Rose of Australia Hotel

3.2 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  6      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  3     

I was once a regular at this pub but no longer. The last 2 meals that I have had at The Rose of Australia were both extremely disappointing. The first was snapper which was so over cooked it was hard to chew and even harder to swallow. I left my plate 80% uneaten.

The second, tonight, was not even what I had ordered. After a 40 minute wait, I decided to simply eat what I was given. The meal got even worse when I was still charged for their mistake. Terrible service, terrible! Such a disappointment considering this was a great restaurant 6 months ago.

May 08, 2012 

4.8 Average

Food  6      Drinks  7      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  4     

The senior staff was not at all apologetic when we complained about waiting over an hour for our meals, she said our meals didn't come out for over an hour because we still had garlic bread on the table, actually it's just that no-one noticed we still didn't have our mains until we complained about the wait, when other people were being served around us. The senior staff needs to pick up her customer service training and do your job to supervise the floor.

Apr 19, 2012 

7.2 Recommended

Food  6      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  6     

We had dinner here on Saturday night, downstairs in the bar. The overall feel of the interior is a bit tired. The staff are excellent and fast. They have a large variety of good wines and beers available.

We both ordered the 400gram sirloin for $24 each but unfortunately it was a little disappointing, at least 40grams of the steak was inedible gristle but otherwise the meal was ok. The rose is one of the better quality hotels in the area, I will eat here again.

Jan 09, 2012 

4.4 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  2     

I have been to the restaurant in the Rose of Australia twice. I was quite impressed on my first visit (in 2009), but very disappointed on my second (last week).

The food was worse than average. I took my parents and my partner, based on the good experience a couple of years ago. My mother's entrée of risotto cakes was barely edible - the cakes had been deep fried (which seemed unnecessary in the first place) but were falling apart, soggy with oil and weirdly flavourless.

My main of pumpkin ravioli was revolting - the cream sauce tasted overcooked. I could not finish the entree-sized dish I ordered. The fish in the fish and chips was more batter than fish and the fish pie was mainly potato mash and not tasty mash at that.

The service was good and the wine we ordered was delicious, but this place needs to fire its chef and find someone who can cook. The current chef seems to be struggling with the basics, to say the least.

Oct 11, 2011 

6 Average

Food  3      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  6     

Warm atmosphere and friendly wait staff. Bar menu is typical pub style food but upstairs restaurant food is average with nothing special. Stay away from the fish as it's eye watering (definitely not mouth watering to the point where it tastes as if even the maggots have gone through it) even though the chef claims it’s fresh from the ocean! And don’t try sending it back and ordering another dish as they’ll even attempt to charge you for it!

Not to mention the rocky road which came out literally rock hard. Unless you want a set of false teeth don’t attempt to eat it!

You’re better off sticking to their steak nights on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as that would appear to be the chef’s signature dish!

Aug 26, 2011 

5.6 Average

Food  4      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  4     

The steaks were pretty good, but the "Grandma's meatloaf" looked awful on the plate, a couple of nasty looking slices of 'something' sitting on a small pile of mash and was, according to the person who ordered it, tasteless and almost as old as grandma. He didn't finish it.

Another of my friends had a sticky date pudding that was so tough he couldn't get his spoon through it. Neither dish lived up to its description and was badly overpriced even for something decent. Disappointing.

Jun 15, 2011 

9.2 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

It is such a shame this place doesn't get more publicity for what is happening upstairs. The moment you enter the (I can only imagine the head waiter/restaurant manager) waiter to attend to you is friendly, attentive and never invasive. Go for the steak night on a Tuesday, or go for a proper al a carte meal with friends.

Every time I have been we have taken visitors. It's a strange kinda oxymoron that a high level restaurant above a pub can boast any accolades but this surely does. Their menu is quite extensive, the wine list also will satisfy everybody without breaking any budget and the food when it is timely served is outstanding. Experience this place on a steak night and just when you think you are getting too hungry and a little impatient, the food arrives.

Like most, inquisitiveness will make you order the 'chocolate slut' dessert, though mostly because you might vicarously think it's dramatic, but it is great eating. It won't kill your wallet or purse, but have a go, it's really, really bloody good. And then you walk downstairs and face the old rowdiness and ordinariness of the pub.

Jun 30, 2010 

8.2 Recommended

Food  9      Drinks  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

My third trip to this pub and once again it was worth the trip. The "amuse bouche" as always set the taste buds on edge for the mains: lamb for me and steak for him. Beautifully presented and tasting. The service is unobtrusive and pleasant, but I would have liked a second glass of wine but no one came to take my order. No worry, I had a drink at the bar downstairs after dinner. I will be back!

Apr 06, 2010 

7.2 Recommended

Food  7      Drinks  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

This pub is great. Has kept a lot of its original charm and feel. The meals are of a standard you would expect in a pub, perhaps, even better. The place attracts a decent crowd and the outdoor seating in front of the pub gives the whole streetscape a great vibe. This is our favourite pub in Erksineville.

Feb 09, 2010