Minskys Hotel — Restaurant in Sydney

For context I have been in the hospitality industry for 25 years.

Came in Wednesday at about 2pm with a friend and sat in a booth near the kitchen. First time either of us have been here.

The place was exceptionally quiet with no more than 5 or 6 customers at most which is understandable since it was a week day afternoon. The place was clean and bright and inviting once you pass the initial entrance. Unfortunatley, the booth covers we sat on were cracked and pinched our leg skin.

We ordered a round of hot chips for $11 a house tequila ( which for some reason tasted like vanilla) with soda water and fresh lime, and a schooner of cloudy apple cider.

The chips came soon after and I was a bit dissapointed that for $11 I got a very small basket of thin stringy chips with aoli. I wish I'd taken a picture to post this up now, but I was having such a good time with my friend after not seeing her for so long, I Iet it go.

We finished our initial drinks and decided to go for a cocktail. We decided we wanted a margarita and went up to the bar to enquire.

The really young looking bar tender who initially served us wasn't there but another older tall dark haired man was. I asked if they just made a classic Marg and asked if they did it using bottled circus juice or fresh. He went off immediately listing off the ingredients and quantities that go into it; and so I asked again if he used fresh citrus juice. He opened the fridge door and pulled out one of the slew of pre squeezed citrus juice bottles and showed me it. I scrunched my nose and commented how the pre squeezed gives me heart burn because of the citric acid they use to preserve it.

Now for context the place was empty, and they had fresh lime because I had it in my first drink, not to mention that one margarita takes 30ml of lime juice which isn't alot. He wasn't busy either as prior to our arrival he was standing around laughing with a colleague at the bar.

After my comment there was an awkward silence and my friend looked at me and just said "thats okay I happy to have another schooner of cider" and I responded " but I really want a margarita " Another awkward silence from the bar tender who then broke it by saying to my friend " so a cider, yeah?" Then looked at me expecting me to order something. I ordered just a soda water with fresh lime. $14 bucks total for both.

I mean honestly how clueless was this bar tender and how lazy is he for not offering to take 30 extra seconds to squeeze a lime for us? He could have made the venue more money and we happily would have stayed longer and ordered more food.

Instead we left early and will never recommend or be back as the quality of their products and level of hospitality even when it's so quiet and slow,...

Following a show at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace this evening, Thursday 17 February 2022, my husband and I left to head home.

We stopped at Minsky’s before heading home.

Mo, the security guard was on the door when we turned up. He informed me that I may not enter the premises as I’d “already had enough”.

I very rarely drink alcohol due to chronic headaches and migraines and had definitely not had any alcohol on this particular night.

Feeling utterly humiliated, I asked to see the manager on duty. After a short while, a relatively young female, Jo, appeared at the door. She informed us that we may enter the club but that I would not be served any alcohol.

I would have happily gone into Minsky’s and had a glass of water, but it was the whole principle of the matter that caused us to decline their offer and, consequently, leave.

My husband and I are in our late 50’s. Years ago we often went to Minsky’s for a night out and to have a singalong with the piano player, John, in those days.

I have never been made to feel so small, so humiliated and shown such little respect as I was tonight at Minsky’s.

I doubt that I will ever return to Minksy’s following tonight’s episode, which is rather sad.

I feel that I deserve an apology but am probably unlikely to receive one.

So, to the owner(s) and head staff at Minsky’s, perhaps you need to pull your security staff and junior managers up on what they believe to be their ability to “pick” someone who “ has had enough” before turning them away. Not only are you turning away business, but you are offending someone who does not deserve to be treated in such a way.

e their offer and, consequently, leave.

My husband and I are in our late 50’s. Years ago we often went to Minsky’s for a night out and to have a singalong with the piano player, John, in those days.

I have never been made to feel so small, so humiliated and shown such little respect as I was tonight at Minsky’s.

I doubt that I will ever return to Minksy’s following tonight’s episode, which is rather sad.

I feel that I deserve an apology but am probably unlikely to receive one.

So, to the owner(s) and head staff at Minsky’s, perhaps you need to pull your security staff and junior managers up on what they believe to be their ability to “pick” someone who “ has had enough” before turning them away. Not only are you turning away business, but you are offending someone who does not deserve to be treated...

Disappointed. Live locally, my son had suggested we try Minsky’s out. Plenty of screens for sports watching and a good crowd when we were there. Encountered 3 issues: (a) Bar staff not knowledgeable - I asked for a “mid strength beer” - was told they only had full strength or 0%. I pointed to the Cascade Premium Light in the cabinet (which I know is mid strength) and was told “no that’s nil alcohol”, said in a way like you don’t know what you are talking about…despite it sitting next to the Cascade 0% and clearly being different. Luckily another bar tender overheard and suggested Pacific Ale; (b) Tables all fully occupied or empty but with reserved signs on them…that’s ok if people have yet to arrive but in many cases reserved signs showed the table had been reserved for 1-2 hours before we arrived and was still empty, either the people had not turned up or they had come and gone and staff hadn’t removed the sign which is frustrating (we just sat at a table with reserved for “name” at 6pm, it was 7.30pm, no-one turned up saying it was theirs by the time we left at 8.30pm); (c) worst steak I have had in a long time - ordered medium rare, came out cooked right through, dry. Didn’t enjoy it at all.

The staff member who brought the food out was very helpful, going to collect cutlery and condiments - when ordering no one had said we need to collect our own.

Overall for a few beers and to watch some sport it’s probably ok, but if you want a better experience go to the Oaks...