Belmont Hotel Lake Macquarie

The bistro team handled a large food order all at once and seemed well organised. There was a wide selection, and the pub food was standard quality. The hotel is modern and very clean. Parking is on the side street, and I’d rate the value of the beer prices 6/10.

I told both the staff and chef clearly that pepper and chilli are medical allergies for me, not foods I simply dislike. They assured me the dish could be made safely, then served a veal steak covered in pepper. I sent it back, and the replacement arrived with chilli on it. Two chances, two potentially life-threatening mistakes. There was no apology or concern at first, no manager came over, and nobody showed any urgency or offered a refund. They just looked blank, as if it didn’t matter. If I hadn’t noticed, I could have ended up in hospital. This is dangerous incompetence, and anyone with allergies is at serious risk here. They didn’t listen or seem to understand how serious allergen handling is. Eat here at your own risk. Edit: I eventually tracked down a manager and waited for them. They apologised and refunded my family’s whole meal, which was a lovely gesture.

I travel for work and was surprised by how new, clean and comfortable the room was. Lovely room, new bathroom and great service, all for such good value. There’s a hotel downstairs, so you can eat before settling in for the night. Highly recommend.

Since the renovations, this has been a great pub to visit. There’s heaps of space to sit down for a meal, grab a beer or watch footy. I do think the recent bistro menu price increase is a bit steep.