Higher Ground — Restaurant in Melbourne

We didn’t have booking and we were happy to wait. After waiting 25 mins right at the door step, I saw a couple who came after us getting seated. At first I ignored it and then when the hunger started curling up I approached the front desk, the lady said she tried calling me but didn’t go through. While providing the number both, me and the lady, double checked it. So it’s not my problem the software throws error. She could have waved me in as I was standing right at the entrance.

As we got in, we have been asked to sit at the coffee/bar counter seating. I asked the lady at the front desk, politely and by keeping my cool, to move us to a proper table. She said it is reserved and trust me, even until 10 mins before we leave one of the tables were empty. If she wanted to seat the reserved guests she could have managed to move that reservation to the adjacent tables as they were getting free over the course of time. Instead, she keep seating new guests. We had our food looking at the coffee machine and the baristas/other staffs.

Are we horses? I swear we first thought it was a plate of seeds and grains. We couldn’t see a trace of hotcake. And worst part, the hot cakes were dry said my friend, an expert in Melbourne’s and Sydney’s best breakfast places. I have never seen him waste food and this picture shows how much he left. It’s just seeds and grains.

The way the coffee was served was terrible as well. We were sitting on the bar table and it’s easy to serve my drink right next to me. Instead the lady at the front desk she literally left it next to my friend, even a bit further away, and ran away to attend the customer who showed up. I am not being picky, you guys ruined my mood and all I could see issues everywhere. No one came to ask how was the food, no one checked on us whether we want anything else. Usually we order two coffee, thanks to the hospitality we will take that somewhere else.

After putting up my Instagram story, many of my followers, even restaurant owners and my friends shared their experience with me. Some said you guys are a bit racist, I know it’s a strong word. But I want to put it as subtle as possible since I haven’t experienced much of it. Also, the guy with long hair who stands at the coffee counter, I literally don’t know what’s his problem. He was throwing cold attitude at us right from the beginning. No smile, no greetings, no thanks, no cheers. And I caught him staring at me many times. Please ask him to smile at the customers at least.

I wanna quote one of my followers, who also own a restaurant, comment regarding my experience “this is the thing with bigger names” and it’s absolutely right. Once the place gets established and the customer care is thrown outside. I can understand this statement holds no value if the food is yummylicious but, at Higher Ground it isn’t the case. I hope the management does see this review and take some...

We were looking forward to our brunch at Higher Ground, having travelled from another state. My husband has been there before two years ago and have been raving about the establishment. It was a 26 degree day and when we sat down in the upper level, we felt really warm. No wind circulating which already made our experience not that pleasant. Never mind that. Our table had a few water marks and a lot of spilt sugar granules on one side. I asked the designated waitress to ‘do you mind wiping the table?’ And I was given a stare. She then took a table cloth and hastily wiped it in one second, not even close to being clean. We have 4 people on the table, with one running late. The same waitress knew we had 4 but brought only 3 plates. We told her we have 4 people and she rudely said ‘ the menu is there so i will bring the plate when she arrives.’

Our first three dishes arrived 30 minutes after we ordered from the same waitress. We found this absurd. The wagyu beef was the worst we ever tasted. Pretty tough, dry, small cut and close to a $40 price tag.

The same waitress again came to our table, telling me ‘I am taking away the menu so you don’t dirty it,’ as it was placed under my plate. Again, her tone of voice was just rude. Our friends actually made a comment after this and said the same waitress was rude to them the last time they came.

We decided to order more dishes since the first round was not enough. It took another 30 mins for them to come. It was just mushroom with sourdough bread, spicy scrambled eggs on toast, and a pan fried barramundi. I jokingly told the gentleman that brought them to our table that we wanted to cancel the order as it took 30 mins to arrive. He was very apologetic and we mentioned that the assigned waitress had been nothing but rude to us. He was again very apologetic and he said he will get the manager to see us. We told him it’s ok but we will never come back again.

When we needed to get a waitstaff’s attention to get more cutlery, the sane waitress snapped at us and said ‘just wait’. Geez, we were just raising our hands politely to get attention.

We finally got other waitresses that were so lovely, and well mannered.

I do not usually write bad reviews but with all of us not enjoying a supposedly great experience, and spending close to $200, I felt I needed to write this review. We never felt do disrespected and insulted in an establishment. Even my husband, who is usually very calm, said he felt angry about how we were treated today and that we will not come back if we are ever in Melbourne.

That waitress should just get the sack as it’s not the first time she...

Hey girls, it is year 2023, and it is not fun to play tricks to make micro-discrimination against travelers.

Well well well. The twins staff (they said they are) are interesting. We are three people who have Asian faces and speak a language other than English. Although we made a booking, we are arranged to sit in a long dining table and bar stool due to being late for 20 minutes. I have explained to the staff that I have called Higher Ground to explain being late, but no staff answered it, neither called me back.

The girls insist that we should sit in the bar stool because we are late. I tell them that we can wait for the next available table because my friend is a traveler and tired, needing a chair with back. The twins staff ask us to wait for about 20 minutes.

We wait, and think it is fair. However, after 20 minutes, I asked the staff whether there is an available table since I see people come and leave.

Well well well. The girl in blue shirt, laughs at me, saying something bureaucratic. The power dynamic is so interesting, making me feel I am begging a table from her and she is the powerful person to make decision.

I am a bit angry so I wait in the reception. Until I find an available table, we have the opportunity to sit there.

Then. We wait for 45 minutes for our meal. The same thing. After I approach the staff, our meal is ready in one minute. Wow, magic!!

When we are having our meal, suddenly the staff in black shirt come to our table, asking my friend to put her bag on the floor and taking our spare chair. Yes, other customers need it. Should she politely ask for our opinions? Or just demand us to do what she wants? In particular, other tables also have a spare chair. So, why us?

I mean, yes it can be us. We are happy to help. But should she have a polite manner rather than demanding?

I have recommended to many of our friends, especially those who travel to Melbourne. Now I will say like this to my friends:”Well, vibe is great, food is great, but you may experience discrimination since the moment you enter Higher Ground.” I think it is fair to say this.

Still wanna say to the twins staff:”Maybe you think it is not matter to discriminate against people whose first language is not English and travelers because travelers may just bear you and let it go. However you are ruining your restaurant‘s reputation. It has been the year 2023, please stop your uninteresting...