the wharf along the river which is quite nice..but can be noisy at times. The food is quite delicious. We ordered the escargot.. were delicious. I love the taste of the tabouleh. We ordered Agee different kebabs.. all cooked to perfection. Definitely a place to go back to.

This place has a lot going for it, the atmosphere is fantastic with the live music being a real hit. <br/>The service was great. The staff are very attentive and know what they are talking about when it comes to the menu. <br/>Cocktails were delicious and the drinks menu extensive. <br/>I found the meals to be quite nice however the dishes packed quite a punch, maybe even too much lemon in some seasoning of dishes. <br/>The desert selection platter was probably a favourite of mine. This, showcasing a taster of some of Byblos’s famous desserts. <br/>All in all I thought pricing was fair and definitely a great place to try however I wont rush back anytime soon. <br/>

Amazing!!! Food was delicious...even tried some things I never thought I would eat.  Service was impeccable and great drink selection! Thanks for a great experience Byblos....will definitely be back!

Awesome food and great service. Would recommend for a dinner for two, the platter for two which consists of a nice small banquet of what Byblos offers.

Some of the best lebanese food I've had in a long time. Get the baba ganoush, I could eat a whole bowl of it. The meat skewers and the dumplings are mouth watering.

So, as an IT Manager I am often taken out for lunches by vendors (or prospective vendors). When we went to Byblos we were lucky enough to be taken by someone of Mediterranean background. He ordered for us and WOW, the food is so good here. I’d go back anytime.

Had a lunch here ordered some meals to share and it was incredible. Loved the food and will definitely be returning to this place for another enjoyable experience.

We love coming here for a some light meals and drinks. The food is tappas share style food, tje rekkakat ( i think thats how it spelt :) is fantastic, we also recommend the chicken wings👌. The waiters here provide great service, probably some of the best in the area. Good food, great service with a great view of the river.

When I lived in Brisbane for a short stint Byblos was the best thing in a ten minute radius from my workplace. I liked this bar so much I even tried to move into the nearby apartments. With a great location riverside it's got a killer interior, beautiful atmosphere and delicious cocktails. The food is authentic Mediterranean tapas style dishes with plenty of yummy sharing style options. Obsessed with the eggplant dip 🙌🏼

This place is really a cut above. The food is so delicious, particularly the smoky chicken and lamb skewers and the trio of dips. The atmosphere at Portside is great and the service was good. Highly recommended.

Fantastic service, generous portions sizes and a beautiful atmosphere! 100% would recommend to a friend. My partner and I came here for date night and was pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu covering everything from haloumi salad to calamari to a good old steak. Please come here with your friends, your family, your significant other...you will not be disappointed!

I had mentally prepared myself for a never ending onslaught of sloppy, Turkish, lamb fat dripping platters, that I have grown accustom to in Brisbanes Mediterranean food scene. But SHOCK HORROR this food was clean tasting, not greasy, large variety of flavours, and interesting. We had the mixed share platter and it was plenty of food for all. <br/><br/>The stand out dish for me was the garlic potatoes, but that's just me. Put garlic on anything and I turn into a giddy school girl at a Justin Bieber concert. <br/><br/>Other standouts were mixed entree platter with everything that I cannot pronounce nor know what they are exactly made off. <br/><br/>The only down fall was that it was very slow service. I think it took 2hrs for the whole ordeal to be over. But if I go to bed without the feeling of goat renderings all over my face I am pretty happy.

Went here on a date and it was a lovely spot! The river is beautiful and it feels quite intimate when you're dining. The food was fresh and fast - I would come back again.

Awesome food and service! My local Sunday sesh as they usually have live music! Tapas to die for and amazing cocktails, amaretto sour is my favorite!

Have been here a few times and it is amazing to say the least! The food is so delicious, the ambiance is nice too, I recommend the vegetarian platter! I shared it with my boyfriend and we both looooved it.

Give me great middle eastern food every time! Fresh tabbouli, baba ganoush and lamb skewers were amazing. Pita breads could be fresher warmer and nicer if they were like real Israeli pitas

What happened?!?!<br/><br/>This place used to be so good, used come here all the time years back. Now the food and menu have changed and it's terrible! Kebabs are tiny, here hardly any meat. Food came out very cold. I think management has changed cause this is not the same it used to be. They've turned this from fine dining middle eastern to a take away HSP. <br/><br/>My advice, just go to the valley for hsp, you'll be more satisfied.<br/>

Cool place to hang out for drinks and cocktails on a Sunday afternoon :) The service is fantastic and the bar has a good selection. There's a nice view when the ship isn't docked :) Look forward to trying some food next time.

Great location with nice live music; however the food is not worth the premium price tag. I had the goat and BF had calamari and homemade sausages (not sure the traditional names). Mediocre food. I will try another place next time...

AMBIENCE = 4.0<br/>SERVICE = 3.5<br/>FOOD = 4.0<br/>One of the cool places to hang out, great interirors, and theme to this place. Views by the water and just has a cosy feel. The food is great and done well. Quantity of the single meals could be improved a bit but overall great experience. Love the platters.... overall love this place, slightly on the expensive side of things.

Excellent food, great service and good portion size. Appetisers, dips and salads are all tasty. Haven't had any of the grills. Nice waterfront location.

You can't go wrong here. Byblos take great pride in their food and you can tell that by how fresh the ingredients are and the quality of it all. Everything we had was delicious and the flavour balances are just right. The venue is great and the staff are really attentive and helpful, we couldn't decide on what to get (because we wanted it all) and our waitress helped up pick dishes that contrasted well so we got to sample a wide variety. It's a little pricey, personally I would feel ripped off paying anything more than $10 for hummus, but it's definitely worth a visit here. I would recommend the shish barak and the shanklish.

Great spot, great service, great food.<br/>Dining at Portside, you'd expect to pay inflated prices. Byblos serves good food, well seasoned, well cooked, well priced, well everything really. <br/>Would love to go back and have other dishes. Will leave a more extensive review about food the next time around

Ah Byblos how I love you! The only way you could improve is to serve 5 dishes of your whipped garlic for each tower of power instead of 2! Yum!!

