Bistro Sociale

This was a pretty good dinner. Cozy ambience and the service was really good too. For mains, we got the salmon dish and gnocchi which were both fab. We shared the scallops for entree and requested 4 pieces so we could each have 2. The chef fulfilled this request and we didn’t get charged for it which I thought was quite nice of them. The fresh oysters were very underwhelming and the let down of an otherwise great dinner.

Stopped in on the way back to Canberra from Sydney. Super lovely venue and staff were really attentive. The food was divine. We had the house baked bread, pan seared scallops, steak tartare for entree. Followed it up with the duck a l'orange and lamb rump for mains and parish mash on the side. Left completely satiated and deliriously happy with our choice! will be back!!

During a 5 night stay in the Southern Highlands we had some great meals .None better than at Bistro Sociale. Welcoming staff were knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks .Our generous antipasto entree and delicious duck mains were first class. We will return and the specialty gin and whisky bar will be explored on our next visit. Loved the ambience ,service and food .

Great service, okay food, long wait times. Must try: Apple Crumble Mocktail, it was so amazing I ordered 3 throughout the night Great service: the waitresses went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy with our dining experience. Okay food: food took 1hr-2hrs to come, and the mains were disappointing. The Duck L'Orange had no orange flavouring, and had more of a balsamic vinegar taste. The lobster linguine had overcooked noodles that disintegrated when touched and a dressing/toppings that more closely resembled and tasted like bruschetta. Basque cheesecake was decent, the Strawberry mille-feuille was very disappointing, the pastry was dry and stuck to the plate, and tasted more like frozen puff pastry that wasn't cooked all the way through. Although this sounds harsh, it's because we read so many good reviews, we had high expectations. We are happy to come back and try more from the steak menu however, as that looked much better than what we ordered and the service from the waitresses was that good!

(3.5 stars) As a hotel restaurant located in Bowral’s Berida Hotel, Bistro Sociale does an a la carte breakfast seven days a week. With temperatures hovering around minus three, and our car windscreen completely frosted over, the roaring oven fire was a welcome sight. As was our quick-to-arrive coffee order, which, across a cappuccino ($4) and a strong flat white ($4), was well-made and enjoyable. We each ordered free range eggs with toast ($15.50) and then added four shared sides: chorizo ($5), bacon ($5), mushrooms ($4) and patatas bravas ($4). We were surprised when the sides already allocated onto our plates, two sides apiece. It must have showed, as the waitress remarked: “That’s how it comes.” More communication at the brusque outset of service might help to avoid diner disappointment; as might not hiding burnt bacon under a tasty chorizo… As a concession to the weather, I would also have liked the attractive wabi-sabi (misshapen) plates could have been heated to keep our breakfast warm. The roast spuds wanted for some salt, necessitating a request because it wasn’t on the table. Luckily the well-seasoned scrambled eggs were warm enough to melt cold butter over our Turkish bread toast. The eggs had great flavour under a drizzle of house-made chilli oil. While it took two requests (and a number of caveats) to get some onto our table, we were delighted with the habanero-based result as it imparted plenty of flavour and a not-inconsiderable hot chilli burn. It left us enlivened and ready to face the cold.

Such a fantastic and unexpected meal. It was delicious and of an amazing standard. We had the bread and butter, prosciutto and rockmelon, duck liver parfait, the mackerel, truffle pasta and New York steak. My one note is that I personally think I prefer grilled steak as opposed to charred steak, as it was a little bitter for me. Cocktails were great, and everything was reasonably priced for what you're getting. The night was made even better by the friendly and great service, particularly Veena.

Great food and service - warm and friendly environment. We have high expectations for food and service, this place is cut a above local offerings and we come regularly. Some reviews are so harsh - and unnecessary: the locale, food and vibe is excellent. Upmarket bistro feel not Heston Blumenthal dining…