Mean Fiddler, The

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

God, what an awful place. Enough said, don't go, nasty prices for drinks, nasty food.

April 2012 - Four years after writing the above review, nothing has changed at this place. Went for lunch with an aquaintance who lives in the area. My shout for drinks, I went to the mainbar where a terminally slow lady behind the bar fussed and faffed about not having a certain wine for a customer, and then proceeded to dawdle down to the bottle shop to get some supplies.

Surely this should have been done prior to lunch trade, maybe as part of the re-stocking chores from the previous night? I waited, got cranky, and then went to the other bar which was open, but the two bartenders here were flat out serving a private function on the other bar so me and the others standing at this bar just got ignored. So, I got back to the dawdlers bar, she just gets back, takes an eternity to open and poor a glass of this precious wine, then spent a good 3 or 4 minutes looking for the code on the register to charge it.

Even the wine orderer at this stage was furious, asking if it's such a drama get him something else. Our buzzer for the meals go off, and I can't even get two schoooners of beer in that time! I finally get served, and she hands me my change on a plate so I can leave her a tip! In a pub? Are you serious, is this really the practice at this so widely publisized 'classy' establishment? Maybe this is why it's reportedly so violent, all the frustrated customers throwing tip plates at each other or at the staff?

Gobsmacked, I go back to start my $16 'Wagyu' beef and bacon burger. Now I'm telling you, if that was 'Wagyu' in that burger then the world is gonna end tomorrow. The patty was dry and indigestible, with the consistency of a house-brick, only less taste to it. Horrendous, the best part of the meal was the piddling serve of steak chips on the side.

Oh, and I nearly forgot about how I got seriously chipped by the officious uniformed attendant for taking my serviettes from the wrong serving station. Apparently, these were the ones that she used for her tasks, which were handing food plates to the customers. I was spoken to like I was a naughty child that had been caught removing a painting from the wall. This place is an over-priced, poorly located sham, the locals can keep it.

Apr 21, 2012 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

The fiddler has been my local pub for about 12 years. I have always loved everything about the Fiddler. Over the past 12 months it has gone down hill, which is why I write this review.
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Food - The food portions are so small now. The portions are expected to be big and for the customer to be satisfied'. For the price you pay for a meal is that of the price of going to a sit down restaurant. Kitchen staff how can you Burn a handburger patty. They don't burn the meat at Mcdonalds.

Ambience - I used to go the the Fiddler and the band used to play. I can hear nothing now. Guys its suppose to be an Irish pub, celtic music? Two times I went to the bar on the weekend and the staff running two bars say 'sorry won't be a minute'. I can't wait for a beer so I did not buy one. Over a four hour period I had one beer and one soft drink, sorry, poor bar service (staff should consider smiling and have a laugh, you work in hospitality).

I am so disappointed. With strong pubs and clubs around the Fiddler. I give the Fiddler the thumbs down and say "thanks for the good times".

Jul 24, 2011 

2.6 Not Recommended

Food  2      Drinks  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  2     

After watching Masterchef, we were inspired to try the new menu. I was happy to forego one of the Masterchef menu items as it was sold out and went for a stock menu item. From the criticism the Masterchef team endured during their challenge, the kitchen staff (I can't call them Chefs) were lucky the patronage was different without cameras.

The salad served which was a deal breaker for some people was abundant compared to the supposed Asian Salad which accompanied my Whole Baked Barramundi. The fish was overcooked and accompanied by half a cup of boiled rice. No sauce, no salad and no flavour. Very disappointing.

Jun 15, 2011 

5.4 Average

Food  4      Drinks  5      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  5     

The Mean Fiddler is hit and miss when it comes to dining. I have been here on 4 occasions to eat over a 6 year period, twice it was absolutely terrible, twice it was merely acceptable. The decor was the best I had seen in any pub in the area, until the management removed the fiddle and the maps from the glass under the floor and turned half of the place into a sports bar/nightclub. The place has pretty much been on an downward slide with regard to food since the renovations. Great for a drink, mediocre for a meal.

May 29, 2011 

2.6 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  5      Ambience  2      Service  4      Value  1     

Went with family for a Mothers day lunch, and we were all thoroughly disappointed with the level of quality with the food. We ordered a pizza, which was soggy and tasted awful. We also ordered fish + Chips which was soggy (clearly prepared/cooked earlier) and also schnitzel which was very dry and over cooked.