Went to Byblos for the first time with some good friends. Had heard some good reviews about this place. Food was exceptional, wine was great, atmosphere, well on the water, you can't beat and the service was quite friendly. Would go back in a heart beat. Well priced and one of the better restaurants I've been to in a while.

My partner and I endured one of the worst evenings here for Valentine's Day. Our first entree (it was a set menu) took 35 minutes to arrive, by which time we had already finished our first drink. After that the other small plates came in veery slowly, one by one. It was disheartening to see another couple next to us who arrived much later than we did, receive their dishes before us. The service was abysmal - staff clearly did not want to be there - and at the end of the night we had paid $180 for what was supposed to be a romantic dinner. Perhaps if the food was more flavoursome it could have redeemed the experience for us but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. We will not return.

Great location on the river for eating outside. Meal portions were big, and good value for the price. Staff were super helpful with people's allergies and things. 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

Not a fan of the over-priced food/tapas here. There are too many staff on and not enough quality service. The drinks though are amazing and so much to choose from. I love the décor and atmosphere and it is a great spot for pre-dinner drinks. I suggest to go elsewhere for your mains

-----26 Feb, 2016-----<br/>Another amazing meal at Byblos! We started with Shanklish which I can only describe as the tastiest cheese salad I've ever had. It was a decent entree for two. We moved onto the mixed grill with fish and vegetables. The vegetables were beautifully roasted and the fish was so tender it practically fell of the skewer. We ended the meal with coffees which were also delicious. <br/><br/>-----28 Mar, 2013-----<br/>We had a relaxing and romantic lunch at Byblos today. There are a variety of eating areas (outdoors, high tables, lounge or dining). As it looked like rain was approaching we chose the dining area and were seated in a wonderful cosy table by the window. The waiter was highly professional and provided excellent service throughout. We ordered 3 of the smaller meals to share which turned out to be a good choice for two people. The grilled halloumi included five perfectly cooked pieces with a reasonably sized salad but the lemon was missing. The pumpkin Kebbi included four hand rolled croquettes of pumpkin, spinach and feta and also came with some salad that had a lovely lemon dressing. The Kebbi were not very exciting and could have had more spices and salt. The samak harra had several small pieces of dory, again well cooked. It came with a lovely sauce which was called ratatouille but was more like a peperonata. A Sauvignon Blanc washed it all down nicely and I thought it a better option than the Cabernet Sauvignon the waiter suggested. The atmosphere is great. I particularly liked the Phoenician alphabet light shades - a nice touch. All in all we were very happy with the experience.

I went to lunch on Saturday with a friend and ordered 3 plates to share. The food was really simple and tasty. The standout dish was the shaved lamb. The view of the river was unfortunately blocked on the day but the ambiance was nice. The home made lemonade was sour which I enjoyed. The service overall was as expected, not bad but not exemplary.<br/><br/>友達とランチに週末行って来ました。大きなボートが隣に横付けされていたため港の景色は見えなかったです。それが少し残念でしたが…シンプルでさっぱりした味付け。2人で3品オーダー。可もなく不可もなくのお店でしょうか。店員さんも気持ちよく対応していただきました。

This place was exceptional in every way ! The ambiance was inviting the service was absolutely amazing. The food was unbelievably flavourful and did not fail to please, was definitely worth it.

Extremely disappointed with Byblos. We've been here twice now hoping to give them the benefit of doubt but was disappointed both times and will probably never go back. Horrible value for money, pastries tasted like something that was frozen and reheated. Oh and it was still somewhat cold. Drinks also arrived extremely late. One didn't even come? We paid around $150 for two people and still felt hungry afterwards. Service was extremely ridiculous... As also mentioned in a number of previous reviews. Overcharged us on the last occasion, was not apologetic at all and even looked at us as though we were crazy for asking. Great place for a venue. But sorry. We will never be back!

Went to Byblos Hamilton for my birthday recently with a party of 20. The waitress was so attentive and accommodating, a few people chipped in to give her a phat tip. The food was great also, it helped that we had a Lebanese friend there to advise on a variety of dishes, but every dish was spot on. Not one complaint and they make a decent Long Island tea!

Saturday night at Byblos, ordered at 8.30pm and didn't start receiving the food till 9.30pm, so service was quite slow. Nevertheless, the food was delicious with a variety of flavoursome punchy dishes. Definitely recommend the mozzarella pastry and calamari appetisers!

Always a pleasure to dine here. Fantastic setting and beautiful food. The sharing platter for 2 is consistently excellent and a great place to bring a date

Awesome food, love the lamb mixed grill and cheese pastries and cheese dip oh my it's to die for my partner and I live locally and come here all the time.

Open until midnight but upon arriving at 9:30pm on a Sunday we were informed by the maitre d that the kitchen had closed. Lingered for a round of drinks as everywhere else at Portside were closed or in the process of closing. Nice ambience and service. Wouldn't mind returning to try their food.

I've been to Byblos for many different occasions over the years and it hasn't ever let me down. Absolutely love the variety of flavoursome Lebanese food on offer. If you want a great experience and something a little different this is the place for you.

Ahhh a cold beer and escargot on a Saturday afternoon watching the cruise ship board - can't get any better! Oh except if you were to add in an order of the Byblos dips trio, home made and terrific!  It's been years since I've eaten fully in the Byblos restaurant and by the look of the packed venue at lunch time it's still firing. Nice to have the option to just have a snack out on the deck area & watch the world and/or ships go by!

I had been looking forward to trying Byblos for a long time. I finally booked a dinner with friends and was left feeling disappointed. Firstly, we were seated outside, in the dark. There was no table cloth or even a simple tea light candle for ambience. For the price, I expected better food.

Went here for a work function food was ok. Didn't love the halloumi or the dessert but main and everything else including the service was fantastic

Been dying to return to this place for a while. Every dish were delicious, although the plating could be a little less aggressive at times but those flavours were very well balanced. Beautiful decor and atmosphere, and excellent service. Been here only once before, going to return soon again!

