Comments on: What’s up with The Swallows? http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/ The insiders' guide to food and drink in Melbourne. Since 2005. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:40:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ed http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8087 Ed Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:59:51 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8087 Ellie, the only reason I went for a second is because my neighbour booked us in. Tim, I feel your frustration having been through it myself. Stickfingers, agree with you on the others and there are a few bright spots in Port Melbourne. I agree with Lucky Dick on the Rose and can't think why we couldn't get in there. I quite wanted to try the Montague in South Melbourne and we should perhaps have done as scott who know owns it knows how to run a good pub restaurant. Ellie, the only reason I went for a second is because my neighbour booked us in.
Tim, I feel your frustration having been through it myself.
Stickfingers, agree with you on the others and there are a few bright spots in Port Melbourne. I agree with Lucky Dick on the Rose and can’t think why we couldn’t get in there. I quite wanted to try the Montague in South Melbourne and we should perhaps have done as scott who know owns it knows how to run a good pub restaurant.

]]> By: StickyFingers http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8081 StickyFingers Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:09:25 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8081 Lucky Duck, Is it because not many of the people who order steak - without exception - in restaurants, seem to lack taste buds? They're the ones who want it well done and then complain that it's tough. Yeah - Port's a bit pedestrian food-wise, but it does have hidden gems like The Cricketer's, Omah's and C'est Bon, but the best Port Melb restaurant has to be The Graham, and the Wine Bar at the back is pretty fine too. It's been going for years, the team who own it are old pro's who you'll find on the floor guaranteeing the high standards of service and the Chef has been there for years - a very healthy sign. Mmm...chow down! Lucky Duck,

Is it because not many of the people who order steak – without exception – in restaurants, seem to lack taste buds? They’re the ones who want it well done and then complain that it’s tough.

Yeah – Port’s a bit pedestrian food-wise, but it does have hidden gems like The Cricketer’s, Omah’s and C’est Bon, but the best Port Melb restaurant has to be The Graham, and the Wine Bar at the back is pretty fine too. It’s been going for years, the team who own it are old pro’s who you’ll find on the floor guaranteeing the high standards of service and the Chef has been there for years – a very healthy sign.

Mmm…chow down!

]]> By: lucky duck http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8069 lucky duck Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:00:49 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8069 Why is steak stuffed up so often?! I go to vlados or cook steaks at home. Port Melbn restaurants are a little dissapointing. The Rose Hotel(greek) is pretty good. Why is steak stuffed up so often?! I go to vlados or cook steaks at home.
Port Melbn restaurants are a little dissapointing. The Rose Hotel(greek) is pretty good.

]]> By: stickyFingers http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8030 stickyFingers Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:55:15 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8030 The Swallows used to be a lovely watering hole, we especially loved the cellar cull nights. The owners new the business thoroughly and had excellent attention to detail. They had an earnest young chef who knew how to handle the traditional fare. Unfortunately for us, it changed hands earlier in the year, and now reeks of an owner who has always wanted a pub but hasn't got the foggiest idea what to do with it. Sadly this has wrecked a number of pubs in the area. Next time you're doing Port Melb Pubs, give The Albion - a block down on the other side of the lightrail - or The Cricketers Arms, in Cruikshank Street a bash. We've been told that the steaks are also excellent at The Railway Club. The Swallows used to be a lovely watering hole, we especially loved the cellar cull nights. The owners new the business thoroughly and had excellent attention to detail. They had an earnest young chef who knew how to handle the traditional fare.

Unfortunately for us, it changed hands earlier in the year, and now reeks of an owner who has always wanted a pub but hasn’t got the foggiest idea what to do with it. Sadly this has wrecked a number of pubs in the area.

Next time you’re doing Port Melb Pubs, give The Albion – a block down on the other side of the lightrail – or The Cricketers Arms, in Cruikshank Street a bash. We’ve been told that the steaks are also excellent at The Railway Club.

]]> By: Tim http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8012 Tim Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:07:30 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8012 Had a similar experience at the Swallows a couple of weeks ago. Ordered food and wine. The wine came, but by the time our starters had arrived we'd almost finished the bottle. Asked for the wine list to order a second bottle. First bottle now all gone and mains arrive, but still no wine list. Mains now completed and empty plates sitting on the table and the wine list finally arrives. Thanks but no thanks. As well as being bad service, they've done themselves out of $60 or so. The food was good, mind you it would have been nice to have been shown the specials board before we ordered. We couldn't change the order once we saw the board at a neighbouring table. Shame about the place. Had a similar experience at the Swallows a couple of weeks ago. Ordered food and wine. The wine came, but by the time our starters had arrived we’d almost finished the bottle. Asked for the wine list to order a second bottle. First bottle now all gone and mains arrive, but still no wine list. Mains now completed and empty plates sitting on the table and the wine list finally arrives. Thanks but no thanks. As well as being bad service, they’ve done themselves out of $60 or so. The food was good, mind you it would have been nice to have been shown the specials board before we ordered. We couldn’t change the order once we saw the board at a neighbouring table. Shame about the place.

]]> By: Ellie http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-8011 Ellie Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:05:55 +0000 http://www.tomatom.com/2007/06/whats-up-with-the-swallows/#comment-8011 With two bad experiences with this place, will you bother returning for a third with the hopes that it gets better? With two bad experiences with this place, will you bother returning for a third with the hopes that it gets better?

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