Hotel Commonwealth Ipswich — Restaurant in Ipswich City

Came here tonight to check the beer garden out for some drinks and food, got there and ordered our cocktails at 7:20pm by 8pm we had to ask if our cocktails were on the way. The guy making the cocktails with the glasses was very slow, was stopping at a table of ladies to have a chat while there were dockets of cocktails sitting there on the pass and the docket machine in the back (we could see them from our table), he eventually made our cocktails after we asked bar staff about them. Bar was absolutely packed! And only 1 poor bartender on by himself, eventually a second one joined, but the wait time on drinks is crazy, we eventually went down to the pokie room to buy rounds of drinks while waiting for our cocktails because we were thirsty, waited probably an hour for our entrees and mains as well which is expected being how busy it was, food was very average, typical pub style food, servings were generous but the prices were a little over the top for the meals that they are, steaks were cooked beautifully though! Cocktail menu is abit iffy, the watermelon one is a little gross sorry, it needs more simple, well known cocktails added to the menu, more drink menus need to be on hand aswell for people to be able to browse instead of having to find the QR codes, would also recommend laminating the menus as ours was absolutely drenched, no salt and pepper on tables or offered to us with our meals, not having a dig at the venue at all, all staff were lovely! The live music was extremely loud just a little to much, we couldn’t hear each other, was pretty hard to talk around the table without yelling like all tables around us were doing. As someone who worked in hospitality for 7 years these are just the things that stood out to me. The lady down in gaming was absolutely lovely! Gaming room is very nice and tidy and relaxing too ☺️ not at all saying my experience was horrible, just little things we picked up on that would have made the experience...

Having somehow landed foundational memberships #1 and #2, we were thrilled to hear that Halloween would mark the venue’s soft opening. Naturally, we decided to head over and experience the first lunch on offer.

From the moment we arrived, service was prompt, welcoming, and knowledgeable. The staff guided us through the menu, sharing insights and recommendations for both food and beer selections, which added a nice touch. Our orders came out swiftly and exactly as we’d hoped. My steak was cooked to perfection—succulent and flavourful, exactly how a steak should be. My wife opted for the chicken schnitzel, which was generously portioned and accompanied by a rich, savoury gravy. Our child tucked into the sourdough and lime crisps, which were a hit as well. Each dish seemed thoughtfully prepared and well-executed.

I’d personally recommend trying the schnitzel gravy with the steak; it’s a brilliant combination. If you’re there and have the chance, definitely ask for it—the gravy’s depth adds something extra to the steak that’s well worth experiencing.

The venue itself is impressively spacious, managing to balance a sense of heritage with fresh, modern design elements. It’s clear a lot of thought went into blending the old with the new, creating a welcoming and visually appealing atmosphere. This is something that the designers of the Ipswich City Council building next door could perhaps take some pointers from—attention to detail can make all the difference. The outdoor seating area is particularly inviting, with a refreshing breeze that flows through, making it an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a meal.

Overall, we had a fantastic experience. From the attentive service to the quality of the food and the thoughtfully designed setting, it’s clear this venue is off to a strong start. We’re looking forward to many more visits...

I gave 3 stars as I thought it was average. When we arrived we really weren’t sure what to do, weren’t asked if we had a booking or if we had been here before & it wasn’t explained it was bar service for food & drinks. We were given a menu on arrival shown to our table and left to it, no offer of table water or advice on how to order, our table did not have a table number, like the other tables did, so had to ask wait staff what our number was. Menu has some pub classics, even a Plant based Chicken Schnitzel. ( I am assuming the chickens are only feed veggies) Our order got confused, not sure if it was because I asked for a real chicken parmigiana or the front of house staff only heard real chicken, but we got the grilled chicken. “ meal order was not read back to me or I would have picked up mistake. Drinks are just as confusing, there is no drinks list, no on tap list & no wine list. Was not sure if you ordered your drinks at the same place as meals, so as I looked at tap options, I had other wait staff wanting to take my drinks order, which may of helped with the meal confusion. Ipswich is a pretty tough market in the pub, club food market, plenty of options, we came in from Springfield, for Lunch at The Commonwealth Hotel, still no much else in Ipswich, beside eatery’s Service as others have said, friendly enough, but lacks a bit of training, food ok, nothing outstanding & it’s a nice old building, but lacks any sort of connection to its history. Prices towards the higher side for pub food. As my partner said “ we been there, done that. “ It is great to see one of Ipswich’s old buildings being reused & I am sure the items I mentioned here with improve, as the business finds its feet & staff realise the importance of focusing on the customers and...