Meadow Inn Hotel-Motel — Restaurant in Melbourne

UPDATE: The response below from management is the exact issue we have with this venue. There were no more than 5 other tables that night and we’d prebooked a few days before - giving ample notice of a large group. The male manager was rude all night to our group and his staff, multiple people heard him yelling at his staff to get in to help, we figured any feedback would be taken badly on the day (not worth the hassle so we just won’t return here in future).

We booked the earliest dinner slot and food was not available/sold out - it’s pretty simple/common hospitality practice to come past the table and inform people before they look at menus, decide on an item and go up to order. The menu is already very limited compared to past visits which were fairly decent, so having no Roast of the Day or nuggets option was quite limiting. No one ‘berated’ the waitress - we asked if there was anything else not available so that we could find something to order - anyone with kids knows a cut up schnitzel and nuggets are not the same thing 🤣

As for the kids ‘free ice cream you gave us’ - it was a total of 2 kids and when we ordered on the app it asks what topping you want for the dessert, which I would say suggests it’s included? If this is not the case, maybe a review of your online ordering system and while you’re there, an overall management overhaul might be needed.

Location is central, kids area is a good but I think they may not be happy with large bookings.

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We came down from interstate and went out of our way to book a large table for 22 so we could reconnect with family and friends from all over Melbourne — and were absolutely shocked at how badly we were looked after. From start to finish, the experience was appalling. Staff were uninterested, unfriendly, and made no effort to accommodate such a large group other than setting a table and complaining loudly about being understaffed.

The menu was a letdown straight away — we went to order and were then told there was no roast of the day, no chicken nuggets for the kids — and things only went downhill from there. The food was frankly terrible: undercooked chips, tiny steaks, watery sauces, gnocchi that tasted like it had been dumped in raw tomato paste. For the size of our group, not a single dish was decent.

We felt completely dismissed and not cared for in the slightest, despite booking such a large table and bringing plenty of business in. Overall, this was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve had in Melbourne, and we will definitely...

This was my second stay at Meadow Inn within the last 6 months.

My first stay was for one night and wasn't the best experience. Check-in felt rushed, the room was extremely noisy and I didn't get much sleep due to nighttime traffic on the busy Sydney Road. I was happy it was only one night though I did enjoy the bistro and games bar.

This time my stay was for 3 nights and I came prepared with ear plugs! However, for whatever reason I didn't need them. The room I had this visit was significantly quieter than last time and the traffic appeared to be less.

Check-in was also really smooth and the gentleman on reception was jovial, attentive and informative. I felt welcome, which is important !

The rooms match the venue's 3 star rating. The bathroom isn't great and is pretty cramped, but the beds are comfortable and the room itself was quite roomy. Although not necessarily dirty, the room and especially the bathroom could do with a little spruce up, maybe a lick of paint would freshen them up.

The best part again was the bistro. The service was absolutely wonderful. I cannot fault it, only recommend it. Both servers, Dan and Narissa, were welcoming, attentive, friendly, helpfulness, efficient, kind and went beyond expectations. Their timing was spot on, I felt neither rushed or delayed.

The menu has a nice variety and I tried a few different options over my stay and all were very nice. Having 20% off as a guest makes it even better.

There's a lovely atmosphere too. It wasn't at all crowded and not very busy, but I felt extremely comfortable and relaxed. How many places do you visit and feel stressed and just want to hurry up and get out ?! Of course if the restaurant had been heaving my experience might have been somewhat different, but I feel the staff know how to manage small and large crowds of guests.

The location is handy and during the stay there were a good number of retail options.

All in all a good stay and I would recommend others stay or at least...

Don't bother going to this place. It's crap, poor customer service and the place smells terrible. Go at your own peril.

"Legal" Extortion

We took our families there, the service was crap. Ordered drinks, and after they were poured was told they only accept "cash" to which I replied, "Okay were is the ATM to get that from?" I was somewhat surprised to learn the bartender had an EFTPOS machine right next to the till for this. He said, "It get worse....we charge you $2 for the transaction everytime you buy drinks" I asked to see the Manager who would rather defend the hotel's policy and risk two families who were about to spend $200 on meals before they walked out.

The bartender then said, "Sir, now that I have processed your 'cash-out' you'll probably be more upset as you need to go to the ATM in the foyer which will give you the money once you simply swipe your card" By this stage I was quite outraged, and the Manager then watched our two families and her wages walk out the door NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN.

5 Minutes up the road is The Excelsior Hotel on Mahoneys/Edgar Rds. The service was great, the food excellent, the place clean. The kids had a ball in the playground and best of all, you won't get 'rorted' for a $2 fee through your card as it's a normal transaction just like buying milk at the supermarket.

Lucky we didn't eat at the Meadow Inn, as afterwards we read the reviews about the crap over priced food.

ps Management at the Meadow Inn take heed, keep this up and soon you'll have no customers. Maybe the Pokies will keep you viable, but your bar, bistro and service won't! Being in business myself, if you worked for me...quite simply...