The Jade Teahouse at Camellia Gardens — Restaurant in Sydney

Unfortunately, this cafe spoilt my family and I's morning. When we arrived at the cafe, I seated my wife and three young children, I was approach by one of the staff member’s after about 10 minutes or so, and told that the table that we were seated at was reserved, and that we had the option of getting take away or leaving as there were no tables available for “US”. For the record, there was NOT a reserve sign displayed on the table, they had apparently run out of "reserved" signs. During the time that it took for this to occur, my wife had been in line the entire time and couldn't get served. It was only when my wife made a point to the staff, that she had been waiting for a significant period after serving another customer who pushed in front of her, that she was given the respect of being treated like a human. I promptly asked my wife to cancel the order as we had been effectively asked to leave. Due to my wife insisting on having a cup of tea, we sat outside. Within 30 secs of this occurring, another couple walked in with two children, and the very same staff member went out the back and ascertained an extra table and chair to accommodate them, they also did NOT have a reservation. Further to this, after a couple of minutes, she then gave them a table inside, whilst we remained outside. My family and I felt greatly disrespected, and will NEVER return to this cafe again. This behaviour makes me question the motives of this staff member. The sad part is that we are locals and only live...

Appalling service today!! I booked a table for five including two children (one needing a high chair). We arrived for high tea and were directed to a table with no high chair so I asked for a high chair the young "manager" returned with no high chair but to rouse on my daughter telling her not to touch the cups and saucer on the table because they were new. I then said could we please have a high chair and she returned with one and asked us to sit down on a different table because she had given us the wrong one.if we had been given the table straight away with the high chair my daughter would not have touched the cups. She then said are we having high tea? I said I wasn't sure about the kids and she replied saying that we usually book for high tea only. I said at this point that I wasn't enjoying this experience and that we probably wouldn't be staying because I couldn't tolerate her rudeness. Her communication skills and tone of voice were very unprofessional. We then left and she followed us outside telling me repeatedly that she was not rude to us. So I asked her to leave us alone as my kids were now playing in the playground. It's really sad because my children love the gardens and we went there for a birthday celebration. I understand she was busy but there is no excuse...

EDIT (in response to the owner): This wasn’t a case of needing to “ask for the manager”, the problem was the manager. Your staff were turning away customers at 3pm because they “might” close early. Not because the gardens were closed (they weren’t), but because they clearly couldn’t be bothered. If having a function means no dine-in, then update your online hours or put up a sign. Transparency and respect go a long way. Maybe try that instead of sprinkling passive-aggressive fairy dust.

And as for the “magical evening” you wished me, it was magical. Like a disappearing act, where hospitality vanished right before our eyes.✨

Very unprofessional experience. We arrived at 3pm (well before the advertised 5pm close) and were told by a staff member with an English accent it was takeaway only, as they’d likely shut early. She clearly didn’t want to serve anyone else.

Another waitress, tall with long dark hair, was the only one who showed any care or professionalism.

The sign says hours may change due to weather, but apparently that includes when staff can’t be bothered. Aside from the one helpful waitress, the team seemed to lack hospitality training or interest in customers.

To the owner: the person running the floor is doing real damage to your business...