Royal Oak Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

Sooo disappointed ☹️ we waited over an hour and 20 mins for our main meals and I had to ask twice where our meals were. We could see the waiters checking for drinks but didn’t think to let us know there is a delay and acknowledge us just sitting there. Classic… people who came in after us got their food before us !! It’s like once one thing goes wrong it’s a spiral affect Ordered special fish , overcooked and cold hubby ordered steak special on the bone it was average . We have eaten there many times and love the food and the presentation etc but tonight it was juts simple pub food with $50 price tags. Best thing on my plate was charred lettuce 🥬. So now we don’t know if we will go again as so disappointed and we were so looking forward to it and book last minute, waiter was aware of the delay when we mentioned when paying so took 2 x wines off and 1/2 chip price total $152 for 1 x wine, 2 x entrees and 2 x mains Just not good enough They have nailed the atmosphere re people and acoustic panels but lighting not enough and so dark people had to get phones out to read the menu and see the food. Damn I am annoyed as I loved it before and don’t want to go bcak as don’t want tonight to happen again as can’t afford it. Waiters are nice but need to be trained better come on guys your own pubs you know what to do … or has there been a change in hands maybe as that what...

The venue itself is lovely and the service throughout was friendly. It had a good atmosphere and a great crowd. The food was nicely presented and generally okay, though the accompaniment served with the dumplings felt a little out of place and didn’t really complement the dish.

One downside was the experience toward the end of our visit. With about 30 minutes left of our booking, we felt increasingly interrupted by staff – being asked multiple times about dessert, drinks, clearing plates, and whether we were finished. While I understand this is part of customer service, the timing made it difficult to wind down and have a final chat. It gave the impression we were being rushed out, even though the staff remained polite throughout. In the end, we left before our allotted time was up and continued our conversation outside, as it was hard to relax at the table.

That said, the overall vibe of the place was enjoyable, and I'd be open to giving it another try – perhaps at a different time when things aren’t...

Venue = We sat in the dining room and it was absolutely lovely! There is a small fire place and great sound proof ceilings, making it easier to hear and have conversations.

Atmosphere = Cosy, vibrant and nice.

Service = A little bit slow, we had to wave down the waiter a few times before someone came over. We waited for 45 minutes for our meal on a Saturday night, with no indication of the extended wait time. No staff came over to ask if we wanted another drink until our mains were finally served.

Chicken schnitzel = AMAZING!! The highlight.

Pork belly = Very average, overpowered by the beans which in all honesty made my meal taste like canned beans… the pork belly was soft, no crisp. Which is fine but the beans took away the flavour.

Chips = YUM! Fresh, hot and crispy. Perfect amount of chicken salt!

Other than the long wait time and average pork belly meal. We will still return for a...