Caledonian Hotel

I went to a 21st in the back garden, my first time there, and I won't be back. The food took over an hour and was so salty I couldn't eat it and had to send it back. They refunded me in cash, but didn't apologize. Even the little tub of “smokey gravy” tasted like salt, brown sugar, and water. The bar staff were rude all night. My drinks were only filled three quarters of the way with Woollies lemonade, and when I asked them to top them up, they said that's how they come. One male staff member seemed not to see me, while serving women who came in after me. I also tried to order a $30 cocktail jug. After five minutes, they brought out a premixed jug from the back and wouldn't say what flavour it was. There were no menus to browse, just a few specials on a board. Wouldn't recommend it.

The restaurant felt dated, and the menu didn't work for me. It was limited to steak or Middle Eastern food. I like Middle Eastern food, but there was nothing on the menu I wanted, and my partner tried it and was disappointed too. The cocktail lounge is an interesting idea, but there's no cocktail menu in the main bar. You have to go into the lounge to read the options off the board, then come back to order. I don't think the menu suits the area.

There was barely any seating, and the room felt more like a dining hall, with far too many dead or dried flowers. The toilets are right beside the food ordering area. Dinner was edible, nothing more, and the chips looked like frozen crinkle cuts. The menu and location don't seem right for this kind of place. There's no atmosphere or pokies, and it needs more thought.

We booked the covered beer garden for a private get-together. There was plenty of outdoor room for smoking and vaping, plus a sound system, pool table, and pub games. Our event grew to twice the size, so the staff were rushed off their feet, but stayed friendly and cheerful the whole time. Congrats on the revamp and the work you're doing to make the Caly an inclusive space. We'll definitely come back!