Market Hotel Ballarat — Restaurant in Victoria

Food is delicious, customer service was atrocious tonight. A table of 4, we ordered 2 fish and chips, a Parma and a chicken burger. The fish and chips came out, our friends wanted to wait for our meals to come out before they started eating but we insisted they eat it while it’s hot. Good decision. The fish and Chips were a hit. No sign of the other two meals. Once our friends finished their fish and chips my chicken burger arrived, still no Parma. When we had asked about the other meals we got nothing. No “sorry, won’t be long”, nothing. I finished my burger, still no Parma. We figured that the chef cooks by meal type rather than table, as that’s how they came out. A chicken burger on this table, a chicken burger on that table. It was like Noah’s Ark, the meals all came out two by two no matter what table it was for. After I was finished my chicken burger I approached the bar to ask where my hubby’s Parma was. He’s a patient man, but he was hungry as heck: I was also hungry because he ate half my chips. The gentleman serving grunted that he’d check, went out to the kitchen and eventually came out with the lone Parma. When it was mentioned that we’ve ALL well and truly finished our meals the response was “yeah I don’t know what’s going on.” No sorry, no “can I grab you a beer” he just walked away. We had been here for lunch a month ago and raved about it to our mates. Not tonight. We were respectful, you were...

We suddenly found ourselves with time to fill and it was lunchtime. We had heard about changes and thought why not. We were so pleased to find the Market provides a great pub meal. It's not trying to be fancy. It great standard pub food. Salads are fresh and very tasty fish and chips were two substantial pieces of fish, cooked well. Calamari was as good as I had recently in a local restaurant for twice the price. Beer offering was so refreshing... good basic beers , a pot of Carlton draught, a good selection of wines and to be asked 150ml or 250ml was so nice. Yes the wooden floors do make it a bit louder but it's a pub. If you want a fancy restaurant this is not it. This is a comfortable friendly pub. The staff were on the ball, attentive laughing and appeared to be really engaging with customers. Everyone was smiling. There was a very busy eclectic crowd and all seemed happy. If you want a good pub meal this is it....

Came in for Thursday Steak Night: $25 Porterhouse. Pay an extra $5 and get a 150ml glass of Shiraz. Steak was excellent quality and larger than I expected. Cooked to perfection. The wine was perfectly palatable and enjoyable. Crème Brulee was quite good (and I am awfully picky). Was a little cold - would prefer it to be warm all the way through - very cold in the centre - but the flavour was good. Service was friendly and prompt. The dining room is vast and has polished timber floors - this can make for a loud atmosphere so perhaps not suited to some. I thought it was lovely and the decor is warm and has a rustic yet...