Rosebud Charcoal Chicken — Restaurant in Melbourne

Never again, Abysmal service, awful food! Called in before 6 on a Friday night, no customers waiting (I now know why!) we were served straight away, ordered a whole chicken, pot of peas and gravy and chips.......this is where the farce began! The young man behind the counter, (the one with the ponytail) I assume he was new, took our order and explained that the peas would take a while as there weren't any ready, my wife said not a problem we'll take them frozen and heat in the microwave at home. He then popped out the back and spoke to another young man wearing a baseball cap, they both returned to the counter and started looking for pots and lids......the frozen peas were put in a pot and wrapped in glad wrap as they couldn't find a lid! Next the gravy was ladled in a pot luckily a lid was found, both pots were put on the counter top......,.no chicken.....no chips! They carry on walking backwards and forwards searching for I assume matching pots and lids although no reason was ever given for the delay, or hold up,! I'm staring at the time, my wife can see I'm close to boiling point! 2 more customers walk in orders taken and paid for....no food handed over! Then a man walks in carrying pots and lids, I presume he is the owner, he goes out the back and comes back with bags of frozen chips!! I am amazed that there hadn't been any chips cooking when our order was taken nor that an apology for the delay was uttered! The "boss" dished up our order, my wife pointed out that the gravy was now cold as it had been sitting on the counter top since our order was placed, and it was changed. Yet again no acknowledgement for the delay. We had arrived before 6 and left at 6-36! We get home, the peas had defrosted so we cooked them in the microwave the chicken we discovered was over cooked with blackened skin! We should have gone to Woolworths for the chicken, and will in the future! The service and training in this store drastically needs to improve here, the 2 staff members and the Boss need to understand the meaning of customer service ie communication, starting with how to communicate with the customer!!

I have given a score of 1 star, not because it was deserved but because you have to give a score in order to...

Stayed near Rosebud during the New Years holidays. I was walking along the main street near the rosebud beach carpark and the whiff of charred chicken made me salivate.

I knew that night I need to have this chicken. Eventually I found this little charcoal shop in the Woolworth car park and saw spits of chicken over a bed of real charcoal!

As it was the busy xmas/NY period the young friendly shopkeeper informed me I have to wait over 40 min if I didnt preorder. As I was hooked by this smell I was willing to wait. And I was so glad I did.

Having had hundreds of charcoal chickens in every state other than NT in Australia, I rate this chicken to be in the top 3 at least. The seasoning and smoky taste was on point, the meat was tender and juicy almost like it was sous vide. This place could easily charge $20 a chicken and I would buy it up every day. I literally went back twice more for this chicken during my holiday week in the area.

The shop owner is super friendly and hardworking too. Keep up the good work! I hope to be back in Rosebud in the future and eat this...

A friend of mine recommended this place and I took my whole family(visiting from overseas)to this place, as i wanted them to try best charcoal chicken in melbourne...and trust me I was so happy I did...we all came out happy and wished we had made a take away for home as well....both boys seb and jake were very friendly...explained all their items and cooking technique to my family...and were very courteous to make room for my child who uses a wheelchair...highly recommend this place for perfect charcoal flavour and amazing customer service...hopefully will go...