Old Sydney Hotel — Restaurant in Maryborough

Exceedingly disappointed with the customer service on my most recent visit to the Old Syd. As a local it’s been a regular spot to go for dinner with friends and family on occasion for years and I’m sad to say that I and my group of friends (and by extension our collective families) won’t be back. Below is an account of my experience...

Upon our arrival the shift manager met us and told us we’d need to have ID ready, we then explained that two of our party were underage and was it okay that we still eat here. In a very abrupt manner she then told us that they preferred adults to accompany children and that no alcoholic drinks would be served to our table (Which was fine because we were there to eat). One of my party members tried to explain to her that four of us were of legal age to check if we we’re still welcome to eat, but was quickly talked over by the lady who told us that 18-20 year olds are not adults.

Shocked by the unwelcomeness of the lady we ended up at our table, without a chance to look at the menu before she returned asking for our drink order, explicitly stating “you can have water or soft drink”. Utterly turned off by the manner that she had treated us at the door we didn’t order anything and asked for more time to look at the menu much to her well established annoyance.

Looking at the menu it was then decided we’d leave, as there were no GF options other than a salad for the GF members of the group (menu change) and the shift manager’s manner had made us feel unwelcome and unfairly treated to begin with.

Upon getting up to leave the shift manger then walked over to us and asked us why we were leaving. Before hearing our answer, she then accused us of leaving because we couldn’t drink alcohol, because we weren’t adults. Again one of our party members tried to explain than she was 19 but was cut off by the lady who had put her hand up and told her to “stop, and listen”. Stunned into silence by the lady‘s actions which had drawn the attention of other diners, the lady then told us to check the RSA and let us leave.

I would like to state that my party consisted of 6 people, four of us are 19-20 year olds while the last two are 15 and that we did NOT mind the Old Sydney’s rules on serving alcohol. What we DID mind was being targeted by the shift manager who was abrupt and rude about explaining to us the rules of the establishment.

I hope others have a...

The one star is for the young girl serving at bistro as she was lovely. We got lamb shanks with veg, schnitzel with mash potato and gravy, bruschetta. Waited 40 minutes and they brought out the starter and ONE of our mains. I asked why my main was with the starter, we only ordered the bruschetta as a starter. Lady (not the girl at the counter) just said "ok" and was very disinterested, then offered to take the main and sit it under the heat light. I declined I didn't want dry chicken. Second main came 6 minutes later. Bruschetta: served on some barely cooked garlic ciabatta bread. Was a mix of gluggy doughy bread and crunchy onion with soft tomato. Lamb shanks: cooked so they were tender let down by lack of any flavour. Vegetables felt like they'd been boiling since lunch. Schnitzel: huge. Thin. Overcooked. Cut my gum on some of the overcooked crumb. No flavour. The potato was packed mix and absolutely awful on both meals and, gravy was bland and not great. I left almost all my meal as it was just unpleasant. My partner who eats anything and never complains, is still complaining about the potato. We went based on recommendations, Google reviews and how busy they were and left barely having touched our meals because they were terrible. We also didn't bother addressing it with staff after how rude the lady bringing our food was. Really unfortunate this is the experience we had given...

UPDATE 19 Jan 2024

Decided to give the Old Sydney another try. Greatly improved. Prompt delivery of food, using the table QR table service. It was great being able to come back and enjoy all aspects of the experience. Food was great 👍👍👍

July 2023

I'd prefer to give no star. Today we were told to order our bistro meal at the bar. We did. We waited, and waited and no meals after 40 minutes. Then wait staff checked to see if we'd ordered as they had no tickets in the kitchen for us. 😠 It is presumed that the bar staff didn't send it to the kitchen. Asked for a refund. You'd think they'd refund the full amount as a sign of an apology/good faith.

Nope, they deducted our half consumed softdrinks from the refund. No-one apologised. Why did we wait so long you ask?

Well just five days ago we were there for lunch. Ordered garlic bread and main meals. Over 40 minutes later the main meals arrived, yet no garlic bread (entree) in sight. When we asked for it, they said "didn't you get it". Wouldn't have asked if we had. It then came out cold.

Will we be back? NO!!!! Will we recommend...