On a busy Saturday night, the service we had was great. Cocktails arrived quickly and the share platter for two not long after. The mezat and grilled meats were tasty. The only let downs were that the hommos was kind of plain... Like tahini with no lemon and the garlic sauce "tastes like burning". Luckily it wasn't a date or it could have been raw garlic awkward. Those small points aside, I'd go back.

Terrible Service, won't go back. I won't go back or recommend this place. Food was OK but you couldn't spend money if you tried on drinks. Had to ask multiple times for drinks that took 20 minutes to arrive each time. Main meals were left on table for almost an hour after lunch. Wanted deserts for 6 people but couldn't find our waiter so we left. Never to return.

Great food, slow service. Went to byblos for mother's day - place wasn't full but service still running slow. Ordered a banquet for 2 people- food was all delicious and more than enough. However, felt at time like the waiter had forgotten we existed: had to ask for drinks multiple times, ended up asking for dessert take away as we had been there for so long. <br/>Overall, foods great but service staff need a push along

Consistently great food. Always a great experience at byblos, good atmosphere, delicious food.

Okay. Food was alright but not really to my taste. A more classy restaurant than I prefer, where the atmosphere isn't as relaxed. The staff were all great. The food is a bit overpriced for what it is.

Terrible. Food was so bad!!! Vine leaves were disgusting, dips you can get better at Coles, meat was so dry and flavourless fish was rubbish. Don't waste your time!!!

Lovely decor, good wine list and menu, thoroughly enjoyed the platter for two, couldn't fit in dessert!!!

I don't recommend. I went to Byblos a few years ago for a new years function paying around $200 a ticket. I waited at the bar for well over a hour to get my first drink, lack of staff and what staff their was where busy making cocktails. We ended up leaving to a another bar around 10pm and vowed I would never return. Good way to mess up a new years eve.<br/>My wife convinced me to go again for dinner last night. Everything was going well, nice food, relaxed atmosphere. Ordered a beer, 30mins later I asked where my beer was. The waitress replied "he is busy making cocktails" sorry Byblos but I will definitely not be returning and I will pass my experience on to anyone that is willing to listen.

Good food, nice view at night, great friendly staff.

Shocking service. Very rude and arrogant. I won't recommend this place to anyone. Food is average. The service is poor by any standards.

OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT! Fantastic food, Great Service, been back several times and will go again and again!

This place disappointingly is closed for renovation.

Good cocktails:) always enjoy the service too. Good night out in our neighborhood!

Cocktails were delicious, food was amazing! Service was pretty great, however we did have to ask if our table was ready 20 minutes after our booking - and we were charged 3 extra items on our bill. However staff were apologetic, and difference was refunded on the spot.

Love love love. We have been to Byblos twice now, and both were great. The food is flavoursome and a good variety. We have tried the platter for two, and also selected our own dishes. The hummous dish with meat is soooo good, never had anything like it. One of the signature cocktails, violet martini was divine to say the least. Service has always been friendly, even when exceptionally busy. Great location too.

Vegetarian paradise. Superb menu for vegetarians

For large bookings don't go here. The service is poor, the staff arrogant and the food cold and bland. I have never been so disappointed about a restaurant with so much hype. The sizings are generous but pointless seeing as they weren't overly enjoyable. I ordered the holumi which came out cold and like plastic. I could go on but I don't want to waste any more of my time on this establishment.

It's a real disappointment that this restaurant advertises itself as Lebanese. Coming here from Melbourne and with a Lebanese background I was truley horrified at the blandness and lack of authenticity in their meals. The kafta wasn't even kafta - more like raw meat on a stick. And I asked for rice but got served a mix of Cous Cous and chopped vegies - which isn't even a part of a Lebanese meal. The dips too were tangy and non-authentic. Much too overpriced, especially considering I can get a more authentic meal for less than $10 on Melbourne. However, the atmosphere was great and I did like the drinks and service, the manager removed the meals that I didn't enjoy off the bill. But if you're looking for proper Lebanese food, don't waste your money or time at Byblos Brisbane.

Good ambience still. Service could have been more exceptional for a quiet Christmas Eve dinner, owing to the occasion. Food wasn't too bad though chicken was dry.

Ive been coming to Byblos for 5 years.. i felt compelled to mention the great staff ... the manager wearing blue jeans in particular. out of more than a dozen visits ive pobably only had one not perfect experience. The staff here are so attentive and friendly... thank you to the byblos team

Not suited for large groups. I was part of a large group for a Christmas party. The atmosphere is really more loud bar/disco with some tables and a 3rd-rate restaurant attached. We were told we would have our own reserved space at the bar for our pre-dinner drinks. When we arrived, no space had been reserved, so 16 of us had to stand around the bar. <br/><br/>Our dinner seating was at 8 pm, but we were not seated until nearly 8:30 PM, with no explanation or apologies. When we were finally seated, we discovered we were expected to sit at 2 separate tables, with no explanation from the "hostess" or the manager. <br/><br/>When I found a manager (Gareth) to complain and ask for an explanation, he unhelpfully replied with the following excuses: 1/ You did not book your party at 1 table. (What? Would you not expect to be seated at 1 table unless expressly told otherwise at the time of your booking?) 2/ This is how we do it in Brisbane - it's common policy at Brisbane restaurants to seat large parties at 2 tables. When I pointed out that another even larger party was seated outdoors at one table, I was told "that's what they reserved.". 3/ I can seat you at one table but you'll be squashed and uncomfortable. 4/ Why did you not tell us you would only have 16 people instead of 18 people? Seriously, a restaurant manager chided me for bringing fewer people rather than more people to a booking...I told him that makes no sense. <br/><br/>In the end, our party decided to reconfigure the tables into an "L" shape. We did so only with the help of our 1 waitress, who was a champion and worked our table entirely on her own the whole night. By then, Gareth the manager had disappeared - he made no effort to help us move our tables, nor did he check back in with us for the remainder of the evening to see how things were going. <br/><br/>We spent over $1200 altogether on dinner and drinks, and in return, we were treated like dogs. <br/><br/>Due to the size of our party, we ordered the function menu, which was essentially just a "Lebanese barbeque." The food was simple and overabundant - fried kibbi, fried falafel, skewers of chicken and lamb - but decently prepared. There was only 1 waitress serving our large party and she was a star. But even so, due to having only 1 server, the service was slow. <br/><br/>I have sent a complaint via private message to the restaurant's FB page. Gareth has already written back to apologize and offer to pass my complaint onto the restaurant's owners. Unfortunately, with so many other restaurant options literally next door at Portside Hamilton, I will not be returning to Byblos, and will actively suggest that my colleagues and clients avoid it as well.

