Knox Tavern — Restaurant in Melbourne

Unacceptable Service from Rude Staff – Will Not Return

Dear KNOX TAVERB Management,

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment with the service my family and I received during our visit last night. From the moment we arrived, we were met with hostility from one of your staff members—a white woman in her mid-50s with a ponytail—who seemed determined to ruin our experience.

Despite the restaurant being nearly half empty and no one stationed at the registration counter, this employee aggressively and repeatedly criticized us for not registering there, even after we were seated. Her tone, facial expressions, and relentless complaints were blatantly rude and unnecessary, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for my two children and me. Her disdain for families (or perhaps children in general) was palpable, and her unprofessional behavior left us so unsettled that we chose to leave without dining.

What’s shocking is that in 2025, a hospitality business would employ someone so openly hostile to customers. This individual has no place in an industry built on service and courtesy. Her close-minded attitude and lack of basic respect suggest she’s unfit for a role that requires interaction with the public—especially diverse or family-oriented guests.

We had intended to speak to a manager, but the staff seemed indifferent, preoccupied with their own tasks. This reflects poorly on your entire team’s training and priorities. A restaurant’s success hinges on its ability to welcome guests, not drive them away with arrogance.

I urge you to address this issue immediately: retrain or remove staff who alienate customers, and ensure your front-of-house team understands basic hospitality. Until then, we will not return and will share this experience widely to warn other families. I expect a response detailing how you plan to rectify this.

Not worth of a cert if SHE still employed as a staff in...

My family and I will never ever return to this pub again!! upon coming here to sit and have a drink and a family talk after the passing of my mum earlier that morning we were greeted in a very abrupt rude manner by the staff member in the gaming area as we were unsure where to go.. we sat at a small table only to be yelled at across the room stating “ that table is for 4 and there is 5 of you” so we moved into a booth seat… we ordered drinks at the bar then I went to order our food where I was approached by Janelle , the most rude, unprofessional, non compassionate manager I have ever experienced!! Despite telling her why we were there she was too worried about dictating to me that the table we were told to sit at the the other staff member was booked … despite this being heated and we were literally her only paying customers I returned to our table to sit diwn.. only moment later she came back over and stood over me saying “ have you got something you want to say to me”?? I didn’t and told her I had nothing g to say and to just walk away to which she refused and continued to stand there stating her piece and speaking in such an attacking rude completely unprofessional manner .. we got up to leave , asking for a refund before our food had even arrived, she continued to get in my face walking beside me arguing stating her point despite being g told by both my daughters and family members to stop and walk away !! Utterly relentless woman and disgraceful behaviour from a so called “ Manager” !! I hope this terrible experience will never be subjected towards another family in...

Folks, (I am referring to Knox Tavern staff), I ordered our meals and drinks in the one go and all seemed wonderful - as it has been in the past - mostly.

However this time around at our weekly twin brother 'bro night', I ordered (as is the case every time at every establishment) a Scotch and Dry with a slice of lime for my brother.

When the lady poured the drink it looked a little suss, but okay, off I trot to present it to bro, for him to take a sip and advise there's no way it was what was ordered. "I've never had a Scotch and Dry that either looked this colour (very hazy - like a brown fog) or tasted like this. It's undrinkable!"

Okay, I trot back to the lady who poured the drink asking whether she used dry ginger, was the Scotch okay etc. To which she replied - yep, it was perfect.

Back to the table and my brother took another sip and said he simply couldn't drink it. The taste was really bad.

So once again I took it back to the lady advising that it was undrinkable. I didn't ask for a replacement, a refund, nothing, rather I left it for her to come back with a response (note that my brother took 2 very small sips, hence it was still almost full), and she did respond with "Okay". And walked off. That was the end of the conversation. I left the drink on the bar and was not approached whatsoever after this.

Sorry, but this simply isn't good enough.

Please note that of the roughly 500 'Bro' nights at which my brother always orders a Scotch and dry, we've never even had to think about taking his Scotch...