Colac East Hotel — Restaurant in Victoria

Fellow food, and life enthusiasts, avoid this place at all costs. It started from the moment we exited the car, the stench of sweat and misery batting at our nostrils is exactly the warning you think it is and we chose to ignore. We entered the premises to be greeted by what I can only describe as an animated corpse (hereby referred to as ‘AC’) that was a welcoming as rusty star picket fence that no longer held any real purpose. Following the grunt directive through to the dining room, the crowd that greeted us seemed lively and satisfied and despite initial imposter feelings we continued to allow our hungry stomachs dictate the way to our table. The menu has a heavy theme of parmigiana and following our food choice, should you be unfortunate enough to have to dine here, we would probably recommend sticking to the theme. One positive that deserves recognition and is the only saving grace of an experience here is the waitstaff. They were friendly, accommodating and expertly navigated minimising negative interactions with the AC that we could only assume must own the place. As warm as their welcome was, even they could only serve us the food ordered due to menu unavailability with a sorrowful smile as a gesture of apologies for what was barely digestible. While one half of us ordered and proceeded to overpay for a disappointing, stomach cramp inducing dinner, the other was lucky enough to have dealings with AC in what you would think is a fairly straightforward task of getting a couple of beverages to wash the dried fried chicken down. This slight interaction resulted in blatant rudeness by the AC who deems customer service as a tiresome chore but highlighted the swift reaction of above helpful waitstaff who did their best to discourage any interaction of AC with any other humans. Needless to say, we finished our meals to the best of our ability, neither supporters of wasting food, and hurried ourselves back through the stench of sweaty car park to hit the road and hopefully never look back, or in any orientation at the East Hotel Colac or it’s delightfully morbid bar...

Hi,

I live around the corner and have supported this business for years but never again!

I went there tonight for my birthday and people didn’t turn up. I found out it was because of friends who have become ill.

In the middle of dinner, the manager (a middle aged guy) comes up and asked who booked the table. I said I did and then he started telling me off and yelling at me, saying how during COVID they are struggling. I said I’m sorry I just found out they were not coming, had if I have known earlier I would have rang to let them know, but he didn’t stop. He kept raising his voice and going off at me, and at other people who were agreeing with me.

Everyone at the table were locals, and were completely shocked. We all quickly ate our meals and left.

As a group of locals who work in large workplaces in Colac we won’t be going there again, and certainly won’t be recommending anyone else does either!

It is not ok to be treated like that at all! Let alone as a paying customer.

Maybe I should have brought the people who are sick… I’m sure that’d be...

Let's just say I have some reservations about recommending this fine hotel simply because I hope it never changes from what I experience because it was amazing. Friendly and caring staff that make being there so warming. There are a range of dining options. I was there to mostly carb load after 5 days hiking in the Otways. It was a Truck Driver's Parma that caught my attention. A chicken parma loaded with salami, ham, beetroot and cheese. Sensational. The menu is not boasting too many options but nor does it need to. There are vegetarian choices and GF. The wood fire warming the dining room on a winters day capped off a fine lunch with a Shiraz. I will come back to Colac just to visit this...