Hotel Australasia

We had booked dinner while passing through Eden on our way from Melbourne to Sydney. Friends had highly recommended the hotel restaurant, so this was a real disappointment. My partner and I eat out a lot around the world, and our meals were completely different from what we ordered. There was no apology. We waited and waited for the waiter to return or bring the correct dishes, but he never came back. The wrong food was still sitting there, so I reluctantly ate it. My vegetarian partner went without a meal. On top of that, we still had to pay, and nobody apologized. The waiter was a fool, and reminded us of Manuel in Fawlty Towers. A disgrace. We’d never recommend this visually stunning hotel. Such a pity. The staff need training in proper service.

I got a refund and left hungry. Really disappointing. Mon 12 Jan. My medium steak was cooked on just one side, with only about 3mm of that side cooked and the rest totally raw. For $49, and with no table service, I expected it to be cooked properly and to have clean cutlery. The cutlery tin had no forks, and when I asked, I was given dirty ones. Nobody took the initiative to apologize, ask what would make things right, or fix my meal quickly. Pretty poor, with very little hospitality professionalism. We sat in the gorgeous beer garden after trying to find an inside table. The last two empty tables were still covered in dirty plates, while four young female staff chatted at the bar.

As two Brits visiting Australia for the first time, we won’t forget the kindness we experienced here. My wife and I were temporarily stranded in Eden, and the lovely staff at the Australasia were so helpful and hospitable. A special thanks to head chef Alan, who’s an absolute legend. We didn’t get to try anything on the menu, but we know the food will be outstanding because he is. We look forward to coming back sometime.

The rooms are very nice, maybe a bit overdone, and the food was good, though the occasional pizza looked a little burnt. The breakfast included with our room was very spare, just toast and a little spread, no eggs or fruit. We stayed one night on our way up the coast. It’s an old hotel that was renovated a couple of years ago, but the rest of it felt a little hectic. The kitchen isn’t finished, so they’re working in a temporary setup, and the toilets are in a container. It can be a bit messy and you might wait longer for food, though it’s not a huge problem. It’s a hotel pub in Australia, not the Ritz! Fine for a night or two, but I wouldn’t stay longer.