Hello Sailor — Restaurant in Melbourne

A very average experience.

I had an allergic reaction to the prawn tacos despite not being allergic to prawns, so this was something of an anomaly. While I was told that there were no ingredients that I should have been allergic to, I was at least given a replacement meal (which was an excellent thing to do!).

The mushroom medley was very underwhelming and gave the impression that whoever was cooking did not know how to cook mushrooms. Most were very tough and flavourless and was very disappointing given the good variety on the plate. My companion's meal was also quite underwhelming in a similar way.

The air conditioning unit at the back of the cafe was also pointing down full blast directly onto the two back tables. While we moved tables elsewhere, it seemed a bit of a red flag for the owners to be unaware of this oversight. These are, of course, the kinds of units that can have the downward angle adjusted very easily.

On the plus side, the decor and outdoor seating areas are decorated beautifully and the indoor plants were a lovely addition.

This being said, I am hesitant to return due to the low quality of the food itself and hope that standards...

On Tuesday 7 February I enjoyed another delicious lunch outside with a good friend who I often meet at Hello Sailor, Auburn Village, for lunch. Too often she has managed to pay for my meal when I was nicking off to the loo; but today I managed to outwit her because she went first. Later, after I revisited that familiar loo, I discovered her, having just paid for our meal as well. I quickly explained to her that I had already paid, so she turned to the guy behind the till. His response was not gracious. We explained again. I had paid, she came in perhaps a minute afterwards, and repaid exactly the same meal (he, checking the items, not exactly what anyone else had ordered at all). He, disgusted, and not disguising it, flung the cash at us (minus $5) spitting out that that was the best he could do. No, it was not the best he could do. We will not go back to Hello Sailor again. Shame, because we have had multiple meals there enjoying the food...

Went there on Friday - the atmosphere is nice and coffee is OK but the Fried Chicken Burger & Crisp was pretty bad. The chicken schnitzel (what the cafe call "Fried Chicken") was almost burnt & very dry - with a slice of tomato and some soggy lettuce. Crisps were nothing but a handful of Red Rock deli chips. $19.50 for that - I could have done a much better job at home! Then my son ordered a chicken burger at Costco yesterday afternoon and it was the same burger, just moist and much tastier, also in a brioche bun with crunchy iceberg lettuce and fresh tomato but I paid only $7 for it. A relative who works on Auburn Road Hawthorn then told me Hello Sailor is a joint that some kids set up - these kids have no idea what quality food is, yet charge the same prices as cafes with decent food. Never going back, and if you really want to go, I encourage you to just have a coffee (served in take-away cups only) and pastry (because they did...