Crossroads Bar

4.3 Below Average

Drinks  6      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  2     

Food was really very ordinary and expensive for what it was. We had the chicken in prosciutto and garlic bread with fetta and tomatoes for lunch. Bread was burnt and fetta poor quality. Chicken was pink and service really slow.

Nov 30, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Drinks  2      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  1     

This bar should be good, but it's not. Great location and ambience, spacious, cool. Unfortunately, management systems and staff let it down. We had drinks and snacks for 4. Only a few other people around so no rush.

Drinks ordering system is cumbersome. Waiter takes order, drops it at bar, somebody else prepares it, waiter eventually comes back and then serves. Takes about 20 minutes to get a drink. They forgot a complex order (2 Coronas please) and I had to chase it.

The pizzas were overcooked and dry, but the salads OK. Impossible to mess up a greek salad. Couldn't see value in $16 glass of white wine. I paid the bill for $140 by card, then later found they'd billed me twice. A week later and I'm still waiting on them to fix that. Staff seem to try, but the result is inept. Needs a long hard look at itself.

May 26, 2011 

5 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  3     

Came here for the high tea on the weekend. Kudos to the pianist who took the time to acknowledge our presence and speak with us. When we were finally shown to our seat we weren't given any information about the food (I avoid meats from pigs so it was highly disappointing cutting into one of the pastries and finding it filled with bacon, happily I found the vegetable version shortly thereafter). We were also left without milk for the tea.

The food wasn't excellent, but it certainly wasn't poor either. Unfortunately, about 15 minutes into our meal I realised children were grabbing strawberries out of the bowls with their hands, encouraged by their mothers, of course, while other children rested their chins on serving dishes and exhaled with glee all over the cakes.

I noted one little hand grabbing hold of a cheesecake from a table the senior staff of said hand could barely see over. I strongly feel in these settings children need to be supervised closely, I was waiting with trepidation for a little leg to catch on the cables underneath the tables, or give the tablecloth an excessive tug.

This whole spectacle made us ladies rather nauseated and we left before an hour had passed. Thank you, bartender, for confirming that everything was alright with the afternoon, but I couldn't think of a polite way to say "little hands have gotten stuck into almost every dish and I'm not keen on putting that in my body".

It really is a shame as the whole set up is simply lovely, the natural light creates an environment that is relaxing and cheerful. If the restaurant had more staff I feel this would strongly improve the service. 3 waitstaff for the amount of people present stretched them thin.

It's hardly Swissotel's fault, but I certainly wouldn't recommend this to someone looking for an elegant, relaxing, ladies afternoon. It's more of a family occasion, with a hefty price tag!

Jan 28, 2011 

7 Recommended

Drinks  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Had High Tea with the girls here, we booked in advance so tables and big comfy sofas were set up for us waiting. The staff were very welcoming and happy enough to top-up our drinks, the soft music playing in the background added an extra touch to the afternoon.

The buffet high tea was the main reason we came, scones were small and hard, cakes ranged from good to poor (many poor) and the tea was twinings! which was rather disappointing as we were expecting a better more exotic selection. Overall, most cakes remained half consumed as we didn't think it was worth eating all. The tea service could have been better and done by the staff rather than self-service,
left feeling a little disappointed but very relaxed.

Feb 09, 2010 

3.8 Below Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  3     

Initially booked a table for 7 people to celebrate a birthday 2 weeks in advance. Called 1 week in advance to increase the booking to 9 people. Confirmed at least 3 times that the new reservation was for 9 people.

Upon arrival the booking and saying we have a booking for nine people she replied with "For What?" in a rude manner. The booking was still for 7 people and they were reluctant to reset the tables and were very rude, taking their time. It took about 20 minutes for them to arange 2 more seats. It was downhill from here. We knew it was time to leave when the waitress arrived with the bill and slammed the bill the table.

If you want to experience High Tea there are other places which do it better.

