The Gungellan Hotel — Restaurant in Freeling

Please note, the below review was BEFORE the new owners took over in late 2024, therefore this review has been edited to advise so. Unfortunately there is a lot of feedback around the community, but very much online that since the new owners took over, it's become far worse. Feel free to take a look at their Facebook post regarding the change to the menu and the following comments (posted Sept 2024), but also go look at the comments in the South Aussie Schnitzel Review Group on Facebook, including the photos of the (questionable) food. Speaking of, what is a regular discussion is the change to the menu, but don't worry the long time favourites they've taken away might just pop up on the 'Specials Board', but the kicker is the new owners haven't been putting them on Facebook (to date), like the previous owners did. You'll also find they appear to not be receptive to any form of feedback that isn't positive. Then there's the questions as to why the kitchen has been closed so many times in such a short period of time, is it because like the feedback being made public of how patrons are being treated, that the same may be occurring to staff 🤔 It's safe to say there will be long-time patrons not returning, after giving this former lovely establishment the support it deserved (even through the highs and the lows, the difference is the previous owners had more highs, unlike what now appears to be moreso delivered). If you lack customer service, under value staff; which is expressed online (Helen is sadly missed by all), and only caring about what they want (not what the patrons want); again this is public feedback, you can bet they'll unlikely last as long as the previous owners did. Based on the response from the community and schnitzel lovers, go to the Feeling Hotel ☺️ *

Review before new owners took over in late 2024 and was put as a review in the 2023/24 F/Y: I have been here twice and had I not had my recent second visit, The Gungellan Hotel would have received a 5 star review.

Both times I had the Creamy Seafood Sauce Schnitzel.

First time, A M A Z I N G! Huge schnitzel and an abundance of the Creamy Seafood Sauce. Along with it being fresh and hot. Customer service was great from start to end.

Second time, left me wondering if I will go back. Schnitzel was the size of my hand if I was lucky, compared to the other 7 people at my table who's were larger. Unfortunately the Creamy Seafood Sauce was lacking, and the chips were soggy and luke warm at best.

The ladies behind the bar were incredibly disorganized and their communication to each other was just not there. Stumbling around the other, not sure which of them have served the customers waiting. Customers who hadn't been served were getting ignored, but customers who had been served would be addressed by one of the ladies who assumed they were waiting. It was a stressful mess which only added to the overall experience.

In addition, the male waiter got most of our meals bundled up, along with people at the table missing their requested sauces/gravy. The waiter also didn't know which schnitzel was which, so handing it to the correct patron made it difficult and left the people at the table having to work it out.

People at the table that have been to the Gungellan Hotel a few times had also expressed their disappointment on this occasion. Regarding food being tasteless and the customer service being much more poor quality.

Local businesses want people to support them, however they need to provide consistency to receive that.

If the second experience of this venue was the first time, they would receive a 1/5 rating. However, as the first time was delivered with quality food and customer service, they receive a 3/5...

A word of warning to anyone visiting the Gungellan Hotel: you might want to call ahead and book a second table just for your parmigiana. I've heard tales of "man vs. food" challenges, but this was more like "man vs. a small, delicious village." The beer was cold, the staff were all smiles, and the atmosphere was the kind of country pub comfort that makes you want to pull up a stool and stay a while. Then the parmy arrived. It was less of a meal and more of a life event, and at that price, it's the best value on Earth. I'm pretty sure I saw a small family of wallabies living under the melted cheese. I had to text my family a final goodbye, just in case. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection, but I'm pretty sure my belt is still in a state of shock. My recommendation? Go for the beer, enjoy the fantastic vibe, and if you order the parmy, bring a team of professional eaters with you. You'll need the support, and maybe a mortgage to pay for the medical bills from all the...

Very enjoyable meal although having previously been for a meal PreCovid, you can definitely notice the difference between before and after Covid unfortunately. Meal quality isn't quite as good as PreCovid but with the much quieter atmosphere and more enhanced layed back country lifestyle feel to it, it kind of makes up for the drop in quality in a way. One thing that hasn't changed at all is the awesome staff there and the fantastic quality of their service. Just as I remembered it from PreCovid times, awesome yet once again. Bookings are essential now these days from what I overheard as even though there was still a couple of empty table's, when a walk in enquired about a table they were informed that unfortunately there was nothing available as they were completely booked out for...