Cuckoo Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Food was terrible. Buffet food had been sitting for several hours and was well below food safe temperatures. Could not eat food yet still charged full price. Staff were polite and professional but would never go again. Don't know how council allow this restaurant to operate.

I dispute the response from the owner saying that I am dishonest, and take offence at this statement. My character can speak for itself to those who know me. The lack of patronage at the venue is testament to the accuracy of my statements which I believe are true and without embellishment. The chef did offer to reheat the food and when I plated another serving found that it was still at best luke warm. He probed it with a thermometer and then admitted that it is not possible to keep food "hot hot" in a bain marie when it is served at 11 am.

The food on the "hot" buffet consisted of goulash roast meat, potato chips, sauerkraut, bratwurst, scalloped potatoes, and roast potatoes with carrots and roast pumpkin. The cook was frying some bacon to add to the buffet but it did not appeal to us. The buffet style service just does not work without a large number of people .

The salads were not chilled and were unlabelled. I did not realise that one of the ingredients in one of the salads was eel, which the waitress informed me when I told her it did not taste fresh. I was upset that despite our numerous complaints my parents, who brought us for a special family treat, were expected to pay the full bill.

The staff did try and accommodate us and offered to heat another serve of the goulash, but after 2 serves of cold food, I was not interested. I thanked him but declined and we left. Some of my family did eat some of the food, but it was very disappointing, and sharing my experience with friends many have had similar experiences. My mother was very upset and just wanted to leave.

I complained to all the staff that were present so the suggestion that you regret I did not raise my concerns is laughable. I told the cashier/waitress that I would be publishing a review online. I do not know what else I could have done to express my complete and utter dissatisfaction. The fact that the owner overheard my complaints but did not intervene or talk to me is testament to the lack of care for their customers. We were lovers of the Cuckoo and are sad to see it has fallen so far from it's former glory. Things have changed vastly. I have many fond memories of the former generous and enticing banquet. Sadly no longer. I feel it is important to share our experience as I would like to warn others. I understand the owners would prefer that I did...

After a 2 hour drive for an over night get away with the partner I couldn't think of any where better to come then to revisit the cuckoo, it's been 7 years since we came here last, and I honestly wish that was the last time. After weeks of gloating about this place I was embarrassed and apologetic to my parter. We were there for a total of 15-20 minutes, eager to leave. Seated in a cramped corner practically joining another family for dinner, we found it awkward and uncomfortable, when the family squashed up against my partner for a photo. There was no entertainment like there used to be, no happy or bubbly personalities, to interact with the crowed, The staffs resting faces show they were used to seeing disappointed customers. The food was much bellow average, for $55 per person there's not a massive selection like there used to be, chicken was very dry and tasteless, the rest of the Bain Marie was very bleak. They need to focus on replenishing the dishes, to keep them looking fresh, instead of spreading a minimal mass all over the place. Our table lined in white butcher paper with everything stuck to it (glasses, water, salt pepper). Ants crawling accross the table, they have really let this place go, I'd hate to see the standard of the kitchen. It would be much cheaper and efficient wiping down the tables or washing a table cloth. My partner and I didn't finish our mains, desserts looked good, sharing a plate we tried a couple, but no Icecream/pancake man to pep some people up. Apon leaving a frantic staff member put through our bill, saying "aw leaving so soon" we looked at each other and said not soon enough. She said there's a show much later on if you want to say, we kindly rejected wanting to leave, she told us that would be $130!! My draw dropped, almost asking for the manager in disbelief, my partner was already out the door. I came back to ask for our photo, she said they haven't been developed yet and gave us his details, I asked if the photo was free for a price like that? And she said it starts from $20 for a small photo.. Already paying a $20 deposit over the phone I was stunned! We had 2 beers and some very Bleak food, for that price, I feel robbed of my hard earned money. Back home we could get a beautifully presented 3 course dining experience with at least 2-3 drinks each! Overall coming from a German family and a past experience here, the food has at least halved in quality, with their German selection not well highlighted, no pumpernickel and mustard in sight, I could go on. Informing friends and family not to return, we are all shocked and stunned of what has become...

Wow what happened to this place?? Growing up the cuckoo had the best food and amazing atmosphere, and was somewhere we looked forward to going to on a fairly regular basis. It was always full and you'd often have to book over a month in advance.

So I was very excited to find out my wife had booked us in there for a family dinner, having not been for years having moved away from the area.

From the get go I could tell something was different as the place was less than half full and had a different atmosphere. Despite it not being very busy, it took a long time to get our drink orders taken (we had to go up and find someone to come to our table) and we had finished 2 courses before our drinks were even delivered.

The food was the most disappointing part. There was literally nothing German on there. Gone were all of the delicious choices from the past, and the advertised food on their website (including seafood) was nowhere to be seen. Selections included things that were very non German like Yorkshire puddings, roast ham, rissoles and so on. The vegetables appeared to be from a frozen packet, the roasts very dry and tough and to top it all off they kept running out of things making the fairly poor selection even worse. Deserts at least included "Black Forrest cake" amongst the green jelly and bread and butter puddings, however the cakes all tasted like Sarah Lee packet cakes or something. All in all the food felt like we were in a cheap Food Star and was very unsatisfying. When we asked a waitress where the German food was she just laughed and told us there was new management. I can't stress enough how amazing the food used to be here and how disappointing it is now.

The drinks, when they eventually came, were at least excellent as they've kept a great selection of German and other beers, wines and spirits.

The entertainment was a bit better than the food but still felt a bit tired. In the past the atmosphere felt very much like you were in a German beer hall and was very lively with special shows like Yodellers with crowd participation and Bavarian Schuhplatter dancing. None of this was present now.

Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this place anymore which is quite sad given how much I would rave about it to people in the past. If you want a good German/European meal try somewhere like Fika Weinstuble in Mornington or the Hofbrauhaus in...