Sweethearts — Restaurant in Darwin City

As a local. I was looking toward to sweethearts opening for a change on Mitchell Street. Last night I watched a disorganised and disinterested staff under a poor duty manager, mismanage customers and loose focus on the importance of customers. In my own opinion, I don’t believe that you should have all of your staff away from the counters observed doing menial tasks while you let customers wait or walk out and leave. Feedback provided to the manager saw me barred from drinks. Positive or negative feedback is an important part of the business acumen. To be too delicate in Darwin to accept feedback lacks a connection to community. Staff did not know the products - beers or variety of tap beers that were requested by myself and other customers. That’s just bad. Poring and serving and charging for incorrect drinks. Food prices through the roof. I don’t understand the purpose or function of sweethearts. Connecting with owners to provide feedback is not possible. I’m really a taken back that an investment in such a new business to have the absolute worst customer service of any bar in Darwin with feedback discourages. Lost, entitled, and disconnected staff. Really really bad and really really sad. Happy to talk to...

Don’t have an account but using my friends to explain the horrible service I received on Tuesday night at sweethearts! Ordered a steak which took 45 minutes to be served, after taking my first bite the steak was completely cold and tasted raw. I took the steak back to the manager to let them know and was told to “wait a sec” after waiting 5/10 mins I told the waitress I will head back to my table and to bring the steak back when it’s ready. An hour has passed since ordering the steak and still no update, I went up to check and said it’s coming. Another 15 mins pass still nothing, I then asked the waitress for an update and nothing so I asked for a refund. No proper refund process, I paid by card and get given coins as a refund. The waitress then comes up again, almost hitting the two hour mark and ask if we are still waiting for the steak, I said yes thinking they were offering me dinner since I never got my food out again, but do you think I ever got the steak??? Stayed for 6 rounds of 10 questions for trivia with an empty stomach, no apologies or remorse what so ever, the manager didn’t even want to face up to it. What’s the point of offering steak specials when you can’t deliver the service… such a...

We went for dinner at sunset and were having a really lovely time. My partner and I shared some excellent pizzas, had a couple of beers, and truly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere. It felt like one of those slow, special evenings.

But just as we were about to finish, a security guard came over because we had a bottle of water with us. He said outside drinks weren’t allowed. I offered to hand it to him so he could keep it until we left, but he refused, he wouldn’t even touch it.

It was a bit surreal, to be honest. Being asked to leave over a bottle of water — in Australia, where tap water is offered for free in restaurants, and where something as basic as water doesn’t affect the business at all.

So in the end, we left early, without finishing our drinks. We just didn’t feel welcome anymore. It’s really sad that such a good night had to...