Recommended based on 31 votes
(The Overall Rating is calculated using a Weighted Average)
Overview of Freeway Hotel
The Freeway Hotel is very proud to announce the establishment of the all new FREEWAY BRASSERIE featuring a brand new menu with many new and exciting dishes, plus daily "Blackboard Specials", that promise to satisfy every taste and every budget, with your NEW HOST, and fabulous Chef, Mr Peter Fahd.
Peter Fahd has trained and worked in both Australia and France. During three years in Paris, Peter worked as a Chef de Partie in Gerard Besson’s award winning Restaurant in Paris. Peter was part of his team when Gerard Besson won the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. Peter also worked at La Tour D’Argent, a world renowned restaurant on La Seine in Paris. On Peter’s return to Sydney he became Sous Chef at the International Sydney Hilton Hotel. He has the passion to create beautiful food for the serious and casual diner and makes every experience an enjoyable affair. Hence the reason behind creating the BRASSERIE at the FREEWAY HOTEL. Restaurants that Peter has worked at in Sydney include San Francisco Grill, Cables, Forty One, L’Orangerie and Barnaby’s. Some reviews that Peter has received include Boats and Fisherman magazine “This is the best tucker I’ve ever eaten in a pub”, and Terry Duraak, SMH, “Quality food at bistro prices”.
Peter looks forward to continuing his famous reputation for quality and service at the FREEWAY BRASSERIE, as well as organizing that very special function for those special occasions.
We went to this pub for dinner on the weekend for the first time, we thought we would try it out based on some very good reviews on this website.
We had a scotch fillet steak and the calamari and chips. The steak was cooked well but there was too much mushroom sauce and the salad was drowned in dressing. Maybe it was a one off, but the steak had too much fat on it. Even if it was a one off it wouldn't sway my overall rating of this pub.
Given how many ten out of tens this pub has received for food I was expecting a lot better. It is average pub food, good sized servings but nothing at all spectacular and IMHO a little overpriced.
When we got home I looked more closely at the reviewers giving high scores, interestingly the last four reviewers that gave 10/10 for food only have the one review on eatability.
Too good to be true. The Freeway has the most spectacular food I have ever seen in a local pub. I love it and am there at least once a week. The service is always adequate and the food second to none. I'm surprised that this place isn't busier than it is, but that's my gain I guess. How could anyone fault the food in this place? I've had the lamb shanks and they're some of the best I've eaten. I'd fully recommend this place to anyone who wants top food at a top place. Their flour less choc cake is delicious btw ;)
This place is better now than ever. I have been going to the freeway for a few years now and I have to say the new owners of the Bistro are unreal. I am at the Freeway at least once a fortnight, its my local, and I find that I can't walk past the desserts display without taking a peek at what's new.
I'm loving the new bands that are playing on Friday and Saturday nights, they really liven up the place and make my boyfriend wanna "boogie oogie oogie".
It has to be said that I don't care for much of what is happening on the bar side of the place, but I seem to always have to go over there to get a drink as there is no one manning the bar on the restaurant side.
Before the new owners took over I always used to order a steak, and I thought they were good. The new chefs are sensational. There has not been one thing I have disliked and I have ordered half of the menu. The salmon is great, the steaks are even better than before, the nachos is beautiful, but my absolute favourite is the garlic prawns.
The thing that puts this fabulous place over the top is the dessert. This is the first bistro that I have been to that serves Creme Brulee, yum, and the first bistro that I have been to that decorates plates like you have paid big $$$$, when it actually is very reasonable. I could rave on and on about this place but my final word is going to be "yum".
Visited the Freeway Hotel restaurant on a trip to Sydney from Gold Coast last week and was blown away by the service and quality of the meals. The waitering service was superb. Ordering burgers for our meals, I thought Gold Coast, QLD. had the best burgers, but am now convinced that the Freeway Hotel has by far the best burgers I have ever tried. Apart from value for money with extremely generous servings the quality was incredible. I'm now waiting in anticipation on my next trip to Sydney to visit the restaurant again.
