Published:
June 29, 2024
About Austral Hotel
Bistro food and steaks in a roomy tavern with a sheltered courtyard, plus sports and pool tables.
Dine in
Takeout
Delivery
Service Options
Highlights
Bar games
Great cocktails
Sports
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Food
Food at bar
Happy hour drinks
Hard liquor
Wine
Amenities
Restroom
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards
NFC mobile payments
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Dining_options
Seating
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Plenty of parking
Map
Austral Hotel Reviews
Would genuinely be 5 stars if it wasn't for the 15-20% surcharge on food that is already overpriced to begin with.
15-20 is an estimate because they didn't specify, they just slapped an extra $5 on the price to milk more money out of people. AHL are behaving quite grubby in this regard.
Edit: not 10% and was the only one charging this. Both places I visited for food that night maintained their standard prices free of any surcharge.
This was not printed as claimed nor was it specified before my money was handed over. Luckily my money was returned so I could still spend it on food that was prepared by other local, independently operated venues as opposed to AHL's more profitable business consisting of multiple venues that make more than enough already to pay holiday rates without extorting their customers, in this case, as the management was well aware of, were predominantly people coming from the show after it closed its gates.
The surcharge is certainly not necessary to keep the doors open with the amount of money the venue already generates from it's 10am to 5am gaming rooms and hard working staff. Again, a sinister surcharge that is impossible to justify given the disgusting amount of money AHL venues generate compared to smaller, independent venues.
- may santos
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
We were a big group when we book and Xia was so helpful in assisting us to get everyone in the group a seat on the table. Excellent customer service. Happy to come back.
- Chloe Elliott
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
The food was lovely but the person serving behind the bar didn’t have any knowledge on how to make the cocktails from their list. I ordered a mojito and it was the worst mojito I’ve ever had. There was no mint beside 3 leaves for garnish, and a whole shot of vanilla liqueur added? Along with a massive squirt of bottled lemon juice after already adding 3 whole lime wedges. It was undrinkable. The staff member needs to be taught how to make cocktails correctly.
- clare Wyatt-Goodall
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
The food was good, steaks well cooked and the date pudding was yum
Les was an awesome host, made our granchilds visit to the restaurant memorable.
- Julz Skec
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
The Austral is the only Pub I’ve seen so far that goes to the lengths they do with signage.
Full respect to them, their exit signage is clear and they supply wipes and sanitiser. They are also the only Pokies I’ve seen so far that request patrons clean the machines.
Their drinks are tasty, very tasty and the staff are friendly and service is prompt. I have seen the eye fillet sign and lobster one too, I’ve yet to try their food though I will before I leave Mackay.
Security at the Austral are fantastic. I’ve been completely satisfied thus far.
I will update when I try their tasty meals.
- Esther Jin-Lynn Fuah
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Service was really good! Leslie was super nice and funny. However I ordered the porterhouse steak with mash and a salad but got chips instead of mash :/
- Christine Sun
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Place was easy to find, very central in the town of Mackay with lots of parking all around the complex. Ordering can be done either at the table via QR code scanning and pay online or order via bar. Meal was well presented, although tasty in flavours but did not match up to the description on the menu. Spicy buffalo wings was not at all spicy; crispy halloumi was more like grilled than crispy. Nevertheless, quite enjoy the Austral mix platter with a variety of choices on the one platter. Staff at the bar was friendly but the waitress who served the food appeared to be somewhat annoyed. Overall a pleasant experience and would definitely recommend!
- Natalie Sant
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Partner and I both asked for Well Done steaks and received Medium cooked. The steak had no flavour and the juice was clear; as if the steak had been boiled or frozen during the cooking process. Our sides were nice and the meals came quick, however for a steak house, we expected more.
- Michael Rowlands
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Overpriced, rude staff and don’t expect to get what you ordered.
Last Thursday night 300g rump medium rare came out char grilled and like leather. Previous Thursday night the 200g Eye Fillet medium rare came out char grilled, like leather and a quarter the size it should have been.
