TGI Fridays Macquarie — Restaurant in Sydney

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. I visited this place because it was my husbands birthday and he wanted a taste of home as he’s from the U.S and we used to visit TGI Fridays often. So we traveled 1hr and 20 minutes using public transport.

First we were escorted to a dimly lit staircase, as a person with very poor vision, this was horrible to navigate. There was no highlighted tape and no indication where the next step would be. Going up was okay, as I held onto my husband. But after we were seated we were told to go back down to order, as we were using a gift card we were given. Going down the stairs, I missed the two last steps, landing on my ankle. I told the host/manager and he simply said “okay, what’s your order.” He brushed me off with no care in the world. He didn’t ask: “are you okay?” “Do you need anything?” Instead I was met with apathy.

I had ordered the Cajun chicken and prawn pasta. The chicken and prawns were lukewarm bordering onto cold. On the outside they were warm on the inside they were cold. They didn’t cook them enough when warming them up to serve. Or they were left sitting there when the pasta was being prepared. Given that our food was brought within 5 minutes. I believe all food was prepared beforehand and just slightly heated up and placed on a hot plate. The pasta was a mixture of hot, cold, warm, mixed with hard pieces and soft pieces. As a lover of food, this was so underwhelming. There was literally no taste to this dish except the heat from the Cajun spice. This dish was my all time favourite in the U.S.

As for my husband his burger had onion rings that were doused in Cajun spice that made it inedible and the burger patty itself was medium rare. Minced meat is meant to be cooked to a certain temperature as you can get pretty sick when it isn’t. And this burger was not cooked correctly.

We called over the manager and explained to him what was wrong with the pasta and he said to me “I am going to touch the food.” He then proceeds to use his fingers to handle my chicken and prawn pieces feeling them repeatedly. Then he says “it feels hot”. I have never in my life been so disgusted by such a barbaric way of food handling. This is and was not okay. Did he expect me to eat it after his fingers were all over the food? That his word was somehow better than mine? Or was my word as a customer not good enough that he felt the need to “prove me wrong” and thus implying I am a liar. If he wanted to feel the food, take it to the back and do so! Not in front of the customer…

I, then informed him about my husbands burger and he said “burger is medium well.” What? How on earth is this burger that is practically mooing on his plate medium well? Medium well is a Slight tinge of pink. This was not medium well.

The manager then asks if I wanted dessert on the house, with his fingers in my food. I politely declined as I did not call him over for free food, I simply wanted him to see what was wrong and to do “better”. Instead he offended me by man handling my food, then told my husband his burger is “fine” and then offered a refund for the pasta and left our table. No apologies, no kind gestures, nothing. Just an angered expression that we were bothering him and he didn’t want to be there.

I am beyond frustrated, angry and saddened that my husband who simply wanted an American meal, left feeling dissatisfied. Like come on, he didn’t even wish him a happy birthday, when I told him it was his birthday. All he did was glare at us and stare at us blankly.

Perhaps TGI Fridays management should learn from other restaurants about handling customer complaints and how to deal with customer feedback. It isn’t easy, calling over a waiter or manager to tell them the meal isn’t great, in fact it is daunting and anxiety inducing, but we do so because we want the establishment to improve.

Unfortunately this establishment may lose customers with this poor management. I would never go back, nor would I tell friends and family to go. Check out the pictures you’ll see what we were...

Review: Liv, the Stellar Waitress at TGIF Macquarie

I recently had the pleasure of dining at TGIF Macquarie, and I must say that my experience was elevated to a whole new level thanks to the exceptional service provided by Liv, one of their outstanding waitresses. Liv's dedication to her job and her ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere truly stood out, making my visit a memorable one.

From the moment I was greeted at the entrance, Liv's friendly demeanor and genuine smile set the tone for the evening. She exuded a contagious enthusiasm that instantly made me feel comfortable and excited about my dining experience. Liv's positive energy was infectious and contributed significantly to the overall enjoyment of the evening.

Liv's attentiveness to detail was impeccable. She made sure to provide prompt and efficient service without ever making me feel rushed. She took the time to patiently explain the menu options and offered valuable recommendations based on her in-depth knowledge of the dishes. Her expertise and genuine passion for the food and beverages on offer were evident, and it greatly enhanced my dining experience.

Throughout the evening, Liv was always available whenever I needed assistance or had a question. She effortlessly balanced her tasks, ensuring that each table received the attention it deserved. Despite the restaurant being busy, she managed to remain composed and attentive, never allowing the quality of service to waver.

Liv's ability to anticipate my needs was remarkable. She seemed to anticipate when I required a refill on my drink or when I was ready to place an order, making the dining experience seamless and enjoyable. Her proactive approach and attention to detail were commendable and made me feel like a valued guest.

What impressed me most about Liv was her genuine care for her customers. She consistently checked in to ensure that everything was to my liking and genuinely seemed invested in my satisfaction. Her warmth and personalized approach made me feel like more than just a customer; she treated me like a friend.

In addition to her exceptional service, Liv's positive and vibrant personality was contagious. She created an atmosphere that was both lively and comfortable, making it an enjoyable environment for everyone in the restaurant. Her ability to connect with customers and create a sense of camaraderie was truly remarkable.

Overall, Liv's professionalism, attentiveness, and genuine care for her customers truly set her apart as an outstanding waitress. Her ability to provide exceptional service while maintaining a positive and engaging demeanor is truly commendable. I highly recommend dining at TGIF Macquarie and specifically requesting Liv as your waitress to ensure a memorable...

Came here as an American in Australia for Thanksgiving. Initially came here the day before to see how it was. First day was fine, hence the initial 5 star review.

When it came to actually coming here for Thanksgiving day (after seeing so many advertisements catering towards Thanksgiving) it was definitely the worst Friday's experience I've had.

We came in for our 8:30 reservation at 8:25, and were finally acknowledged by the host at 8:40. Sat down right and ordered on the app immediately (as there is no waitstaff, you have to order it yourself) we finally got our first drink at 9:00.

We asked the person who brought our drinks for a special food request (due to a disability). She said she would check on that and then never came back. Another staff member came over to inform us it was last call (at 9:10, when they advertise happy hour until 10pm) We told her we had someone checking on a special food request and they said ok/walked away.

We then had to flag down a second staff member and ask the same request (very simple, substitute fries for crispy chips due to the previously mentioned disability). That person went to double check and also never came back.

Finally we were reminded for the last time that it was it was last call (at 9:17) and had to explain to the now fourth member of the staff of our situation. She went to check again, and was told the best we could get is a completely deconstructed order with a side of fries. (This was from the kitchen, and we appreciate her actually getting back to us.)

We just said yes since it took so long and the embarrassment we've felt due to telling almost the entire staff that we have a disability in the group was enough.

We managed to put it together very simply ourselves when we got the deconstructed food (see photos). We saw multiple parties turned away between 9:10 and 9:40 when they advertise that they close at 10. We weren't seen again until they turned on all house lights and they quite literally played the song "Closing time".

When we finally went to check out (as we had to order from the last person who came up to us) the price for our last drink was almost double the happy hour price. The staff member who was able to finally help us out noticed and corrected it for us (system error, she was great).

Overall this is definitely NOT what I would expect from a TGI Friday's, and definitely recommend you go elsewhere...