Not worth the money that you pay for the meals here, and I'm sure that you would get better value for money and a nicer meal at your local fish and chip shop, without a doubt. Pick up you game fiddler, this was a very disappointing meal, and we will not be in a hurry to get back.

May 08, 2011 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Drinks  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

Don't know why this place is even here. Food forget it!! Steak was requested medium rare - came out well done. Pizza was requested vegetarian - came out with cabanossi and ham. Way too overpriced and very poor lighting, we couldn't even see what we were eating. Champagne was flat. I will never come back for a meal. Music was not to my taste, not really music but more like screaming.

Dec 21, 2010 

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  5     

Haven't been here for a while so thought I would give it ago last night. The menu is pretty boring and a bit pricey. Two of us had the sausages and mash and one some oysters. No complaints with the food. The so called music was another matter, they were dreadful. I really enjoy music but that row last night can hardly be described as music. Management, if you want to stop driving your customers away I suggest you get rid of them. One other thing I further suggest that you brief your staff on emergency procedures the alert signal went off while we were there and the young lass behind the bar had no idea of what was going on. I realise it was a false alarm last night but if the real thing happens on a Friday night you will have a disaster on your hands.

Oct 14, 2010 

7.2 Recommended

Food  7      Drinks  7      Ambience  9      Service  6      Value  7     

I've been here a few times, but never for the food menus or anything, only for the nightclub scene. So only pay attention to this review if you're going clubbing!

Overall, I'd say this is probably one of the more popular clubs in Sydney. Depending on the time of arrival and what event is going on for what night, the line can be somewhat short outside, or all the way around the corner. Luckily, the line moves rather fast and the size of the venue allows for a large number of people.

The drinks are about the same as anywhere else you'll go. From memory, shots are 7.50 each, beers are probably around 4, jack and coke around 6, haven't bought anything else there, but I'd assume they're all within that price range. Obviously, I can't review on the food because they don't serve it once the nightclub starts up.

The only minus for drinks is that they have a limit to what they'll sell, I know for shots they don't sell Absinth, thus no ABC's. which is one of my favourite shots, so that lowers it a bit for me.

The ambience of the place is very good. Not only is the place huge with a main dance floor, and an outdoor rave, but it also has a main outdoor seating area for social gatherings, and two other rooms for social occasions with a group. The whole place has the sort of western or olden barnyard feel, with old themed buildings and other things to give the vibe of a classic western.

The only negative with all this is that, it doesn't really have that standout feature that makes you go 'wow! thats awesome' and, of course, with the more you drink, the less you notice the ambience.

Service for me is somewhat mixed. There is a large security presence, which would normally be good but the security there is sort of intimidating, which I guess is what they want to feel. All the bad stories involving security there doesn't help the cause. There are at least 8 bars in the fiddler, so lines are hardly, if ever, an issue. Service of alcohol can be mixed, sometimes the bartenders pay more attention to each other than you, but other times you get the really nice one that is keen for a bit of a chat. Its just luck of the draw.

The value for drinks is adequate really. Its not the cheapest place I've been, but its nowhere near the most expensive. They only recently introduced a $10 entry fee to the dance floor, but apart from that entry is free.

In summary, ignore the media stories about massive brawls there, I've been plenty of times and never seen a single fight. Also, this place is extra special if you live in Western Sydney, because it seems to be the social gathering hot spot for all the youths from the area, and you're guaranteed of seeing someone you know there if you go on a friday or saturday. Happy drinking!

Aug 08, 2010 

1.2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  2     

If you want poor food served in a shed by rude staff this is the place for you. Prices on par with far superior CVBD places. Price of drinks are same as, say, 4 seasons in the city except you get it served with 'attitude'. What a crock of a place.
Watching the arguments and developing fights may entertain you.

My very attractive 16 year old grand daughter was quite nervous with all the comments she received from admirers but then so was my 11 year old grand daughter! What an unpleasant dive.

Jul 31, 2010 

4.4 Below Average

Food  5      Drinks  5      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  4     

Have been here about ten times, never had any decent service, all the staff have been rude and preoccupied with talking to each other while you are waiting for their attention. Food is disappointing, as are the prices.

Jun 14, 2010