Fantastic - location and atmosphere was great, food was quick and staff were attentive. Just a note that the private lounge area is more for drinking that eating proper meals.

Went for a special Dinner on our Anniversary . Very disappointed , we had done prior booking but when we went there was no table booked, after 10 min wait got the table , food served was not of good standard , cold , not value for money . I would say not for special celebrations , inspire of very good location , I will not go again.

Good Food Terrific cocktails. Good food-- terrific cocktails- What more can you want....<br/><br/>Byblos is a winner, as the title says. The cocktails are very enjoyable and surprisingly they get better the more you have.<br/>There is a terrific area to the side, where you can book you own private party or drinks/food. The area could do with a bit of touch up with the cushions, but it makes you feel like your in some sort of Maharajas tent - which is cool.<br/><br/>The food is mostly Lebanese, and the serving platters/ and towers are great to share. Some dishes could be called Mediterranean- which is really splitting some hairs. <br/><br/>There is probably no need to consider this option unless you have been to Byblos a few times at least, but for another good option at port side -- try pre dinner drinks at Byblos, then dine at Manx. (which is more a up market ala carte - less casual)

Tasty. Dinner here was a breeze literally! We were seated outside overlooking the river as the sun set. The meal was full of flavour and when we were ordering the waiter advised us that we may be ordering too much for the 3 of us and therefore saved us money = thank you .

On finding my receipt from Saturday night in my wallet I remembered to write this review! First time at Byblos on the weekend, we ate in what looks like their more formal area and were seated promptly. Our waitress (mama Amy) as read on my receipt broke the menu right down for us in easy terms, suggesting banquet for the 4 of us, we had a massive selection of all things tapas! Food was great! Same waitress opened and allowed us to try our wine and topped the glasses throughout the evening!(no need to search for our bottle in a bucket!) the view at port side is lovely we will be back for the hummus among everything else, guaranteed!

Amazing food, average service. My partner and I arrived around 15 minutes after the rest of our party who already had drinks, and after being seated had to wait another 10 minutes before I was finally able to flag down a waitress to order drinks (2 tap beers). We also ordered food at the same time. 15 minutes later and still no sign of our drinks, or our waitress (or any staff for that matter) to ask so my partner just went to the bar. The food arrived soon after and when I mentioned the missing drinks to the girl she just said she'd forgotten. For the remaining 1.5 hours our party was there, not once did a staff member come near us to offer more drinks.<br/><br/>Having said that, the food was incredible and very reasonably priced.

Atmosphere, food and staff are great. Sam and his awesome staff are definitely a main attraction to me.

I have to say I love this place :), first time here and service was spot on, the lovely Irish boy that served us did a great job on this busy night, all with a warm smile, we ordered a trio to start and and a mixed grill for mains, all arrived in good timing, cocktails were amazing and service was second to none! I will be back :D

After waiting half an hour for a beer I ordered the vegetarian platter - it was all fried. The mixed grill is healthier than the veg platter at this place, and the fried crap want even that tasty.

This place is great. Food is delicious. Has a cool vibe.

Could have been better. When I first visited Byblos last year, we told the waiter we are vegetarians and asked for recommendations to which he suggested a vegetarian banquet that they can put together and has a bit of everything, It suited us well and we have always went for the the same thing ever since. During my visit last week however, the waiter looked confused when I mentioned vegetraian banquet, which was probably due to the fact that it is not on the menu. After explaining how we ordered it in the past, he just stonily answered "Sorry we don't do vegetarian banquet anymore". <br/><br/>We were not too concerend about not having the banquet, but it was very disappointing to see the downfall in customer service, The waiter clearly had no idea they have served vegetraian banquet in the past, so how would he know for sure the chefs are not willing to do it anymore without even enquring with the kitchen or other floor staff? <br/><br/>The fact that there were 2-3 bartenders but our 4 cocktails took 15 minutes to arrive was a bit of shocker too. I understand they could be busy mending other ordesr at the same time, but been sitted right in front of the bar, I did see a lot of chit chatting between bartenders and waiting staff and just taking their time. Our cocktails arrived AFTER our food.<br/><br/>Expect nice food, good atmosphere, lovely decor and snobbish waiters :)

Busy Friday afternoon/early evening without a booking and a baby with a pram the staff were awesome and able to accommodate us. Wait staff very attentive, hubby and I shared the mix grill which was delicious! Lovely staff!!

Came to Byblos for dinner with a few friends and really enjoyed it. We went the banquet (or whatever it's called) and although I found this a bit pricey, it's a good way to taste a larger portion of the menu so you can decide what you want for your next visit. The service was fast, the staff knew what they were talking about and most importantly, the food was delicious. The cocktails are amazing too and I particularly loved the Violet Martini. Great atmosphere too so we headed to the bar after dinner for one last drink and enjoyed the comfort of the booths which, I believe, can be booked out for private functions. Ill be back!

Fantastic atmosphere, tuck yourself into the corner couches and share tapas with friends. Chat over cocktails right on the riverfront. Staff have always been great to us explaining what each menu item was and suggesting their own favourites when prompted. I've seen it done up for an event and it was beautiful all plush with their feminine colours and mood lighting.

Decent food, great drinks. Having had a lovely dinner experience in January, we went again today for lunch. We chose to stay with the grills this time. The kebbi, a lamb and beef mince ball preparation with pine nuts, was delightful with a yoghurt dip. The John Dory skewers and grills were soft and subtle. The three dip platter is a must. And they fix some of the best cocktails in town. Try the Byblos Zombie!

