Baxter Tavern & Motel — Restaurant in Melbourne

Worst restaurant meal and experience and this is from someone who makes a living in the same industry and would not go out of his way to leave a negative review for no reason. Firstly this place survives on its gambling room and 65yr old clientele looking for senior discounts and its free soup and bread rolls. Just to get that out of the way but more on that to come. First the experience. - I arrived close to 8 o'clock and was greeted by a waitress who informed me they will be shutting at 8.30 in a mannor and theme that stayed for the rest of the night that showed no staff could be bothered and all just wanted to leave. this was evident when she just pointed to her own work station and advised there were menus sitting there. This was instead of seating us and bringing menus to us. As i was at her work station, a couple that came in after me naturally assumed i worked there and asked for a table. So i said here are the menus, sit anywhere. They also had a concerning look in their eyes. Woodfire pizza was disgusting. worse than anything frozen one from Woolworths. definitely not cooked properly, and what you would expect from a dingy indoor skate centre. Asain inspired Chicken satay as a main was a couple chicken skewers on a bed of rice with hot chips... What a pathetic, misleading and embarrassment of a meal this was. I looked into the kitchen area and I thought these chefs are either forced to cook this, have no passion for their craft, or again using every method to take advantage of the seniors that come in. My dogs eat better than this. Just make sure to note that whatever meal you order. you will most likely get cost cutting chips to fill up a portion of your plate. This makes sense with some meals but doesn't fool me with others. I was down visiting family for two days and we just got through the meal. The Baxter tavern is lucky its positioned where it is or has the mentioned gaming areas as without any shadow of a doubt this place would not survive elsewhere. If you still cant picture how bad this experience was just think of any episode of hotel hell where Gordan Ramsey visits failing restaurants and hotels and you will know...

I last dined at the Baxter Tavern on the 29/11/2012 Some reviewers seem very biased and one sided and the most part forgetting they are eating at a Tavern/Pub you cant expect Jamie Oliver to bring out your meal with Eric Bana's sense of humor. Your not eating at the press club so don't compare the two its like trying to compare a Mercedes to a Holden, its just not right. All analogies aside

My family have been dining at the Baxter tavern once a month for 3-4 years now, I can honestly say compared to other pubs in the area, this is above most, It is very ambient with 2 open fires burning brightly. The bar is fair - good value, Jugs of beer are $12. We have always had good meals, again I wouldn't say their excellent but value for money is defiantly the case.

I come most nights for the American Style pork ribs. $25 for 3 Racks of ribs with a side of chips, considering how much pork ribs are to buy from a butcher, this is great value, I have payed north of $35 for a smaller meal. Pizza's are excellent and the steaks are usually cooked correctly.None the less, I adore dining at the Tavern, I usually throw $10 on the pokies and before you know your meal usually takes no more than 15-20 minutes ( a well cooked steak will take up to 30 min ) but we are always informed that before we confirm the order.

Yes the line is rather large to line up at peak time, which is usually 6:30 - 7:30 roughly. I would suggest a second counter to speed up the process and trim the ordering line from obscuring a main walkway to the bar. If you appreciate great food at very decent prices you can overlook the cons and just enjoy yourself. I can honestly say I have never left without being dissapointed. Remember its a...

We had an absolutely WOEFUL experience. I ordered a 500 gram rib eye steak, and my girlfriend ordered some pasta dish. As we waited and continually hearing number 99 being called out for 30 minutes we decided to ask what was going on with our meals. We were number 98 but our meals were being called out under 99. we spoke to the waitress who went and got the manager who apolisged for misunderstanding and said it was their fault. Pleased that they acknowdeging wrong we were shocked that he said they wouldn't make us new meals even though my $32 piece of meat was cold and the cream on my girlfriends pasta had gone hard.

We complained further and further and but the manager said all we were doing was getting our food colder and ruining everyone else's dining experience.

He decided that he would remake her pasta and my chips but not the steak. Crazy! All I wanted at this stage was my money back so I could get some McDonalds, he refused and refused some more.

Finally he agreed to remake the meals, yet all he did was microwave $60 worth of food and ask me for an apology for "making a scene" He had not realised I had made a large cut in the steak to make sure that they didn't just microwave the steak but 5 minutes later, out back it came, a big bit of overpriced steak, microwaved, with a huge incision in it.

I brought it back and again asked for my money back with no success. He acknowledged the big cut but said all their chefs cut the steak to make sure it is cooked right!!! Either he is lying (which he is) or he has incompetent chefs who cant cook.

Please go to the next pub down the road, this place is an absolute joke and the manager...