Lay Low Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

Let me start by saying this is a great bar. I will return, and I've always had a great time. Except this one night Fri 19/8

It is very unfortunate to leave a one star review for such a great venue and management team, but this review is directed at the young staff members that night more than anything. I hope this review highlights the lack of care of these individuals and hopefully management will reflect upon this incident.

Just before 9pm, I called ahead to see if food from Brotherhood Yiros was still available, as nothing beats a nice drink paired with a good Souvlaki at Lay Low (I've introduced many friends to this.) No one picked up. So I checked the closing time for Brotherhood - 10PM. Plenty of time! I booked an uber and headed straight there and arrived about 9:30ish. Poked my head around the corner - there's a small queue - still open! Green light on the yiros! =D

Walked into Lay Low, busting to go to the loo, I made sure I got food sorted first. I asked one of the three young staff if we could order, and the chick said she wasn't sure if they were still open. "10pm. I checked". The gentleman said he'd go see if they were still open. I thought I just told you --- whatever. Each second seemed an eternity as I waited hangrily for him to return from 1.5 metres next door. Bro comes back "Sorry mate, they're cleaning up the kitchen."

"Really though?" I had to double check. After the loo, I bolted around the corner and saw a lady waiting for her food. "They closed?" "Nah, still open. I'm waiting for my food." God bless her. I explained my situation to the lovely staff, and they called BS, took my order, took my money, and said they'd bring it over.

I walked back to find the three chuckling away while half instagramming. Understandable. Final hours of their Friday night shift. I got their attention and told them I put in an order, and that it was coming through. They stopped, looked at each other, like I had just ruined their party. The chick even asked me who I paid, just to confirm this was legit. No sorry, nothing. Just the long face to show they weren't happy with me.

The rest of the night was fine. But that's exactly it. It was a non-event, at least to them. Dude comes in, asks for food, doesn't get it, and complains. But there's a lot more at play with the lack of empathy they have, given there are no consequences for their actions. Given this economic climate, perhaps the job needs them more than they need the job. Perhaps this is more of a reason to call them out. Perhaps I'm just overreacting, and this one star review means nothing. Thank you again, and hope to see...

Bar layout and atmosphere has been highly thought out, very picturesque. Nice place to chill with friends and have a few quiet drinks before heading out, with a wide variety of alcohol on display to choose from. Staff were easy and friendly to deal with.

But...

Be prepared to pay through the teeth for your average no name brand beer. Schooners go for $11, so assuming spirits would be overpriced as well. They lack at least one name brand of beer on tap (At the time.) Music provided a relaxed vibe but it constantly cuts in and out. Be wary where you sit at the bar as staff are slamming shakers very close to the bar counter. Can get annoying but it was rather quiet at the time, so take that into account.

I would definitely visit again just for the vibe with friends. Unfortunately I don't see this bar lasting very long. They need to lower their prices to be competitive especially in the Footscray/Seddon market. Five mins in either direction and you have a list of places with similar environments with lower prices.

Back ground - Business...

I hosted my 30th birthday party at Lay Low last weekend and simply couldn’t have had a better experience. From the point of my first inquiry to following up on a phone left behind at the end of the night, communication was clear and professional. The venue was perfect on the night itself, the staff were incredible. They took orders all over the room so that people didn’t have to line up at the bar for drinks, they facilitated food orders throughout the night and made delicious cocktails. Their sound system is perfect - easy to get your own playlist running, loud enough that you can hear the music all night, but balanced so that you can still hear everyone you’re talking to. We had multiple older guests remark that it was the first time in a long time they’d been to a bar and been able to hear other people clearly. I can’t thank Lay Low enough for a perfect birthday and I already can’t...