Swanson Returned Services Association — Restaurant in Waitākere Ranges

Challenging experience that we are experienced on 4th December for lunch buffet. We are 14 ethnic elderlies from an association. This is our first time to try at this historical famous restaurant. We are so grateful. However, on arrival we got told the lunch was $28 rather than $25 despite the website says Monday to Wednesday $25. Also the manager didn’t mention the price rise when we made the booking online followed by the email correspondence. The manager on duty waived the $3 in the end as we already collected the cash from all members. That’s all good. We are thankful. However, when we started to go to the buffet counter, some members don’t know they supposed to take hot food first then go to the dessert from left to right. The male cook gave us an evil look and shake his heads several times to show how he disgusted about our group. Later, some of the members only took a bit to try at the first round and they later want to come back to the counter to get more. They are patiently waiting in the queue. Surprisingly, some ladies from other tables at the queue questioned why they come back and suggested the restaurant should charge our group double the price for coming back again. The manager was around but she didn’t say anything. We didn’t get the plates at our table instead we need to take the plate individually at the entrance. For a moment I thought we are second level citizens at this particular restaurant. We will NOT COME BACK again. The restaurant also shows we are not welcomed here along with the customers. As a minority group, we deeply feel the difference of treatment. The restaurant shouldn’t put everyone welcome on the billboard as that’s certainly...

I can't fault the buffet; the food is excellent. The service however, is appalling. I went with a small party of handicapped and disabled people, arriving at 11:50 for what we'd been told would be a 12 noon start. People were already in the restaurant and queuing for food.

Our party was seated and asked to wait, no problem, or so we thought. But we were then TOLD to wait and not join the queue for food.

We've been to Swanson RSA before but never been treated with such utter disrespect. In fact it's a favourite venue - but not any more.

We waited a FULL HOUR (I am not exaggerating, it really was) watching dozens of others (the restaurant holds at least 150), most of whom were able-bodied, many of whom had arrived after us, getting their meals.

At 12:55 a staff member finally said we were now allowed to go up for our lunch. By this time, the specialised transport for a few of our group who use walkers, had arrived, as arranged at 1pm. Of course no one was even half-way though their meal, let alone enjoying dessert.

I don't know whether this deliberate sidelining was anything to do with the fact that our friends were disabled. They don't take longer than anyone else at the buffet and the two or three who can't manage, stay where they are and are served by the carers. I know of no other restaurant in New Zealand who would treat guests with such obvious disrespect as to force them to wait an hour, to watch other diners eat. We had, of course booked for noon - and pre-paid.

Swanson RSA obviously over-booked to cram as many people in as possible but they need to re-think their philosophy on money first and...

Worse ever experience. Attended a wedding. Food was included by RSA. Never got to eat.

Culturally insensitive. Several staff clearing tables while guests where giving speeches and or performing.

Most guests at each table had lots of dances to perform throughout the night.

Each time they would come back to the table, table was cleared and the food gone.

Next thing we saw was staff taking all the food away. That's right right. They took the food away. All of it. Because they said that the servers where clearing the tables with lots of food left on the plates which they deemed wasteful.

Remember. Everything that is going on is all in one room. No walls, big open room. Not only did they ruin the wedding but no refunds were given. You would have 1 to 3 people from different tables performing a dance. Next group would go up and perform etc... All through the night. Way to ruin some ones wedding. Lots of food on the table because the tiny bathroom was full of people changing into their costumes. Same group of people had multiple dances to perform.

Anyone wanting to book this venue. Ensure that you tell and write down instructions of your plans. Ask them to provide a table where guests can put their dirty dishes rather then having servers come and clear the table. Better still Get a catering company to do food catering rather then RSA. Just not worth...