TGI Fridays Melbourne Central — Restaurant in Melbourne

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 ——𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝟘% 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕫𝕖

Wrong Order My friend ordered “full size rib” but the staff made it “four ribs”. Although refunded, still have no idea where the word “size”went thus caused such mistake. I mean there was a whole world missing between “full size rib” and “four ribs”.

No Communication Between Staffs My friend ordered a full size rib but the staff gave us a half-size one. We returned it and they made us a right one. But 10 minutes later, after all of us had what we ordered, the staff came with another full-size rib and said it was the right one for the one we returned.

We were so confused because we were already eating ribs. And by the way, even if this “another rib” indeed was ours, it was the wrong flavor.

Non-trained Staff The staff could not even answer the question “how do u distinguish a full-size and a half-size? By number of bones or by weight?”

After we asked “didn’t the other staff already give us the right one?” “Aren’t we now eating the full-size one?”, the staff insisted that the ribs that weren't even the flavor we ordered were ours.

Last minute he said that was the right full-size of the returned rib and the next minute he said it was the other half of that earlier half rib.

I still have no idea what we ate was a full or a half.

Wrong Dish Two serves of different flavors wings were ordered. None of them were the right ones.

Dirty Glasses I could even see the oil and something white one the glasses. Definitely not water marks since I also worked in restaurants. It reminded me of the time I washed a used glass at home, but I didn't wash and clean the area where the rim of the glass touched the spout. Every person who have cleaned the glasses at home would notice that.

No Last Call for Food & No Mention of Kitchen Closure No staff came to tell us when would the kitchen close, when would be the last order, when would the restaurant close, from the time we got there till we left . We didn't realize the kitchen was closed until we wanted to order more food. Many of us were still hungry when we leave. Then what’s the point for eating out?

The Manager Always Had Excuses and Didn’t Apologize Proactively

Four of us brought up all the above 6 complaints. The manager had so many explanations and didn’t apologize until one of us asked for it. Guess what makes me write this long review and my first review? I COULD NOT EVEN SEE HE TRIED TO PRETEND HE WAS REALLY SORRY ON HIS FACE 🙂

When we said “they gave us a wrong half-size rib but we ordered a whole”, he explained that the half one was for another table. When we said “they gave us another wrong full-size one after we already got the right one”. He used the same excuse “because that was ordered by another table”.

Exactly, this is the way how he says “sorry” for giving wrong dishes.

When we were talking about wrong order, he came with “that was why I was trying to make you order four by four””there were also other tables”.

First of all we did order four by four, even one by one. and It was 8pm and not that many customers. We had more than 10 ppl sitting outside on the biggest table.

He even said “I don’t know the whole picture yet” after 4 of us brought 6 complaints.

Till this point, no one apologize. WE HAVE TO ASKED FOR IT!! And he was still looking for excuse after we aimed for simply apologies.

Of course no compensations.

Even the staffs were serving with kind and smile. The manager's ice face wouldn't have been a problem but when he gave that kind of attitude, I'm clearly deliberate to bring that up.

The ribs were amazingly delicious for me. I should have given it five stars, but look what happened. Here it is.

I know the owner of the restaurant will be reading at these reviews. I highly recommend you TALK TO THE MANAGER, Please see what makes it so messy, what makes it always...

July 28, 2024 Sunday 1100H to 1400H Everything was okay, except for the manager:

Went here today at lunchtime to catch up with a friend. I forgot that i booked our table at 11:30. I got there at 11am and could see the staff were getting ready. I sat on the seats outside seeing as the other areas to wait were occupied by other guests waiting for Fridays to open. At 11:15, the Filipino manager came out to ask if i was waiting for anyone. I'm a Filipino myself and he could see that. I said that my booking was at 11:15 and in a sarcastic tone, he said that bookings were not till 11:30 and essentially told me, in a not very welcoming manner to vacate the table. I said i'm sorry, i forgot and stood up. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a Filipino too and not another skin color and maybe i'm a less important customer? Maybe he thought i didn't have much money to spend so i'm not as an important customer? I stood outside to wait, it wasn't any trouble at all, especially if i was asked nicely. When the restaurant finally opened, i was sat at my table and i could just feel the indifference towards me. The way i was asked about things regarding my stay and preferences didn't seem too kind or welcoming. It was too indifferent towards me and it made me very uncomfortable. It felt like anything was too much of a bother, that's how i felt. My guests arrived and the manager took our order and we did not give him any difficulty. After we ordered, we were served by wonderful waiters and the food was nice. We spent a little under $200 and I went to pay. The manager came to take my payment and i got distracted because my godchild came towards me and I didn't want her to run away. This caused me to accidentally swipe my card from the phone to my meal card which i knew would decline. I immediately said i was sorry and said that it was the wrong card. The manager looked annoyed and then again, i apologised. Once he had reset the machine, he proceeded to ask me "is this the right card now?!" It really annoyed me because we were not difficult guests, i apologised to him twice, we did not complain about anything, we ordered a lot of food and drinks, we were quiet enough and the restaurant was not busy. Why was i being treated with such indifference and annoyance? All I could do was answer yes in a louder tone to make him realise that his manner of speaking is not very hospitable and should not be acceptable. It just makes a nice day not so nice anymore.

I'm in a service that provides support and care to people and am a manager myself. I would never speak to clients with such indifference and i would always try my best to make them feel welcomed. I would treat everyone the same, no matter who they are. All day i was deciding wether or not to mention it, but i believe it is important that this feedback is given to this staff member so that change can happen. In a hospitality service, his demeanor was not welcoming or hospitable at all and that just ruins the atmosphere and the dining experience and i think these are very important aspects in a restaurant. I hope management at Fridays would take this review into account.

Anyways, i would think twice now about going back especially if this is how i would feel everytime i dine at Fridays. There are so many wonderful restaurants with amazing staff hospitality and service that this establishment is lacking during the time we...

I visited TGI Fridays at Melbourne Central in June 2024 with some friends for a catch up dinner. Four of us grabbed a booth just behind the entrance and ordered burgers and fries, plus a round of drinks. They’ve got a massive menu with plenty of options from salads, wings, steaks, and even seafood, so there’s something for everyone. Drinks wise, they cater to both the cocktail crowd and those after a non alcoholic treat. I went for a classic lemon, lime and bitters, while some of the boys opted for cocktails. There’s even a kids menu and heaps of variety, though I did find the prices a bit on the expensive side, especially for the sides, but to be fair, that’s pretty average for Melbourne’s CBD these days. My chips were tasty, nothing fancy, but they did the job. The boys were raving about their burgers, saying they were super juicy and well made.

The venue itself had a really nice vibe. It’s tucked into the top corner of the higher levels at Melbourne Central and offers a huge space for dining. There’s a large bar and kitchen area, plus plenty of seating at the front and back, separated by a small corridor with booths along the way. The lighting was warm and welcoming, and the moderate music made it a great spot to catch up. It was also clean and well looked after.

The staff were absolute gems, super friendly and attentive, even offering to take a photo for us at the end of the night. They made sure we had everything we needed and checked in on us throughout the meal.

It’s a little tricky to find given the number of food spots on that level, but it’s definitely easy to access in the Melbourne CBD. You can hop on the free trams or catch a train straight into Melbourne Central Station. It’s also a brilliant spot to fuel up before a night out, with all the clubs and bars nearby, or the perfect place to unwind after a big day exploring the city. The comfy seating and extensive menu make it a great place to recharge before heading back out. We didn’t book so walk ins seem welcome, though on busier nights I’d recommend booking ahead just in case.

I’d definitely recommend TGI Fridays at Melbourne Central if you’re in the area. It’s central, the staff are great, and there’s plenty to choose from. The only real downside was that the prices felt a bit steep and, while the venue was lovely, it’s quite similar to other places nearby. So if you’re after something unique, you might want to explore a bit further. Still, it’s a solid choice for western food with a...