Nov 29, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

I first came here with a very dear friend and my daughter a couple of years ago and we come here all the time now when we go into the city. To all the other people who say the service is bad, it isn't, they are always very busy and I'm surprised that they manage it so well, I'm sure I'd stuff everything up if I were in their position, but then again they are trained. They always serve us about 5 minutes after we sit down and we should know, we go there a couple of times a month! The staff are gorgeous, and they DO smile.

The food is brilliant! My daughter always has the Swissotel Wagayu Burger and she loves it! The beef is of the greatest quality and it's certainly worth the price. The drinks menu has a very good selection so I can always try something different.

My daughter has had her birthday there on no less than 2 occasions and it has been perfect! She is a teenager and as some people should know they are very hard to please but she had a great time on both times and so did her friends. We were seated at a special area behind the bar where it was very quiet. And though it did not have a billion dollar view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (which I think is very boring after you've seen it an infinite number of times), it did have a view of the State Theatre and the building next to it which creates a distorted reflection of the other skyscapers, making it like an abstract masterpiece.

It is a very cosy place and you can easily relax your blistered feet after walking all over the city. It's not as if you have to walk a hundred kilometres to get there, it is so easy to get there as it's conveniently above the Myer department store. I have been to many other restaurants in the city and the Crossroads Bar is the cherry on the top of a wonderful raid on the shops!

Sep 11, 2009 

7.5 Recommended

Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Just had an 'express' lunch here and while the experience was far from 'express' initially with one blonde waitress almost deliberately ignoring our table. Once the food arrived I was impressed.

For less than $50 my partner and I had a lovely lunch. I had the Swiss steak with potato cake, which I would recommend, and the boy had the pasta special, also nice...(But go the steak!) Also, the house wines were of a good standard, and at least they arrived promptly after ordering!

So, while I do agree that the service is a little less than spectacular, the food was great for a step up from cafe but cheaper than a restaurant...nice surrounds too. Also, express = 1.25 hours.

Mar 13, 2009 

7.3 Recommended

Drinks  6      Ambience  10      Service  5      Value  8     

I have eaten at the Crossroads Bar many times without complaint, except for the last time in Dec 2008. I noticed the waiters were all new and I was ignored by them all. I had to get up and give my order at the bar as nobody dared come near me (was it because I was by myself?) after 25 minutes I had to ask why my "express" pasta was taking so long as they clearly weren't that busy.

I received my order soon after. I then waited for my table to be cleared away of dirty plates and my empty wine glass but this never happened. After waiting so long my lunch had gone down and so I thought I'd order dessert but I again waited so long for someone, anyone to attend to me, asking, perhaps, if I'd like something else, that I gave up and paid for my lunch, complained that again I waited so long for someone to clear my dirty plates away that I wasn't going to wait any more to order or wait for dessert!

I've never come across such bad or slow service before, its put a bad taste in my mouth about going back again which is a shame since the service and food were excellent on my past visits. Also its the first time I didn't enjoy my food. I always order the express pasta but this time when I did it was oh so tasteless, they must have had holiday staff, nothing was as good as it used to be.

Jan 04, 2009 

4 Below Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  3     

I've visited the Crossroads Bar twice over the past month and on both occasions the service has been an absolute let-down, so indifferent as to border on rude. The first time might have been a one-off, but a repeat visit proved the contrary. To be handed the bill before the drinks have even arrived is simply unacceptable. Bear in mind that this was 9:30pm - not exactly late. In any case, if anyone had informed us that either the kitchen or bar would be closing soon, that would have been perfectly understandable, however strange. No such explanation was offered.

The poor service has so discoloured my view of this bar that I have positively recommended it to friends as a place to avoid. Doubtless this would make the cheerless staff very happy. No customers means no hassle.

Oct 27, 2008 

3.5 Below Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  1     

I was sitting in the provided seating with a guest and about 6 others around us maximum. I ordered a coffee and my guest ordered a glass of water. We sat there waiting for 30 minutes and did not get served. The other customers were served previously and were enjoying their meals.

A new customer arrived with a guest and they got their glasses of wine promptly. Following this we both walked out straight away and are never going back. I couldn't believe that for a place that charges $5 for coffees and soft drinks is able to behave in this manner.

Apr 15, 2008