Squires Loft Cheltenham — Restaurant in Melbourne

Bit of a bogan joint, very loud and recommended for groups and those wanting a casual dining experience where the price tag doesn’t quite match.

Ordered two steaks, both eye fillets, one medium and one medium rare. Both came rare af. Couldn’t be bothered sending it back to the kitchen as they were struggling with orders as it was, and food was coming out at a snail’s pace that we didn’t want to delay further.

For prices between $60-70 per steak, I’d really love for my steaks to be cooked as requested. Had just a couple of bites before tapping out and taking it all away to cook it further at home. When you’re spending $200+ for your meals, I’d prefer not to take it home like it’s a DIY meal kit.

Make no mistake that there are certainly some positives to this experience. The first bite (on the outside of the steak) was delicious, and their steaks are seasoned to perfection every time.

The baked potatoes are delicious and buttery soft on the inside, and their sauces are unlike any other. Incredibly rich and a perfect compliment to both the steaks and any side you get, whether it’s chips or baked potato. The prawns on the reef and beef were cooked really well and had a nice basting. And the desserts were yum, but never really had a dessert that I haven’t liked because… it’s dessert.

Moving backwards, entrees were enjoyable but nothing you couldn’t replicate yourself for a tenth of the price. The feta mushrooms were cooked rather well and were sinfully buttery. Probably a little too much fetta but who complains about too much cheese in this economy? The beef sausage is boring to me, but a generous portion with a spicy sauce that is an appropriate appetiser.

I found that some of the more established staff are clearly complacent and quite happy to be rude to customers. The waitress who sat us at our table was blunt as could be, and a separate woman who dropped off the toothpicks robotically asked “How is everything going?” whilst staring straight out the window lol. These people are either getting worked too hard or not enough because they lack soul and personality, and are not very proud of their work.

The newer staff, on the other hand, are very sweet and willing to engage in conversation.

It’s like roulette with who is going to take you to your table, take your order, drop off your food or give you toothpicks. But for the hefty price point, you’d hope the least they can provide is consistently good service.

Not sure if it’s standard practice but I could’ve sworn I saw the elderly couple next to us get their cutlery changed over between entree and main. Yet I was left to eat my main with the same used cutlery from the entree course, even though the (blunt) waitress replaced the napkins and stopped there.

I haven’t been here for a while, and must’ve mistakenly believed that the big price tags equated to a pleasant and more upscale environment. It is loud and honestly a little bit ghetto, heaps of people chewing with their mouths open and throwing stuff around.

Overall, one too many misses for this experience. It is not the same as I remember, and I (literally) can’t afford to waste my money on places that neglect so many aspects of the customer’s experience, and will continue to revel in my old memories of this place when...

A good meal spoilt by horrible maître d (or counter manager)

My husband & I dined at Squires Loft Cheltenham on Wednesday night (5th Feb 20). We wanted to try the place first so that we can make a booking for 28 people for our up coming 25th wedding anniversary.

Our food was great and all attentive waitress. Food came out in timely manner and overall, it was a good experience until the final few minutes. The head waiter (front desk more like a cashier/manager) spoilt our good night out . All because my husband gave our table attendant a small tip.

Our table was in a prime spot and I could hear and see all his interaction with his staff. At one stage, I heard him almost yelling at another waitress to collect wine glass when she was on her way back to the bar with what looked like a whiskey bottle. At least she knew how to defend herself and answered straight back. "I need to sort out drinks first".

Two other staff members had finished their shift and left so I can understand the reshuffling. Towards the end of our meal, our waitress was sent to the front. Thus our dirty plates were left on the table forever. This manager/ counter staff )whatever you want to call him, went past our table multiple times and did not bother to clean up.

Having waited long enough, I eventually stood up to go and pay and it is at this point our waitress returned to clear the table. This is when my husband handed over the tip. (my husband who is in his 80's has a habit of showing appreciation via small gratuity). This wasn't to the liking of the maître d. ooooo diddums!

He was completely oblivious to the fact that I was watching him all the time. He could not hold back so went on to comment "there is no discrimination here sir" He rolled his eyes and kept giving my husband a dirty look. Eventually, he turns to me and said, "put in your pin number". This guy was so distracted that he did not even realise that I had checked my bill and already keyed in my pin number and I was waiting for him to give me my copy of the receipt.

I generally do not tolerate such nonsense and say something but the restaurant was busy and i did not want to create a scene. I was in fact more concerned about the young lady who got the tip. What music is she about to face from this petty minded individual. If only he would have bothered to clear our dirty plates he might have got something from me as well.

I wont be celebrating my wedding anniversary in your restaurant now. You have killed a customer by your petty attitude...

The worst experience I’ve ever had dining out! Rude and disrespectful. Our family attended the Cheltenham Squires Loft late Jan to celebrate my partners 30th birthday. We were greeted with the worst customer service offered by the owner, Troy Cox, that any of us has ever received. After being asked to provide our vaccination status (which all attendees provided) our group was then verbally attacked by Troy without reason before we even sat at our table. When we entered the restaurant to check in my father was spoken to aggressively and accused of “giving a face” despite providing the appropriate documentation to dine in. After showing our proof of vaccination my partner and I were then shouted at while I held my newborn as Troy accused us of trying to do the wrong thing of entering the restaurant without proof after he was not paying attention when we showed our vaccine certificates. We asked Troy to calm down repeatedly as we tried to sit at our table where he followed us continuing to hurl abuse. We explained to Troy this was not acceptable and his response to the situation was completely over the top and unfounded. At no point did Troy apologise for the rudeness which he displayed for the rest of the evening as he wait on our table, making us very uncomfortable to the point where my sister was too scared to ask for service.

As we were leaving to pay Troy sat at the front desk completely maskless where I requested that our table spilt the bill knowing that this could be done as we have in the past. Troy continued to give attitude sighing, rolling his eyes and complaining how difficult it was for him to organise this. As our party was paying he yelled at my partners elderly grandparents harassing them to pay for their meal as they were already trying to.

As a large group of 16, we spent around $1,000 for the dinner. We expect a high level of service given the cost of the meals and to be given a verbal lashing from the owner from the moment we walked in to when we left is completely unacceptable.

If this is how the owner speaks to patrons, I am very concerned to how he speaks to his staff.

We will be encouraging anyone who is thinking of dining at the Cheltenham restaurant to think again and take your money elsewhere. Absolutely disgusting service without an apology - will never...