The Strawberry — Restaurant in Sydney

I’m not saying don’t attend this venue. It’s great. Lovely place, position, food. But just reporting a trivial event and then some unfair partisanship from the staff/venues responses. I don’t expect any result, but if one silently acquiesces to injustice, iniquity succeeds. Google review limitations prevented me posting all the detail here but this happened. Sunday 24th November. I am 68y.o. male – held small school reunion, lunch party of eight. We were seated at a table on rooftop area. My partner S was seated corner chair closest to the walkway. I was next to her. A (I’m guessing 25 y.o.) girl from behind us walked past our table just as S moved her arm and contacted her. A meaningless minor accident and as the girl was returning S said "I'm so sorry, I accidentally hit you as you walked past". She smiled back nicely. So in a playful spirit I reached out to lightly bump her again as she passed and said “oow sorry". The back of my hand lightly brushed her, at my seated arm level. It was meant to be a friendly little amusing exchange. I plainly picked the wrong person. She stepped back and in a raised accusing tone said “Did you just touch me on the bottom? How dare you? You should be ashamed”. (She says it was her bottom. I don’t really know, I didn’t face my head directly to her as it happened. It was a very light flick with the back of my hand, so hard to know). But I accept her word that it was in that area. Perhaps her hip. I said, “Well I’m not ashamed, but if I offended you I apologise” (clearly it was NOT a “shameful" act but it was only natural to apologise). But she was already on fire and loudly talking over me so all I could do was repeatedly say, “If I offended you, I apologise”. It went for about 45 seconds. That’s all I had the chance to do over and over “if I offended you, I apologise". But she didn’t want to listen to anything I said. I don’t see I could not have done any more than that. Then she went and made a complaint at the bar. So I went over just as she was finishing and said again. "I’m sorry, if you were offended I apologise". And as I tried again to explain, she, now plus her (female) friend, who stepped between us, belligerently started ranting too, saying “we don’t want to hear anything you say” and that was clearly so, lol. Now, I CAN see BOTH SIDES. I’ve just explained mine. BUT, being open-minded, if she actually thought I intentionally reached out and “touched" her bottom, then rightly so, she could object strongly to that. And IF that had been the case there would not be TWO SIDES to it, I would have been 100% at fault. So, understandable if that’s what she thought had occurred. But her relentless temper prevented any attempt of understanding or resolution. And AS IF I would blatantly grope some random girl, my granddaughters age, in the view and company of my friends and S….., who were to be in on the silly joke. It is infuriatingly stupid. I was then told by the female manager “I’m going to ask me to leave". Her mind was already made up. Again I tried to explain but she too, didn’t want to hear reason. I’m not saying she doesn’t do a good job managing unruly drunk inner city unpleasantries. That must harden anyone. So not trying to get her in trouble, I can understand that if she too was under a misconception via the girls' report, but she made a bad call this time even aggressively ushering me to the front door saying “you are banned from here”. For goodness sake! Three subsequent emails to the General Manager Richard Waddell were met with equally closed mindedness….peace and...

I have to share my experience from last night as my head is still spinning over comments made by the manager on duty. I paid $5 three separate times to charge my phone in the locker. After seeing that my third paid attempt failed I used one of the power points on ground level.

The manager approached me way too close for comfort and abruptly said "why didn't you ask to use this PowerPoint" he was notified previously the locker I had paid for 3 times over was not charging my phone. No offer for a solution (ie let me charge it for you behind the bar like a normal person would have suggested as a business owner wanting to be helpful)

I explained it was imperative my phone have enough charge to just turn on as I have a small child at home and was nervous as my phone had been off unbeknownst to me, as it was not charging in the locker. His reply "WHY ARE YOU OUT AND NOT AT HOME WITH YOUR CHILD?" I felt so belittled and embarrassed. I couldn't believe what was just said to me

I then explained to this abhorrent pig my son was safely at home with his father, my husband, and that this was only the second big night out I have had since his birth almost 4 years ago. He then proceeded to say "I HAVENT LET MY WIFE OUT IN 5 YEARS!" two of my friends witnessed the entire exchange and were just as shocked as I was.

I explained my child was very well looked after, loved and spoilt while trying to hold back tears I could feel about to come out. I went to leave the establishment and this man proceeded to follow me waving his phone in my face saying "this is my daughter with serana Williams!" I don't know what was going through his head when this transpired but I am still in shock and felt it was important to get this experience out there.

Extremely unprofessional and if you are reading this sir, your behaviour and comments were out right unnerving. I hope for your sake you learn common decency and manners so this dosent happen...

I needed a place for a quick but decent lunch following a Belvoir Street play and remembered having a fun night at the Strawberry Hills Hotel about ten years prior. Looked them up online and the menu seemed AOK - just what we needed - not a 5 star marvel for me to rave about on my blog but something for a quick bite with family and a friend. I was surprised at how awesome the venue was. The upstairs was fantastic - a massive outdoor covered section, a large bar and some brewery equipment around the place. I already liked it. It was a very hot day and while fanning myself with the menu something marvellous happened - the venue turned on a mister - the entire outdoor section filled with cool water mist. I did put the camera away and just enjoyed the cool down - reminded me of this time about 15yrs ago on a dance floor in Queenstown - can't remember the place but it was the middle of winter and we were all dancing and it was hot and sweaty - next thing you know - someone behind the bar presses a button and the entire roof of the nightclub opened - the best thing was that it was snowing - all the steam and heat went out and we dance in snowfall for about 15mins before they closed the roof and the venue steamed up even more haha. But back to Strawberry Hills Hotel - it was a treat. We all enjoyed our food. Mum slayed her calamari, friend Gary devoured his burger and me and the step father destroyed a pizza each. I went the Chilli Prawn Pizza and while it was nice the pizza was more a triple mozzarella cheese with the odd prawn here and there. It could have done with half the cheese and more prawns but as a cheese porn lover I was in heaven doing cheese pulls and lapping up the cheese like the dog I am. It's not fine dining but it is definitely near the top for...