Astrolabe Brewbar — Restaurant in North Island

After emailing to book the function room out the back, a few emails went back and forward. But when I asked for a date to be locked in it took about 10 weeks to get a reply to confirm. I ended booking a big table in the outdoor area instead, which wasnt a majorly big deal. But my email clear as day said 'the outdoor area'. I turned up with our group and we were placed on a table that wasn't even ready. We then all were moved to 2 seperate tables in the far corner of the INSIDE. Again, the email clearly said 'outside area', this was confirmed over the phone a week before hand also. I then asked again to have some tables outside. The bearded manager made it seem like an inconvenience to him but he eventually got us a the table. After a few hours of being there, our tables were taken away from us without warning or discusion, after asking them it was because they needed room for a dance floor which is fair enough. But some other tables to compensate would have been nice. The bar wasn't majorly full and when a friend of mine started dancing he got kicked out instantly. A dance floor with no dancing? Ok buddy.

We were then told we couldnt be served anymore alcohol, we were a little bit drunk but we weren't causing any trouble what so ever at all. And when the bar manager was confronted and asked why we were kicked out he couldn't even give us an answer. I don't know who that bearded manager knob is but he must be pretty new because astro has never been that junk before. Thanks to him my friends and I won't be making astro my place of choice for functions again. I'd like to see the yarn you spin in response to this because it'd be hard to justify that...

A bit of history, every 2 months we drive from Rotorua specifically to have lunch at the Astrolabe for about the last 3 years. Im fussy and theres nowhere in Rotorua that measures up. It has always been totally worth the drive, but i do have to say that this visit was not the best. Mad props to your chefs because the food was incredible, but FoH need an attitude adjustment. When we arrived it was busy so we grabbed the only available table, which had just been vacated. Staff were great at first and immediately removed the glassware from previous guests and told us they would come back with a cloth. Cool no problem, except they didnt come back. When i went to order at the bar 10 mins later, i told the bartender this, they told me- well everyone sits on the dirty tables (salty much?). Ok not a great response but i get it your busy. There was no offer to send someone out, just said theres staff outside. Went back to the table and waited another 15 mins before flagging down someone to wipe the table. Spent most of the afternoon here and it cleared out quite a bit. I noticed a real lack of staff in the outdoor area during our visit and lots of tables that had not been cleared so there were plenty of seagulls to help the staff clean up. Went to the bar to ask for a takeaway container and there were 5 staff behind the bar with no customers. Only 1 looked busy and the rest were having a good laugh. Really disappointing service, FoH team let you down this time. I hope its better next time or we wont bother with the drive. Again, thanks to the chefs the meal...

This place is always slow on food but it usually tastes good. The the WORST experience today, took over an hour for food (with a hungry toddler). Bar was pretty empty when we ordered, egot busy 30 min after we arrived. My son and sisters food arrived cold, my tuna poke was atrocious. The tuna was brown 🤢🤢🤢🤢 tried to flag down service to tell them multiple times but was ignored. Went up to the bar as we left to complain and ask for takeaway box and blonde waitress comes up, ignores me/cuts in, to tell the other waitress she has to close that bar now. She spoke over me to the other waitress about 4 times, finally heard me say RE the takeaway box and the tuna.. instead they came out with a takeaway box literally put it on the bar in front of me and walked back away. Not usually one to complain without letting a restaurant know in person but not much else you can do if not given the chance. Bad service is one thing and I get on a busy day sometimes it’s tough (but if you’re super busy maybe a good idea to keep both bars open?) but That Tuna was utterly foul I cannot believe that was served. The minute it was put on our table I took it off my plate cause it was horrendous..( I hoped it was soy sauce or marinade too… I tried it. It wasn’t. I still feel...