Went to Byblos for my birthday last year and the food was very ordinary. For what you pay you get average quality. If you are looking for amazing good value medeterian food check out a family run or small restaurant instead of this busy commercial option which only takes your money and makes you wish to fine else where.

Food excellent, wait staff ok, wine list good whilst not extensive but clearly this restaurant has a strong focus on being a cocktail lounge... although I don't know why! In spite of 6/7 bartenders there was a 15 minute wait to place an order with only 5 people at the bar. Apparently it is more important to talk amongst themselves & take 15 minutes to make 1 cocktail for women they are chatting up rather than to serve others by the time we interrupted the entertaining hi-jinx behind the bartender chose to take 3 orders as by now it was at least 2 deep, I am sure he did his best he remembered 2 glasses of wine, 1 bottle of wine all for people behind me but 2 dirty martinis was too much, on the third occasion he remembered then took 5 minutes to look for the chosen vodka ( they have about 20 on the list) unfortunately it appears they actually only have 1 .... the closest to wherever your batman is situated, so 25 minutes for 2 martinis...... suggest you stick with the tap water, that only took 10 minutes

Service started slow but picked up and our waiter was great- friendly and efficient. Food is delicious and portions generous.<br/>Location is great- beautiful spot by the river.<br/>Live music in Sunday afternoon adds to the atmosphere.<br/>Great place to eat in a group- unfortunately no splitting even if you all have cash- bit painful.<br/>Our share meal was really good and the hommus BEST I've ever eaten anywhere.

Love the food here but service is always dissapointing. Got our drink order wrong countless times sending us wrong drinks but still charging us for them never getting the correct drink in the end, forgetting food we ordered and all this without a smile! If your going to take orders without writing them down make sure u hav a good memory! Otherwise food was scrumptious as always :)

Loads of attitude!. I went with a friend to have dinner last Friday night. Food was OK but I was underwhelmed with the service by one waiter in particular! The only chardonnay by the glass was American but thought I would ask anyway if they had an Australian chardonnay by the glass. I was told that Australian wines aren't that good and was basically treat like idiot for asking. I was not impressed but my friend told me the food was really good so we decided to order a few different dishes and share. When he brought the food to our table we were greeted with "Huh! Are you hungry tonight ladies!" in a condescending tone! Sorry but I refuse to pay to be treated like that! This is not a cheap restaurant and one would expect the waiters to be welcoming and the service to be of a reasonably high standard but unfortunately that is not what we received. Wouldn't go back.

Planned a low key dinner to celebrate a birthday - and a lovely evening was had by all. was initially seated at the tunnel but the high chairs were extremely uncomfortable, so asked the manager to move us outside- ended up being in the lounge area which was great for a group, got to share food and converse comfortably. the waiter we had was a little forgetful, but friendly nevertheless. food was really good, cocktails and mocktails amazing. <br/>side note: i had to call twice to confirm my booking even though i had already booked online but never got a confirmation from them. i'm glad i still went ahead and tried the place out - really pleasant night with great company!

Very good. Wish we had made reservations, as it was pretty packed and we ended up sharing a table. <br/><br/>We shared the platter for 2 which was very delicious and almost more food than 2 people can eat.

Finally got to try Byblos but only because Chez Leila happened to be closed. What a great location on the river Byblos has. We were escorted to a quiet table for two overlooking the water with a full moon thrown in for free, how much more romance does one need? We were intent from that moment on having a romantic night & we did, however we were a little disapointed with the food. Found everything to be a bit bland. We started off our meal with the trio of dips, came in three small bowls with some flat bread (which reminded me of the supermarket stuff!) Dips were pretty ordinary. The partner ordered the mixed grill plate, I stole some of his fish which was the star turn of the night, charcoal grilled on the skewer & flavoursome. I had the pumpkin Kebbi which were bland & a little doughy, they came with a salad of mainly leaf. Where's the spice Byblos? Lucky we had a good wine- did help the night along quite well, oh & that spectacular moon!7/5/16 Return visit to Byblos & there was a mix up with our table so we ended  up being seated inside. Was rather noisy & sort of spoiled our night. Food was the same although we did try different dishes this time around. Although all the food was nicely prepared there was still a sad lacking in the spice department. I decided to order some fresh chillies to help things along. Luckily we also ordered a nice rose to spice up the evening!

Order The Mixed Grill!. I ordered good. The lamb and chicken kebabs were delicious and the garlic mix that comes on the plate is sublime. A good size at a reasonable price. I think the mezats are a bit pricey though like the small serving provided in the trio of dips that cost $15 and the side salad, also $15, which consisted only of diced raw onion, and tomato with grilled mushy eggplant on the bottom. The service was fantastic and how service should be. Staff were attentive and pleasant. Only major downside is the smoking that goes on around the eating area outside - it spoils such lovely outdoor dining. We were initially seated right next to the 'smokers area'. This area is not signed or partitioned off and is really close to diners. Thankfully there was another table staff were happy to move us to. However smokers kept lighting up in front of us. This was all quite disappointing.

So beautiful. Food was good nothing amazing but the staff and area was what made is amazing

Amazing service thanks to Sam, managed to fit us in even though restaurant was full!

Great Weekend Spot. Attentive staff, fantastic cocktails, inventive mock tails and superb food.<br/><br/>Both the Portside Brisbane and Portside Docklands locations have lived up to the Byblos reputation.

LOVE. This is one of my favorite restraunts! We get one of the the set menu's and it has never wronged us. The cocktails are fabulous the food is delicious and the service is superb. Great location, great venue. What more can I say! Love it!

Had dinner here with my partner.. We shared some tapas and had a really nice time; the wait staff were friendly and helpful; food tasty and for tapas they were pretty big serves.. Great experience.. Will be back! :-)

We'll be going back there. Great food. Waitress, though, may need some instruction as she found it hard to understand some simple requests. My group LOVED the booth. All around, everyone happy, including the hard-to-please epicurian. You know it's great when you have to wait for the lunch time crowd to leave for your table to become available.

