Raceview Hotel — Restaurant in Ipswich City

I went along yesterday taking two friends after making a phone call to book lunch and enquiry on lunch optionsand find out what was on offer around the holidays or any unusual circumstances with coronavirus restrictions. I was out and about with friends. We were doing some activities and visiting places out in the Ipswich area so decided to give this place a go. The person on the phone was very accommodating so we were feeling positive about a great lunch together.

When we arrived we were pleased to see a modern facility, great parking and entered and checked-in with the Qld Government QR code app and it was all downhill from there!!!

Well there wouldn't be enough space to tell you all the dramas and poor service and food we encountered. I'm not usually one to not be able to find anything good in the experience but there was not a lot to find here.

The staff (except one) were rude, questioning, uncoordinated, bullying, inappropriate and inhospitable. I was hassled on 4 occasions if I had checked in! From the time we came in by three different people ...at the bar ...coming from the toilet... asking for our table ...and then later ordering our meal!!! Without even being seated at our table I was asked to pay for all other guests for their food.... we hadn't even sat down !!...we hadn't decided what toeat...whether we were having a buffet or ala carte?

After enormous insistence on my part we went to a table in an almost empty dining room (one couple on one table and one solo guy) to choose from the menus and then chase up two different staff members to get answers on costings of the buffet and availability... no luck there. I eventually asked the chef behind the buffet who didn't know so then referred me to someone else. The two other staff who hassled us at the outset could not attend or tell us.

Previously when I phoned we were given wrong information of costings and availability for the Monday.!!

Menus weren't given to us but after five requests we got two copies... we then had to walk around the bar to find a drinks menu and then sit down.

I cannot begin to describe the rudeness and disruption of our lunch together and this was before the downhill run on the food. Obviously with covid restrictions one had to be served the buffet food ... that was no problem for us. Quite understandable in comfortable as it wasn't busy at all!!!.. but everything was cold and soggy. Cold garlic bread, cold French fries, cold everything.. nothing kept hot under warmers or heaters. The sushi rice was hard and not cooked, custard on dessert was lumpy, the ice cream machine wasn't delivering the soft serve accept a toothpaste like stream.... I could go on..

Each time we went to the buffet and came back to our table we had to physically stack the plates from our previous course to make some space and carry them to leave on an empty table nearby because they weren't cleared away. and yeah was it not at all busy!!... Apart from us (three) there were 5 other people in the whole Hotel during the whole 2 hours we were there!!! ....unbelievable!!! likewise our empty drink glasses where never cleared from the table.

I guess you're getting the picture how unacceptable the whole experience was in terms of service and food. And as a hospitality industry worker and manager... yes the duty manager was there according to her name tag! . ... and sitting at table on a phone through most of our time there. ...and we continually ran around looking for someone to serve at the buffet.... no one behind the bar to serve a drink...then trying to find someone to see if we could get a coffee(told to go to the bar.. but we had been waiting there but no staff to be found there.. only at a table on a phone!)

No wonder there was hardly anybody there. A big disappointment for an...

(The star ratings are 'generous'.) For more than ten years I have been a great supporter of the Raceview Hotel Bistro, and did not mind travelling from the other side of town to get there, but over the last two years it has been in a steady decline. Once, everything (food, service, atmosphere), was great, and I left great reviews, and attended for 'special' occasions, including bringing overseas visitors, I cannot say the same now and I was embarrassed on this last Valentine's day. The usually engaging, willing and helpful staff were 'disconnected'. They would rather have been somewhere else. The food was, well not good at all. Firstly, the buffet started with salads (great) and followed with hot dishes. The hot dishes used to end with gravys and sauces and were followed by hot desserts with cold desserts in the dessert area behind, but a couple of years ago someone thought that it would be a good idea to add the hot desserts to the (hot) main course area and to put some hot 'main' dishes in the dessert area, which is totally confusing to the average customer. Bad move. (I have waited for the buffet manager to see the error and to return things to the (more accepted) way they were, but that hasn't happened. On February 14th, 2025, the labels for the hot dishes on the bain-marie were jumbled up and did NOT match the dishes they referred to. (A constant problem over the last couple of years.) One member of staff puts out the labels and other members put the dishes wherever they can fit, and without reference to the labels, and no-one checks. The 'chips' were presented in the shape of 'waffles' and not recognisable as chips, and with the label saying 'Calamari' . . . Also, they were 'soggy', not 'crisp', as if they had been re-heated in the microwave. The calamari dish had (waffle) chips and fried chicken pieces in it as if someone (staff) had emptied the remains of the other dishes in with the calamari while they went off to get some more chips and chicken. The standard of patrons, (or staff), has 'dropped', as when we arrived (at 1:00 pm), there was food scattered over the carpet around at least half of the tables that I could see, (from table 38). 'Atmosphere' - none. (Perhaps a 'locker-room' after a football game. This experience (and that gained over the last couple of years) does little to justify paying the recent price rises. Unless I hear that the Raceview Hotel Bistro has improved (or returned to how it used to be), I (and mine), will be finding a new place to call 'home'. This review reflects my experience after a recent visit, and my impressions from being a long-time customer. I am 'sorry' because I have some great...

Went for lunch and the buffet was amazing. The beef and pork ribs were well cooked and tender it slid off the bone with a fork. The 2 flavoured wings was so good. I hope they keep the ribs and wings on the menu as they were amazing! The restaurant is so clean, new and very inviting. The staff were amazing. It was our first time and as the staff member was showing us to our table, she asked us if it was our first time there and we said yes. She showed us where everything was and I thought that was great customer service, so attentive. We have been to a alot of buffet restaurants and we have never been greeted this way before. The food...this is what you call a buffet!!!!....so much to choose from I kid you not I didn't get to taste abit of everything there such a variety of food, I was so full. The salad bar had so many options to choose from. The seafood muscles in a shell with a sauce. I dont usually eat muscles but the way they made it I really enjoyed it. The hot food was nice and hot. The hot foods, desserts and ribs sections staff had to serve your food and that was not a problem at all. It definitely made me feel safe dining there due to COVID and all which was a plus. They did not skimp on the tomatoe sauce in the lasagne it was nice. The macaroni and cheese was yummy. I had pork roast and that was cooked perfectly. The dessert section was amazing...Im a sweet tooth fan and I didn't get to try everything as there was so much to choose from!!! My favourite was the rocky road slice, the brownies, the x3 different flavoured cheese cakes, the blackforest chocolate cake with cream was soo good!!!, the pavlova and the peanut butter cookie were all so good!!!! I loved how the ice cream machine had vanilla and chocolate flavour but it wasn't a push button one but was a hand sensor! pretty good for COVID reasons too. Bar staff were amazing supplying us with water bottles and extra glasses. When staff came to clear our tables, they would ask of we wanted more water bottles which was awesome. Overall, for the price we paid and the large array of food to choose from, I would recommend this buffet to everyone. We have been to alot of buffet restaurants and this restaurant in terms of price, range of food, customer service, interior cleanliness and design this is the best restaurant by far and we will definitely be back again. Thanks...