St. Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

TL:DR: Get Everything in Writing, Minute every meeting or conversation! Venue looks good but the professionalism servery lacking. Go elsewhere for your events.

As a long story short I had a contract organised for an event in June 2019 (after wedding, pre reception quick drinks) with the previous managers (end of 2018) who were lovely and more than accommodating to what I needed.

The issue with the St Hotel only occurred with the changeover to new management. After multiple follow ups a requirements meeting was organised with the new manager (Chris) and the events coordinator. The meeting went fantastic from my point of view with them both seeming more than willing to act within my budget and desired requirements of some canapés on a table with a drinks tab with no spirits (beer and wine only) that, once exhausted, guests would pay for their own drinks. I sent a minute updates as to what was agreed upon (no acknowledgement of the email content).

We had assumed that everything was fine having not heard anything to the contrary up until 6 days before the event where we were told they would be $600 out of pocket due to misquoting the original figures (this was not brought up in the requirements meeting) and they would like us to cover what we can do pay for staff costs. This was not within our budget so we were not able to do so. We organised to pay the remaining amount on the day of the event via credit card because we were not comfortable transferring money into a personal account which was what was suggested to us by the St staff.

The day of the event seemed to run fine from what I was told up until I was made away that some family members were approached for an ‘owing bill’. They were informed the bar would be ‘closed’ because the tab had run out. The reason this had occurred is that the bar staff had not been informed spirits were not to be included so they provided 10+ mixed drinks and cocktails, which ballooned the tab costs (contrary to what I had previously agreed to). My family, not wanting to have the bar ‘closed’ (again not carrying out my pay for your own drink arrangement) put more money on the tab.

Chris I found gave the appearance of professionalism but when I asked to clarify why family members were asked for more money during the event it seemed to have hit a nerve. From my understanding having conducted large scale corporate events with other venues, going against the direct wishes of the contract holder was a cardinal sin. I have no doubt that Chris was trying to do what he saw to be best, however discounting what we personally had agreed to was ridiculous. When I mentioned that I was the contract holder whose requirements should have been upheld I was met with “Go ahead try and get me on the contract”.

This blatant unprofessionalism was added to after I was called “f*&@ing ungrateful” for asking for an itemised invoice and trying to get clarification why the event doubled in costs on the day of the event was shocking to say the least. It’s a bit rich too considering the time I had my event (3.30-6pm) is the quietest time for the venue. I did multiple site visits during that time of day and it never had more than 4 people there. Multiple guests stayed after and got dinner and drinks for the same event, adding to their profit margins but sure I’m being ungrateful for expecting a level of professionalism for a service I have paid for.

I was promised an formalised invoice after my conversation with Chris on the 7/7 and after following this up, 3 weeks later I doubt I will ever see any formalised documentation as to the expenditure and what I was actually billed for. They don’t really ever reply to written correspondents but if you are lucky they will call you back eventually. I find this troublesome as it because a ‘he said, she said’ issue with clarifying conversations. This is their GM, not a bar staff or waiter. This is obscene.

There are plenty of other venues around the St Kilda to choose from. The George ballroom on the other hand we cannot recommend enough, amazing service and a...

We held our Post Wedding Drinks here and the GM Chris did not abide by the contract agreement. In fact he approached two older family members during the event and got them to place more money on the bar tab without us knowing.

We had requested house wine and beer on the tab until it ran out out and then people were to purchase their own drinks.. but he operated it as an open bar and kept the bar tab running which was not in our contract. He got an extra $1500 out of a family member whom he told we owed an extra $500 on top of what we had already paid (??!!) and that he would shut the bar down if more money wasn't placed on the bar tab.

Chris put on one staff member for 200 people (!!). No roaming canapes as requested, all placed out at the beginning meaning people missed out throughout the night.

When we found out about this after the wedding and questioned him asking for an itemized invoice he called us "f*g ungrateful". We have now requested this invoice twice to which both requests have been ignored.

Don't deal with the St Hotel if you are running an event. Unprofessional and dodgy. So disappointed in the service.Will never step foot in this establishment again.There are plenty of other establishments that would offer much more honest service and who will abide by your contract without calling you expletive names when you question why they deviated from the agreement. Bottom line do not bother with the St Hotel and do not...

Terrible service, staff everywhere talking to each other, but not providing service to the customers. When our starters were served to the table, we had to ask for a plate and cutlery. The dishes were just dumped on the table in front of us. We asked a waiter to pour us wine from our bottle, he instead stood and talked to a female staff member for 5mins at the desk. He then proceeded to check in the wine bucket and then look up the point of sale system to check which wine we had ordered. He then sent another staff member to serve the wine that was sitting on the bar directly in front of us. It took 10 mins to be served a second glass of wine

When we ordered.the waiter explained that the fish of the day was snapper. After I ordered snapper, we were told the fish was. John Dory.

When the waiter gave us cutlery, he put the knife and fork on the wrong side of the place setting.

When our Murray cod was served, the serving size was 100grams. This cost $48.00. Thank goodness we ordered the $23.00 salad (which consisted of red lettuce and walnuts) and the $ 11.00 frites, as we were left hungry.

The restaurant is charging the same price as the stoke house e.g $65 for duck, $95 for crayfish pasta but the servings are so small and the quality of the meals are not up to that standard.

Very dissatisfied and we will not...