Great food - expensive drinks.... My family recently celebrated my grandmother's 90th surprise birthday at Byblos Hamilton. <br/><br/>The food and service was excellent. We have been going to Rouj at Rosalie for our Lebanese fix, but Byblos is far better. The food was so fresh and the flavours amazing. I've got plans to return very soon.<br/><br/>The only negative thing I would say would be the price of the drinks. My husband had three or maybe four Asahi beers and I had three vodka, lime and sodas and we had no change out of $100 - actually I think it was just a little more.... I couldn't believe it when I looked in my purse and had no money left! <br/><br/>Oh well.... the food was good, so I'll return anyway.

Overall, a great experience.. I took my boyfriend out for his birthday joined by a friend. Apart from bringing an incorrect cocktail and two extra (un-ordered and unconsumed) cocktails appearing on our bill at the end it was a fun night. The food was delicious, the reason i chose Byblos were the many vegetarian options for my BF. The portions were a little small, but yummy. I especially liked the dips which were very fresh and tasty. The cocktail list is seemingly endless although we gave it a good crack to try several. An impressive whisky and cognac selection also - and in the dark i overpaid for a cognac thinking i gave over $25 - i had handed over $40. ...when i was seated the bartender came over with my change and i was very grateful, thanks very much! good service! it was nice relaxing on the comfortable lounge seating and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Great setting too right on the river.

Lovely venue. Went on a Sunday lunch. Very pretty venue however we were seating along the back of the restaurant next to the glass mirrors & we couldn't even hear each other talking across the table. The restaurant was pretty full & it was SO noisy in that particular section! Will ask to be seated closer to the front open air section next time. <br/>Had the trio of dips & Byblos platter for two between 3 adults. It was more than enough food. The chicken skewers were really tasty & succulent. The Rekakat (pastries filled with feta & mozzarella) were awesome. Would love to go back one evening for dinner instead of lunch to see the nice river lights & enjoy the evening atmosphere.

A pefect celebration. I have a good friend who raves about Byblos and I have long been wanting to try it - but it's on the other side of town from me - and I have so many good places on my side, that I rarely venture across the river (silly, I know). Anyway on Friday it was my son's High School Graduation and with my folks up, we decided to give Byblos a try for our celebratory lunch.<br/><br/>What a treat - it was a gorgeous sunny day (just before those pesky storms) and looking out over the river from the cool depths of Byblos was lovely. We started off on a great food with the loveliest Irish waitress this side of Dublin - she made the day for us with her cheerfulness and attention to detail. There were six of us in tow - four adults and the two graduates - so with guidance from our lovely waitress we ordered a selection of dips, a couple of share platters and some kebabs. All of it was simply delicious - and so much food. The hummus was THE best I've ever had - I would have been happy with just a bowl of that and some pitta. But everything was really really good. And topped off with a divine bottle of NZ wine.<br/><br/>Look Byblos isn't cheap but it is well worth the money we spent for a special occasion. I would now like to return for dinner and see the lights sparkling on the river - actually maybe for drinks later afternoon and see the sun set would be even nicer. Highly recommended and we will be back!

Dinner by the Brissy River. Very inviting atmosphere, we went back again we enjoyed it so much

Had a sharing plate a Byblos, have to say quite disappointing, not real middle eastern food at all. After being told to dine at Pilpel at margate cannot compare the experience let alone the price.

Food quality was good, however the portions were way too small for the price. I had the lamb cutlets, only 4 small ones on the plate- very tasty but not $40 worth. <br/>Cocktails are lovely, they certainly do it right. Restaurant a little cramped. Lots of people & a little stuffy. <br/>Overall, 6.5/10

Great drinks list and the bar staff were entertaining. Ordered the banquet with a group of friends - very tasty chicken wings, potatoes and dip. Wish they'd brought out meat skewers rather than chicken. I think we may have had better value for money ordering from the menu. Would I return? Yes.

Nice food but banquet price of $55 per person was a bit expensive for what we got also the variety wasn't amazing. Next time we will order entree and main off the menu.

Never disappointed!

Definitely going back!. Best dining out in a long time! Unfortunately, we weren't able to do the food real justice, as we had to rush off to a Cirque du Soleil performance afterwards, but even our rushed dinner was awesome. We had the Haloumi Salad, the mixed grill, the Rekaket, and the Sambusek. Everything was great, everything was fought over, everything was very, very grudgingly shared. Service was quick and sincere, and our table outside was near to a heater and warm. Recommend!

Not Impressed. A perfect Queensland winter evening but quite chilly so we opted to sit iinside. The restaurant was nigh on empty but we found ourselves placed in the corner next to the kitchen entrance. Not impressed by that. We then decided to move outside. Only one brazier and the table next to it was covered in empty glasses and dirty dishes. The waitress was reluctant to clear the table and certainly made no effort to clean the sticky surface. Dozens of cigarette butts on the floor together with used paper napkins added to my bad impression of the place. Then we had a ridiculously long wait to be served . The food was reasonable but the calamari was tough and too oily. Getting a second drink was proving hard but eventually came. However, we gave up waiting for a dessert. <br/><br/>The setting is great but the service very poor and the food no more than average.

Pretty good. Hey, this place was really good for a night out with 9 other people. They had a lot of big groups and big tables in the restaurant, and they coped well. The service was great and the food was quite nice. It's much better than Gianni's, the next restaurant along. It's worth a try. I think most of Hamilton is a little over rated, but hey, it's definitely worth a try.

A Great Experience. My husband, daughter and I had a great night out at Byblos. The food was great, the cocktail list extensive and the service was fantastic. So many yummy dishes to try. We had the banquet and were very full but made enough room for the yummy sweeties that came at the end. A definite must do for anyone who loves food that is fresh but a little different.

