MoneyPenny — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

This is from your website:- Please make an online reservation below. We always leave a few tables unreserved for walk-ins, however as we are quite a small venue, a booking does secure a table. If you choose to arrive unannounced and we are unable to accommodate you, we do provide a wait list service for you to leave your details. All tables are subject to a strict turnaround time. NOTE THE LAST LINE ABOVE AS IT IS THE IMPORTANT BIT! Let's start my story.

Sunday morning we looked at the popular restaurants on google and found your place with wonderful reviews. It was my wife's birthday and she found your replies to other reviews very intriguing. We tried to call in the morning and obviously you guys were closed. At 12:05 pm we called and found the phone went straight to voicemail. I am very particular about booking as I hate last minute surprises.

We went on the website and tried to book and it showed booking time available only for 4 pm. Since your website said walk ins were welcome, we thought we will try our luck. At 2.05 pm we reached your restaurant and found only one outside table which was reserved. It was 10 degrees and cloudy, we were with our dogs and a cake for my wife's birthday. All we requested was a table and your staff said that there will not be a table till 6 pm!!! I asked my friend to speak to the manager to see if you could work something out. Then I decided to come and find out myself as I found it was BS to say that there was not table till 6 pm when I found a booking available at 4 pm and it was only 2 pm. This is when YOUR website EXPLICITLY said about the turn around time.

When I came in to find out, till what time was the outside table reserved. You (which now I know is the owner as well) replied saying that the booking is for 2.20 pm and that you don't know when the other tables will be available. You also replied that people can sit all day if they want! and you cannot ask anyone to leave. I gave the option that the outside tables could also be used as we really wanted to try the food, but you replied that it will rain and you can't serve food outside. So you said to try other places. We disappointedly decided to go next door to Harbour Bar which was surprisingly amazing. Interestingly after half an hour we found that 3 of your tables were now vacant around 2.45pm. This was what frustrated us that your website talks about strict turn around times and you couldn't find a table or give us a time frame. At not point did I try to berate you. In fact I would say that your behaviour was borderline racist especially when you said that there was no table till 6 pm!! At 3.15 when we were leaving we found that all of the outside tables were vacant! Issues- 1. Attitude- Most restaurants in Australia cater to the customer. Your attitude to not help or find a solution for the customer shows that you have no empathy or consideration for your guest. You will make money with this business given your location but unless you change your outlook , you can't win peoples' hearts. Wait and Stay times- During this COVID pandemic most places have clearly implemented restricted times for guests so as to enable maximum number of guests despite social distancing. DESPITE clearly stating on your website you told me that the guests could sit all day which is unacceptable. Booking methods- Only online option that too after 4 hrs from booking time. That means there is no way to book 2 hrs in advance which is ridiculous. Your website says waitlist provided for people who don't book but all you did was say next table at 6 pm that's it.

IT WAS A SHAME THAT WE COULD NOT EVEN TRY YOUR FOOD. My friends who accompanied us felt the same. If you could've attempted to get a table for us rather than give so many excuses this wouldn't be required. BTW we ate at the Harbour bar and had a great time with the cocktails and food and the best of all it became sunny in the next hour. I wish Google gives the option of giving 0 stars, because the service we received surely deserved less...

We visited MoneyPenny tonight with my daughter and her friends to celebrate her birthday. Cocktails ok. Food average. The location is great with the habour views. My daughter secured the booking of our table with her credit card (a booking requirement), and despite our group showing up on time, purchasing food & cocktails, my daughter's account was debited $200+ for failing to show. She received an email asking if she was still coming to the venue. I'm not at all happy with the response from staff at the time. It is not good enough to confuse bookings when patrons provide a name on arrival. We won't be returning customers after this experience.

Reply to the owner's response.... Thank you for your response to my review. Yes, you apologised and informed my daughter that the bank now may take a few days to reverse the transaction. Maybe your offer of one complimentary drink didn't seem enough for the guest who asked for additional rounds, but I can not speak for them.

I just hope this doesn't happen to another patron of yours who may be relying on funds in their bank account to get home at the end of their night out or pay for accommodation if they are visiting our city. A full refund on the night would have been the best option to rectify...

I recently dined at MoneyPenny and had an absolutely fantastic experience! The shared meal approach allowed us to try a variety of delicious dishes, and each one was a hit. The 4 cheese pizza was rich, indulgent, and perfectly crispy, while the sticky pork bites were incredibly flavorful with just the right balance of sweetness and spice. The croquettes, filled with caramelized onion and goat cheese, were a delight – crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and paired beautifully with the tomato chili jam.

The sweet potato fries were perfectly seasoned and crispy, and the vegetable halloumi stack was fresh, vibrant, and satisfying. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavour.

To top it off, MoneyPenny also offers a fantastic selection of cocktails, each crafted with care and bursting with unique flavors. Whether you're into classic concoctions or more adventurous mixes, their variety ensures there’s something for every palate.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a perfect spot for sharing great food and drinks with friends. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy delicious, creative dishes and refreshing cocktails in a...