Montagues at the Riverside Hotel

Wow! I have never left a restaurant in my life, so this was a first. I am truly amazed that anyone even visits this restaurant! It was truly appalling, I have never heard so many excuses in all my life…without any apologies!My friend and I had been visiting Brisbane and staying in an AirBnB which was in the hotel. We thought on the last night we should try out the restaurant. BIG mistake.We walked in and were seated. We thought we would start the night with cocktails, why not? When our cocktails arrived, my friends was not what he had ordered. We queried this and apparently they had run out of one of the ingredients so they just made another one…without asking! Why would you just assume? Why did he not come over and explain that he couldn’t make that one, was there another one we would like? My friend said take it away and make him the same as I was having. We then overheard the next table complain. Parents and 2 young boys. The boys wanted chicken and chips but fish and chips had been brought out to them. The boys don’t eat fish. The response was “Oh that mistake is always happening with the computer.” REALLY??? Then do something about it!!!! But no real apology was given, so the boys had to sit there until the correct dish was served. His tone was gruff and not apologetic at all. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing and seeing. We ordered our mains, and a pesto pizza to start with. We thought we would have some wine. My friend asked for a glass of red and got the reply “oh well I will have to see if we still have that bottle, we have a new food and beverage guy and he is changing everything and not ordering the same things.” I then ordered a glass of white and basically got the same excuse if he didn’t have the bottle. I have never known any food and beverage manager approve a menu that is not complete or is wrong! But again just stop with the excuses! The pizza came out and it was under-cooked! That was it. We asked to speak to the manager. Apparently we were already speaking to the team leader. So we stepped aside and voiced out issues. All we got were excuses, no apologies. The team leader said (in a rather brash tone, you could tell that he wasn’t happy that he was getting criticisms)that they were flat chat with 50 people, I pointed out that they were only drinking and had left 15 minutes ago, he then said yes but they were going to a dinner in the conference room. That’s fine but that didn’t excuse them for the muck ups that had happened to us! I will also point out that in the dining room was the family of four, a single man and us. So not really run off their feet! We spoke about the other family and their complaint and again he said that that mistake always happens with the computer. I suggested that maybe that they should use pad and pen if the computer didn’t work! The team leader asked what we wanted done, still no apology. We said that we didn’t want to pay and to cancel our mains. He said he would have to get the general manager, so off he went to reception. He came back about 2 minutes later and said that they would cancel it. But there was still no apology!Now not all of this is his fault, the cook clearly didn’t know how to cook a pizza! And I would say the venue needed to put more staff on, but the overall service and tone was just awful. I would never even bother to try and eat here again.

Had a great dinner while staying at hotel for our wedding anniversary on the weekend. Food was tops.

As we were staying at the Riverside Hotel in order to attend a theatre performance at QPAC, my friend and I decided to have dinner early downstairs at the venue's restaurant Montague's. We shared an entry of a pizza bread with proscuitto on it and both felt it was delicious, and happened to choose the same main of pistachio-crumbed chicken breast served on roast vegetables. It, too, was delightful. The only thing I would have changed about the meal was if the accompanying roast vegetables had been hotter, as they were served semi-cold. Other than that, it was a lovely meal and the staff were attentive and helpful.

I felt sorry for people waiting for service as the front end staff were awol - a lot. 2 people doing room service deliveries, serving at the bar, leaving the till unattended, taking orders, etc - maybe employ more staff? Talk about security issues... Food on the other hand was yummy!

Having already given this quaint little restaurant and its quirky staff a scant mention in my review of the Riverside Hotel, I now acknowledge them in detail, because they are the heart and soul of the Montague's experience.First we have the irrepressible Greg, barman extraordinaire, who entertains and delights with his remarkable bar knowledge and gregarious nature...simply a joy to meet this tap-dancer of cocktails.His accomplice Nick, who I think is either the Chef, or pretends to be, is the Hardy to Greg's Laurel, altogether part of a team who enjoy their work and their lives and are happy to show the world their art and wisdom!And diminutive tho he may be in stature, there is the man-for-all-seasons Geoff, who has the gift of being everywhere at once, with a smile as big as the Brisbane River in flood.This dynamic trio light up the restaurant and add to the pleasure of an excellent menu.Thanks, y'all for making a great visit, Sam shall return...so chill those Martini's Greg!!!