The Burwood Inn — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

The Burwood exceeded my expectations. It is in a great location, close to the beach and wonderful walking paths, and has safe on-street parking, and is within a quiet “alcohol-free” zoned area (Berner St between Morgan & Mitchell Streets). The in-house restaurant lived up to its reputation of being the best steak restaurant in Newcastle and I enjoyed a rib fillet one night and a sirloin the next, along with a glass of a Hunter Valley house merlot from the bar. The bar was great and lively. Perfect for young couples. The bedrooms are upstairs, so pack light to avoid carrying a heavy suitcase up the stairs. The bedroom was clean and functional with a silent airconditioner. I had one of the shared bathrooms across the hall from my room which needed a bedroom key to unlock. Behind the locked door were two separate lockable modern bathrooms tiled in shiny metallic looking tiles, and consisting of a monsoon shower behind a glass panel, a toilet and a handbasin and mirror. A continental breakfast was included, and modern kitchen was provided for guests with a dishwasher, fridge, toaster, hot water jug and microwave, where you can make a cup of tea and sit at a table to eat your breakfast. I put my water bottle in the fridge at night so I had cold water the next day. Other guests also had personal food and drink items in the fridge. I was in Newcastle to enjoy a weekend following the trail of a fictional book, “The Tesla Legacy” by Robert G. Barrett. The hero character lived locally (Bar Beach), and I drove inland to Muswellbrook, Scone and Burning Mountain to witness places and envisage scenes from the book. It was fun. You might like to read the book and follow the trail like I did. As an older woman travelling by myself, I know hotels can be isolating places. From the moment I arrived, the Burwood staff smiled at me and were friendly. After I told them about my book adventure they enquired about my travels at the end of each day and in the morning when I checked out. When next in Newcastle, I will again stay...

The Hotel bar itself attracts a lot of Punters through the day I suppose you could expect that in a local pub with its gambling TVs and machinery. The place has entertainment during the evenings which beats hanging out in the room watching the TV. The restaurant food is so so prices are on the dear side had to buy extra salad as it didn't come with the steak by the way yes very good steaks but can't they put something green on the plate for those prices. I think one of the top steaks was $ 64 . I know eating out has gone up I'm just starting to wonder how long am I going to afford it. But you can afford it if you stay here as the room is reasonably priced large, clean and comfortable with breakfast. The Publican and his wife were very nice, the wife very friendly. It's about 20 minute walk to Meriweather beach straight down Burner Street. Down there is a good food hangout on the beach above is a fancier glassed in place. Looks expensive to me so didn't go near it. It's worthwhile to do the coastal track walk over the bridge for the diggers and up Wolfe St to the Hunter St light rail for a look although this rail seems to mostly go along empty expired businesses to the rail exchange terminal. Nothing much around this part of Newcastle actually is quite deviod of people and really anything. The WiFi was supposed to be available I asked about the password and was told it was in the room, I looked around for it walls, paperwork in the room.....

We have dined here few times under the old management and also current. The last two times we’ve been here we’ve had to wait for our table ( 7. & 7.30pm time slots) only to find the restaurant partly empty when we are seated. It seems that once a table has been allocated the staff are unable to give you a table even though there are empty tables. We were party of four.|We noticed that once seated some tables remained empty throughout our meal?|It’s also annoying that you have to purchase drinks at the bar and if you purchase a bottle of wine the bar staff ask if you are dining in restaurant. If you are, you are told that you’ll be given glasses by your waitress at the table. Well this doesn’t work because once you told to take a seat until your table is ready you don’t have a glass to use while you wait. So you’ll need to go back to bar to get glasses. This was the same under old management. If your table is ready there is no issue.|My advice is to check you table is ready before you purchase drinks.|Our entrees we’re ok, ribs excellent but steaks a bit ordinary as not well cooked. No char marks at all it was like the grill wasn’t hot enough or steaks were turned way too early.|Disappointed so hopefully...