Good. I do like Byblos and always find the food is great tasting however it is expensive for what you get. I also find the fact that they take your bottle of wine and seem to hide it away from the table rather annoying! This would be ok if your glass was filled up when empty but the lack of attention from the waiters is frustrating and on our last visit we had to search for our wine bottle to fill up our own glasses as we had been "dry" for 20 minutes. I find that sort of thing unacceptable when I've been to cheaper restaurants who ensure your glasses are constantly full - that goes for the water too, we had to ask for more water twice! That said, I do continue to go here as the food is good and it's a nice atmosphere. I just wish it was a bit cheaper considering the food is nice but not excellent and the service is fine but definitely needs improvement.

Passable. Staff were great and service was quick. However, i thought the food was very ordinary and over priced for what it was.

Platter to share... ...yum!!. I have been here about 5 times in the last 7 months and have never been disappointed.<br/><br/>I quickly became a massive fan of their "Platter to share" which has just enough food for 2 people to stuff themselves with and is absolutely beautiful! The variety it brings is incredible and it has been well thought out as the balance of flavours and styles of food included in it are excellent!<br/><br/>Will be back many times!!!

Worst New Years Eve ever. Was so bad we didn't even stay for midnight.! $180 per head. Main problem was very few staff, so a bar 5 people deep meant waiting 30-45 mins for two drink max! Beer/wine spirits were included when you could get them. Didn't include Champagne (an oversight on New Years!) "substantial canapes" were typical byblos fare but again long cues for very ordinary food. After two hours I'd really wished I'd spent the cash on a decent meal and drinks at any of the other restaurants along Portside. At least I wouldn't have spent the night hungry and sober!

I love the broad cocktail & drinks menu, a very vast selection which caters for all tastes & moods. Great selection of mezats; a fun sharing experience. Attentive service & charming decor.

Consistently good food, service and cocktails. Unobtrusive service where nothing is too much trouble, even for a large group.

I recently discovered this place and i had a great experience! Menu is mostly made of greek specialties but the restaurant deco looks like north african influence. The food is outsanding, the service is excellent and very friendly staff. I will certainly come back

Loved it!. Totally awesome drinks list and funky bar.<br/><br/>Food was delicious and well priced. Desserts were delicious too. <br/><br/>Awesome service. Great place to chill out a long week at after work!

Overrated. After making an 8pm booking, and arriving on time, we were told their would be a 15-minute wait for our table. The hostess then invited us to go to the bar - great way for the place to sell more drinks, I guess. We purchased our drinks from one of the bar staff who was hitting on another customer while our drinks were being prepared. When we got our drinks, we went to sit on some vacant stools only to be told that they would be required later (...although, the stools were not in use at the time). We finally got our table - and met our completely pretentious waiter. Being our first time to the restaurant, I always like to hear a waiters recommendation of the menu. The waiter made me feel like an utter idiot while he explained the menu in a way that was confusing and illogical. My partner understood the waiter before I did, and he ended up explaining it to me in a far less confusing way. If I had have gone with the waiters recommendation, I would have essentially ended up with two entrees and a main meal - way too much food! When our entree arrived - chicken wings - they were coated heavily in vinegar. Too much vinegar! When the entrees were over, the waiter asked my boyfriend if he wanted new cutlery for his main. My boyfriend said "no" because he didn't care, to which the waiter laughed at in a ridiculing way. The mains were disappointing - with the salads dripping in vinaigrette - so much so that you couldn't enjoy any other flavours. All up, Byblos is pretentious in service and overpriced and uninspiring in food.

Food underwhelming. Had a mixed experience at Byblos. The food was extremely underwhelming and a lot of it we didnt eat. Escargot tasty like it had just been dug up from the garden and the batta harra (cut potatoes) was extremely sour and inediable. <br/>Cocktails were fabulous and would go back only for drinks.<br/>Service was very good. Waiters were attentive and friendly.

I really like everything about Byblos.. The staff are cheeky and fun, whilst still being efficient and helpful. I even had one waiter who came up to say hi to me whilst he was walking around Portside after finishing work, just because he recognised me from a few weeks before.<br/><br/>I love sitting outside on a warm afternoon in the sun, the breeze off the river is lovely and after a few cocktails it's terribly, terribly relaxing on those huge couches (day beds?).<br/><br/>The rekakat and fatayer, as well as the mixed dip platter, are my standard orders. I absolutely love them. <br/><br/>The cocktails, however, are in a world of their own. They are INCREDIBLE. I only wish I could drink more than the few I can manage in an evening, they are so perfectly balanced. Anyone can find a cocktail they love at Byblos.<br/><br/>The absinthe fountains are also a bit of fun, I recommend them!

A great place for a drink on the weekend to enjoy the view by the water and relax

Great gone bad. Was until our Mother's Day visit my favourite place for Middle Eastern food.<br/>Menu choice has been cut down as is the portion size, flavour and presentation. Standard stale tabouli , tough kebab - now each meat cube alternated by a cherry tomato ! <br/>more like the local doner kebab joint than a restaurant<br/>Must be depending on the Bar to keep it going.....<br/>.off my list now

Not for the over 30s. If you don't actually want your waiter to be your 'friend' then not the place to be...we were repeatedly interrupted mid conversation by our waiter and it was definitely 'all about him'. In addition, stingy wine pours, overpriced food which was no more special than any lebanese takeaway, mean no real reason to spend your money here unless you are just going to see and be seen....

Fantastic place, service friendly and charming, at times a little slow,food absolutely gorgeous and an amazing , eclectic array of cocktails.very reasonably priced.can't wait to go back!

Mediterran Delight. When we arrived for lunch a huge cruise ship was in port and the view of the river was obscured for a short time. Exciting to see, but happy to see it go to give us the view back. Could not fault the service very attentive and had our water topped up on regular basis. We ordered a nice selection of the tapas on a tiered plate, The lebanese sausages were hit, even one of my friends as she in a fan of the sausage. Big shout out to the Rekaket! The birds nest dessert was ridiculously good highly recommended. 3 out of the 4 people at our table enjoyed it. Great way to spend a Sunday afternnon

Absynthe tower is the highlight of the joint. Extensive alcohol collection but obviously pricey

Had some beautiful cocktails here and enjoyed the tapas plates, although some were a bit average. Overpriced, but a lovely night out with great ambience.

