Healesville Hotel

7.4 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

We've dined and stayed upstairs a handful of times over the last five years and have always enjoyed the experience.

If you're looking for a no-noise wake to the sounds of birds chirping B&B then this isn't the place, however, if you enjoy a stroll around town during the afternoon, upstairs to refresh, downstairs to dinner and a stroll afterwards then this is wonderful venue.

Food is always fresh and local both in the restaurant and at Harvest. We've always found smiling helps to get a smile back especially when ordering at breakfast from Harvest. We choose to stay in one of the back rooms to get away from the street noise which can get a little noisy in the morning (I think Room 3 is the quietest). Once again, if you want a long sleep in, go stay 5 k's out of town but you'll have to ride/drive. If you want to be self contained with some variety, stay at the HH.

Mar 29, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Great food, the aged sirloin was awesome. Our waiter/sommelier matched this perfectly with 'bird on a wire' Syrah by caroline moody. Front bar and table service excellent.

Dec 11, 2010 

4.2 Below Average

Food  4      Drinks  4      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  3     

Healesville Hotel? Overpriced, unfriendly, and appear to be right up themselves. Oh yes, mains are $30 and the size of entrees, and sides are $7.50 if you want a handful of Brussels sprouts, or six or eight “hand cut” chips. But it’s a lovely old dining room, despite the masses of wine bottle displays.

And breakfast at their Harvest restaurant next door? We walked in the following morning, no good mornings, no acknowledgement of our presence. We found a table ourselves, sat down, and waited while two staff members just chatted on to each other for the next 10 minutes. So we walked out, didn’t we, and still got no acknowledgement! Anyway, I went over the road and got myself a hot pie from a friendly face at the pastry house.

And you need to be a sound sleeper to stay there. Noisy doors and squeaky hallways, shared bathrooms, and our window sash was torn off and we couldn’t secure the window. The toilet light was blown and we also got little sleep because the pub is on the main road and the traffic is ongoing. And I’m sure there was someone using a vacuum cleaner at 6 am and I think it was coming from downstairs!

I would have thought you go to the country for value and country friendliness and peace and tranquility. I’m not sure that the Healesville pub qualifies for any of that.

Jul 13, 2009 

8.2 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

My husband and I were married here 2 years ago and return regularly. The food is always outstanding and the service is warm and personable. The dining room is stunning. It is undoubtedly my favourite restaurant in Melbourne.

Jul 08, 2009 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  6     

Went for a day in the area and had dinner there, opted to order from the bar and sit out back. The food was tasty albeit on the skimpy side. Might stop back and try the dining room but overall seems a bit overrated.

May 19, 2009 

3 Below Average

Food  4      Drinks  4      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  1     

Being locals we go there every once in a while (hoping that the next time we just might enjoy it) but each time we leave unhappy and vow never to go again! It used to be a wonderful place to go for great food and great service but now its a big waste of time and especially money! It is totally over priced for what you get.

My main gripe is with the Harvest, it seems that to work there you need not be interested in customer service, that you're unfriendly and rude! When placing you're order you're made to feel like you're putting them out and its a hassle for them. There is never a 'hello, what can I get for you' with a smile or eye contact, but instead staff talking amongst themselves leaving you waiting at the counter, and "interrupting" them because you are waiting to place you're order.

Given the recent fires in the area there really wasn't alot of 'tourists' which I'm sure they count on, so they seemed very quiet and I'm guessing would have been counting on "locals" to keep them busy, but here's a couple of locals you won't find hurrying back there. Very disappointing.

Mar 01, 2009 

7.4 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  5      Value  7     

2nd visit to this establishment ( I think I said I wouldn't return, however, here I was again). Chaotic and disorganised service. Good food, a generous selection on the entree charcuterie plate followed by a tasty rabbit dish, stuffed loin alongside a `rabbit canneloni`. Dessert came in the form of a hot chocolate fondant which was rather good. Reasonable and affordable winelist. Shame about the terrible service letting down the high quality food.

Jun 19, 2007 

6.4 Recommended

Food  6      Drinks  6      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  6     

We have eaten here several times over the last 4 years and I'm sure it is going more downhill each time.

Inexperienced staff, badly described food and long waits have finally convinced us to never return!

May 31, 2007 

3.4 Below Average

Food  6      Drinks  6      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

I ate there three years ago, and swore I would never return, due to the terrible service. On the weekend, I revisited hoping that my first experience was a once off - how wrong I was!!

Again, terrible service was the main offense, closely followed by a bar covered (literally) in dirty glasses. Staff members will see you standing at the bar and avoid eye contact except if you're a family member of a staff member. One young man avoided me for 5 minutes then raced over to serve his parents as soon as they entered the bar (who were there to pick him up after his shift).

The food was pretty good, as was the waitress who bought our food out. Bar staff were atrocious, perhaps, they lack direction from management. How hard can it be to keep the bar clear of dirty glasses, if staff can collect dirty glasses then surely they can load them into the dishwasher?!?!

May 30, 2007 

3 Below Average

Food  4      Drinks  4      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  3     

If I was to return it would be out of morbid curiosity to see if the night I went was a once off. The restaurant was over crowded and oppressively hot. By the time we received our meal, after waiting close to 1.5 hours, we were no longer interested in it and were hardly enticed by the offering. I was glad when it was time to leave so that I didn't have to feel that I had taken the seat of a more valued and appropriate customer.

Feb 02, 2007