Pumphouse, The

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Wow I have just read all the reviews below and can't believe this little gem has so much bad feedback! Maybe a change in management or something but I have been a few times in the past couple of month and absolutely love Pumphouse, the staff were very helpful and friendly recommending cocktails for the girls and beer for the guys, and the food was great! Our group had vegetarian pizzas, fish and chips and giant pretzels (which actually tasted really good!). I will definitely be going back, great location for after work dinner and drinks.

Nov 04, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  5     

Food is secondary to the beer here (which is great). The food is tasty if a bit expensive, but the place has a very nice atmosphere and friendly staff who are very keen to get you to sample all the beer they have on tap.

As long as you don't order anything too expensive you will not be disappointed. Stick to wedges and pizza here.

Aug 19, 2011 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

We knew some-thing was not quite right after we arrived for Lunch Sunday 22nd May. Waitresses were literally running in all directions. As there were no tables where the lunch menu was available we went inside. Confusion from staff on what could be ordered inside. Went to order a drink at the Bar and had to wait for Bar staff to turn up. (Bar choked with dirty glasses.. yuck). Seated outside later and informed of 20 min wait for food as Kitchen was busy, no problem.

Table of 4 gave their order around same time as us. Obvious short staffed as people had to wave to get attention. Went to order another drink. Ridiculous delay with one person serving as a couple undertook a 'Beer Tasting'. Further delay with Waitress running (literally) between Bar Person (Presumably Manager for the Day) and the Kitchen to say Kitchen had run out Smoked Salmon. Manager said 'Go and get it!'.

Waitrees told Kitchen and then ran off in another direction. Quite amusing. Took a look over at Kitchen and looked liked chaos. Returned to table to see family next to us getting anxious, they asked waitress where their food was, told coming soon. 10 minutes later the family got up and left after politely explaining delays were ridiculous. Waitress chased them outside to say food almost ready.

Waitress returned and said 'Shit' out loud for patrons to hear. Our food arrived after 45 minutes, undercooked pizza and undercooked flat-head fillets, (batter fell off when cutting). Chips soggy. Did not see anyone there receive apologies for delays in food. All in all a sh-t house experience with Mickey Mouse service. Will avoid in future.

May 23, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  5     

This place is popular because of its proximity to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and the Capitol Theatre before shows. But that is about all it has going for it. Arrive at 12 pm on a Saturday right as they open the doors. There is only 1 waitress on and 1 bar staff. We order and it takes a full 20 minutes to get 2 soft drinks to the table. There are about 7 other tables full. It took 40 minutes to get a dips plate with turkish bread (claims to be homemade but you can taste its come out of a plastic container from a supermarket). $14 for that which was overpriced.

The pizza at $16.50 is very small and would only be big enough for one person. Diners including ourselves were harrassed by a seedy person soliciting illegally for 'raffle ticket fundraising'. The place should get their act together and kick these people out. Hire some more waiters as well.

Note: their website is grossly out of date so don't expect the menu or any offers to be available when you get there. Think twice about this one, you most likely be late for your show.

May 21, 2011 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

A short review, because I gave up after about 40 mins and left. Quiet Wednesday night, about 5 or 6 tables busy. Sit down, order some food and drinks. Just for myself, on a business trip. The service isn't slow, it's glacial.

I order the ribs and a beer, not that complex. about 5 mins after I order my waitress arrives and asks me what sauce I want with my ribs; strange question but I'm game and ask what the options are. She comes back a couple of minutes later and tells me there are no sauces with the ribs. I remind her about my beer.

Ten minutes later the guy at the next table who came in tens mins after me is eating food and is on his second beer. I don't even have a drink. He did have a different waitress, maybe his wasn't an idiot.

At this stage I've had enough. I walk up and complain. She starts to blame the barstaff. First rule of customer service, you front up and take responsibility, you never blame your co-workers. I walk out the door hungry and pissed off.

Mar 30, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  2     

Stay away! We waited 45 minutes for our food in a nearly empty restaurant. Once we chased the food up- it arrived. 45 minutes for 2 pumpkin soups and a greek salad and a grilled fish. Sad thing was the fish was still raw and I nearly threw up when I took the first bite. No service at all once we had ordered. Needed a drink 10 minutes after arriving and not one came. No staff to ask either. Ended up having to chase our bill up and leave to make the show as the food had been so late. Only positive was they said no charge for the raw fish. Made me think they have people not satisfied with the food a lot- was no surprise to them.

Mar 05, 2011 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  1      Service  3      Value  2     

Service was not great and the food was not worth the price we paid. On top of that, as we were eating dinner, a huge rat ran into the restaurant, under our table and around the restaurant! My friend and I were mortified and jumped up from our seats in shock. Staff seemed completely unaffected by this occurrence and just laughed it off! They were completely unapologetic! Unbelievable! Will not be going there again! It was horrible.

Jul 14, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  5     

Great location and ambience is good but they seem to be very understaffed in both the kitchen and the wait staff that resulted in us waiting for a long time to be served, and finally receive our food. When we did receive our food, my steak was very unexciting. I could have gone to the local RSL and got a better steak for half the price.

Management need to realise that security staff at the venue should not be involved with dining patrons, or give them a course in customer service. Would be a good venue for a drink, but cannot recommend for a meal

Feb 28, 2010 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

Worst restaurant I have ever been to. No Vegan meals at all. The waiter checked with the chef who said he could make a pizza. When it came out it was covered in cheese. So the waiter (the Irishmen) who was very nice took it back and they made another one. It was a base with tomato sauce and 3 pieces of tiny tomato.
Surely it couldn't have been too hard to throw on a couple of mushrooms and maybe some capsicum? When the bill came out I was charged $16.00 which for a very small base with tomao sauce is ridiculous.

Feb 21, 2010 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  3     

Absolutely terrible is what sums up this establishment. The time it took from the initial order to our first dish was over 50 minutes. Food was below par and equally the service below acceptable, with very little courtesy or hospitality knowledge.
I have also been there again for a friends birthday party only a week ago, and I was suppose to be on the guest list.

A guest list is suppose to let those in who on the list and did not have to pay for entry. We waited over 1.5 hrs on line before we got in, by that time it was past midnight and then the staff have the nerve to tell us the guest list is closed at 12 and we forced to pay the $25 entry fee. What made it worse was that people the management knew were allowed in straight away not bothering to stand in line.
As a final thought this "business" should better shape up or else.

Apr 06, 2009