Nice location by the river but clearly the food is reheated and not cooked fresh. It has the potential to be very good but requires a good Lebanese or middle eastern chef to put his stamp on it. Won't go back

???????????. Overpriced kebab shop with a side of half a turkish bread on each plate... the end<br/><br/>oh yeah had a mad bar though

7/10....great service from slick floorstaff. Excellent cocktails and good winelist. Average food.

Gin Martini Please. Go for the cocktails, not the food.

It's the "vibe". Fabulous decor, good drinks and a great location makes byblos the choice for pre-dinner drinks at Portside.<br/><br/>There's a restaurant too, but it's advisable to book ahead. I missed out.<br/><br/>Happening place, and home to the beautiful people.

Great cocktails and a nice relaxed atmosphere. If you are looking for a fine dining establishment Byblos is not it. However, if you are looking for good tapas style food and an informal atmosphere Byblos is it.<br/><br/>The food is consistently good. I especially love the platters. The cocktails are even better. The Phonecian Sunset is fantastic and along with the Lemon Meringue pie. <br/><br/>The only let down is that the music is played far too loud on a Friday/Saturday night and you can't have a conversation with the person next to you.

Great atmosphere and service was fantastic, forget the menu leave it up to the waitress to suggest bringing out a combination of meals for everyone to share. Caters well for gluton free diners. Highly recomemd

Plain awful. Everything we ordered--escargot, fried chicken wings, fried haloumi, mince pies, etc.--looked like they were slapped on the plate, with wilted greens on the side, and they arrived promptly but freezing cold! Were they cooked fresh, or were they leftovers from the previous night? The haloumi was chewy, and would have bounced back if we threw it against the wall. Everything was soaked in lemon. Just plain awful, avoid at all cost!

Over priced & small portions. Management were rude. Wouldn't recommend going there

Awesome. Tucked away on the left hand side of Portside wharf at the very end, this stylish rest/cafe is just wonderful. Nice views at lunch and in the evening it has warm atmosphere with excellent wine list.<br/>Food, well were do I begin, its great. The service was prompt, inviting, professional and well done Bylbos staff that make it this way.<br/>I have had lunch and dinner here three times - wonderful.<br/>Thanks I will be back! Debra Young

Le chique le cool. Went here to de-brief post Alice in Wonderland. Great drinks, nice food, and our waiter was a hottie! Hey, if you read this, call me!! :-)

Anywhere that can mix up a pre dinner fejoia vodka cocktail is already in my good books, coupled with friendly entertaing staff, a range of relaxed or formal seating and an excellent menu what's not too love about Byblos...

Great. Had dinner here last week. It was tops, the platter for 2 was spot on in size & quality, the service was good, and the drinks here are awesome.<br/><br/>There is a huge range of scotch, rums, brandys, vodkas, cocktails and beers.

Mediterranean. Great food and good selection available for the seasoned professionals of Lebanese food. If you have never tried this style before the platters have a good share and taste selection for everyone. Lovely cocktails, always good coffee, and pleasant staff.

Great for partys and if u want a bite to eat or drink

Last Thursday night, we were delighted to be invited to the launch of a newly renovated Byblos at Portside. Along with three hundred other guests we enjoyed a Middle-Eastern extravaganza by the river, complete with a snake charmer, camels and belly dancers. The people-watching was excellent entertainment as well. The VIP guests were clearly having a good night. Personally, we can vouch that Byblos serve a delicious passionfruit, elderflower and vodka cocktail ‘The Marilyn’. They were the perfect accompaniment to mingling. The food was enjoyable, a mix of the expected such as Sambusek (lamb mince, fried in pastry) and Rekakat (crispy cheese filo, delicious!) and the more adventurous, such as raw tuna cups and Kebbi Nayeh – a traditional raw lamb mince bite served on a slice of raw onion. Byblos is a great choice, whether you’re looking for a place to share an intimate date night by the river, or some nibbles and evening drinks with friends, pay it a visit and say hi to Marilyn for us.

...the lebanese bread and sweetness of the tomato were so good together and the dressing just tied everything together.

This experience is one for those of us who LOVE food and have a terrible desire to eat until they can eat no more… Sure you could order a main off the menu, but each time I have been I have opted for the Mezza Banquet, the second time the waiter did warn me of the punishment I was about to endure on my stomach lining. But I laughed it off, highlighting the fact this wasn’t my first encounter!

Situated along the picturesque wharf of Hamilton, Byblos is a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant, which was great in accommodating my friends who eat Halal. Decor wise, it's themed in red and drapery. It was very busy on this Saturday night that I went, especially the bar area - understandably, as their drink menu is extensive. The staff are friendly and very accommodating, filling our glasses of water when empty, and having a joke with us, considering how difficult it is to take orders from large groups of people! The food is presented very elegantly, and comes out quite quick. My dish for the night was the Custaleta: lamb cutlets teamed with dauphinoise potato stack, mushroom and a demi glaze, with caramelised baby onions. The baby onions lifted the dish from being quite creamy, as they were a welcome sweet touch. The lamb was a bit over cooked, with not much pink coloration in the middle. The potato stack was creamy, but was too soft to actually pierce a fork through. An additi

Byblos are dishing up some belly-warming Lebanese comfort food this winter. I suggest trying the Moghrabieh – warmed couscous and chickpeas slow-cooked and topped with a lamb shank, chicken and traditional onion gravy. Oink!

I really enjoyed Byblos and I can't wait to go back for a drink in their glamourous and exotic Phoenician inspired lounge.

We had an overall good impression of Byblos. Even though it was quiet when we got there, there's something about the atmosphere and style of food that gives it a party vibe. I think this would be a nice spot for a function. Duncan said he was impressed by the food. I liked the flatbread starter and the rekakat best. The staff were tonnes of fun - jokey and casual, which added to the happy experience.

I love those days when family and friends unexpectedly come into town - and I love it even more when they offer to shout you lunch. Sunday was one of those days, and my favourite Aunty M was in town on her way back from Melbourne. With the sun shining hot