Temperance Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

Terrible experience for our work function. Would never go again.

Firstly, we were rather insulted by the last minute change in prices for canape platters. A price list was mailed at the start of the booking process. After confirming the booking, and sending out invites, I receive a new price list with a 25% jump in price of each platter through ‘shrinkage’ of the number of pieces per platter. Explanation was that they were sample menus only (although pretty much all items on the menu were identical, just more expensive). We proceeded with the booking given it was too late to go elsewhere. Now I wish I had have paid more attention to this huge red flag.

Secondly, our event was an after work event from 5:30 - 8:30. The food did not come out until half the people from our party had left – well after 7pm. This meant that most of the food went uneaten as many of our party left earlier than usual to eat elsewhere. I note that the bar staff were very unhelpful after repeated requests for updates on food timing - and one even blamed a member of our party for telling him to delay the food. This was not true at all.

Thirdly, the food quality is not great, and lacked any presentation flair. This may have been another reason why most of it was uneaten. In my view, all food was very over priced for the quality.

If you are looking for a venue for an event, I highly recommend you...

Our group Walked in off the street randomly hoping there would be gluten free options for my fiancé.

Upon ordering we noticed there was no actual gluten free options just “low gluten”.

When we asked they came back with options but we still weren’t sure but all of us hungry we proceeded to order trusting them. It was reassuring when they confirmed if she was celiac when taking our payment and gave us our meat raffle ticket.

While waiting I took me friend who’s still new to Australia and its traditions and explained and him how we do meat raffles here and the lovely staff was kind enough to show him the tray itself.

The problem, Our friends food arrived and our was a concerning amount of time behind. After about 10minutes (time gets distorted when Hungry), I enquired and was told it was not far off.

This could’ve been due to the celiac request.

We received our food soon after with the statement of the celiac dish when being served and was then offered drinks to compensate for the time waited between delivery of the meals.

So kind considering it was probably delayed due to our request. Thank you Millie!

The Parmigiana was the BEST Parma I’ve had ever, not bias, not bullshit, genuine feedback. Wow. An unfortunate circumstance for my import friend who will now only taste a lesser Parma in future any where else.

Thank you (I’m also High so I don’t know if review...

This is a great place, with great food and good service. The google reviews are obviously authentic as well! They are varied, which tells you that the owner hadn't paid some company in India to write only favourable reviews of his/her business. (It happens all the time). In the owner's defence of some of the less favourable reviews -One has to take into account that this hotel is not pretending to be The Hyatt or The Ritz. If you want to complain about lack of exquisite high brow food and unsurpassable service then go to a 5 star hotel and get them to serve you like a queen and king! You'll end up having to pay 100 times more than you will at this hotel, but you cannot have your cake and eat it too. it seems there are a fair few reviews from young people who really need to grow up and understand that not all hotels can cater to their every whim when they are very reasonably priced (as this one is). My wife and i have travelled all our lives and stayed in places from the 5 star, highly exclusive hotels of New York, London, Rome etc... and they cost a FORTUNE. I would never compare them to this hotel. It's a totally different experience and this generation needs to understand that a business cannot provide constant five star service and food, if you are not PAHING 5 star meal and...