I did not realise it was under new management until I read the previous reviews. Agree with the slow and sloppy service as the waitresses looked clueless and slow even for a Brasserie. Went here on a Friday night and there were not many people eating and the food took almost an 1 hour to arrive and it was not hot.
We had the lamb shanks and veal medallions as per the previous reviewers recommendation but found them both to be below average. The lamb shanks did not have much meat on them and the texture seemed to indicate it had been microwaved straight out of a freezer. The vegetables on both plates were not cooked properly and were almost raw. The only saving grace were the mash potatoes which were done well.
From past experience, I would suggest sticking to the basics here such as their burgers or fish and chips and not try anything too fancy. I may give it one last chance sometime in the future, but will not be back anytime soon.
Response from Management:
This is a blasphemous attempt to discredit both the pub and myself. The Lamb Shanks are stewed with vegetables so I find it hard to believe that they were undercooked.
I am an acclaimed chef with over 20 years experience in the Hospitality industry and while I appreciate your opinion, I refuse to believe that you waited an hour for your meal.
I invite you to the Freeway Hotel to make your own decision, and feel free to express your opinions, good or bad, to our friendly staff. I guarantee you wont be disappointed.
This place is fantastic. I went on Saturday night with a few friends and the food was orgasmic. This was my first time to The Freeway and I had the lamb shanks which were beautiful and tender however, my wife's veal medallions in a Madeira mushroom sauce was to die for. The baked ricotta cheese cake was great and the presentation for all the dishes is faultless. Everything that passed my eye looked delicious and I wish I could have ordered more but I was too full.
The service is friendly and we did not wait very long before our dishes had arrived. This place screams quality and there has been no expense spared either in the atmosphere or the food. The value is great we spent about $200, and that's for all 6 of us, really living it up, with drinks and dessert. I eat out a lot and have yet to come across a place I have enjoyed as much as this for a long time. I think maybe next time I'll get the ribs.
Do not go! This place used to be excellent and our office (6 people) have been going every friday for about 2 years. However, the management of the restaurant has just changed and the service is absolutely ridiculous. We waited an hour and a half for our food to be served and the waitress seemed angry at us when she finally plonked it on the table.
The place was not busy and the food was not complicated, there was no excuse. Gordon Ramsey would have had a few things to say. At the very least wait a few weeks for them to get their act together before giving it a try. Alternatively, go upstairs where you can get a sausage or steak sandwich on the spot for $5.
Response from Management:
This was our first Friday service at the Freeway as we only started that Wednesday. Waiting staff were still being assessed and that particular waitress is no longer with us. Orders were still coming in, but I had to open as per the publicans request.
I apologize for any inconvenience and sincerely hope you dine with us again.
I'm at the Freeway at least twice a week for Poker and Trivia, but I can't seem to go past the Nachos and Monteray Chicken Burger. Both are very filling and very reasonably priced considering the large portion sizes. Love the lingerie waitresses but wish they weren't on while I'm at trivia on the other side of the pub. Aside from that, I love the place and will be going there for years to come! The bar staff are friendly and always helpful (the girls aren't bad to look at either). While it may not be my local, it may as well be since I'm there more often than I go to the pub across the road from my house!
The hotel is still very new and fresh looking. We came in on a recommendation for the ten dollar steak special but that's only at night time and we are there for lunch. I had the freeway burger which was massive and great value. Overall an enjoyable experience, however I did witness a girl getting fired which I though inappropriate to do at the bar. Will probably go back, looks like it has some good entertainment on fridays.
Good value for money. Have only eaten the burgers, or steak sandwich, all great value. Been about half a dozen times during day on weekends and the pub was empty each time, which drags the mood of the place down a little, and the staff stand around and seem a little disinterested. Was a little irked when the bar girl insisted I walk around the corner 2m to order food. When I asked why she could not just take my order of 2 burgers from where I was standing and where drinks had just been ordered all I got was a sneer in response. I could understand maybe if the place was packed but there was no one else there!
Would like to assume that place livens up a little with more people in it, regardless the food is worth dropping in for even if you don't stay for a few drinks afterwards.