Thursday night before that two patrons waited ten minutes for the only bar staff working at the time whilst she was in her mobile phone. Patron told her he had been waiting ten minutes for her to get off her phone and be served. Her reply “ well you could go elsewhere”
Prior to these, on another occasion, one meal of the group, a chicken schnitzel came out cold and soggy.
Is that enough elaboration Scott ?
- Bill Harris
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Ordered chicken schnitzel chips and salad came out fast but there was about 12 chips and hardley any salad at all. One piece of lettuce as big as my thumb. $4 extra for 3 skinny little onion rings onion rings is a bit steep.
- Charlotte Klose
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Ordered a rare rump and rib eye steak. Both were cooked to perfection, delicious and tender. Friendly staff, fast service and lively atmosphere. Best pub feed we have ever had!
- Vicki Kaddatz
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Not a bad place. Very busy for a Wednesday lunch. May have to book ahead just to be safe. First meal was a mango salad with chicken and was told it was very good, the other one was a pork chop, she said it was good also and my chicken parmigiana was a little bland. Crumbs weren’t very nice and sauce was ok. But over all I would eat here again but maybe try something else.
- Hydrothirst
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
My steak was cooked sensationally as well as the pepper sauce and all sides, the wait time was surprisingly not very long as well considering how busy the restaurant was. Special mention to the lovely (manager/owner i assume), made sure everyone was enjoying their meals and he engaged in friendly useful conversation. High recommend.
- Manon David
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Meat was really great, asked for blue and got the steaks cooked to perfection and at temperature. Only thing is we had to wait a few minutes for the chicken schnitzel after the steaks were brought to the table, and very little to none veggie options.
- axel oswald
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Les was an absolute legend! Thanks for an amazing night!!!! Food was delicious and we loved our night here! Thanks again xx
- Shane Mathews
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Les the bar tender is a deadset legend. The funniest, nicest guy. Absolutely made our night. The food at the Austral is amazing and we highly recommend
- bruce mackie
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Just had dinner at the austral hotel had the best steak I feel I’ve ever had in my life. Roxy the restaurant manager was so attentive made sure we were happy and was full of local knowledge. I can’t stress enough, If you’re in Mackay Austral is the place to go for a meal we’ve eaten here several times, and this place has never let us down. My son has the mixed grill and couldn’t jump over it. All our meals of a table of 8 were very happy. Thank you also to the other staff who really looked after us and of course to the Chef.
- Ric Caff
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
I went and had a sit down meal at the Austral Hotel tonight, I'll preface this review with a couple of facts from the night. Firstly they had 2 large groups in and they were down by 1 staff member.
The first guy who served me was a young lad with glasses, very green, not very proactive definitely needs some training. I asked for a table just for myself, two small tables were free and trying to get a response out of him was very difficult.
When I did get my drink, I was handed over to a lady with braided her, who was lovely, very accommodating and helpful, she really got the points up for this place.
I ordered my meal - starter of salt and pepper calamari and a main. porterhouse steak (rare), chips, a caesar salad and a steak topper of onion rings, with peppercorn sauce.
The starter came our pretty quick (within 10mins), decent size portion, but relatively flavourless.....just a good size cheap starter. Asked for cutlery, didn't get any, after 5mins of waiting, had to go and ask the staff behind the bar for some.
The main came out around 5mins after the starter, which was a bit too quick, I was barely half way through.
The steak was medium and more toward the middle of the steak, well done, chip portion was quite small, salad had heaps of dressing and the $4 onion ring topper, consisted of 4 onion rings.
The meal all up was $60.00, for that type of money it was a fairly average meal, not terrible, but nothing fantastic, just an average pub meal.
- Ilse-Marie Matheson
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
I had the best pub meal that I have ever eaten. Wonderful staff, great service and by the sounds of all the other customers around me, they really enjoyed their time here at Austral Hotel. I wish that I lived here in Mackay. Cheers everyone Elsie
- Lincoln Tighe
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
I got the Ribs after asking the waitress if they were any good.
Watery, Just slapped the sauce on the top after heating them up. Very disappointed.
- My name is Tj
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Honestly not many complaints. Except I ordered a “topper” of onion rings with the meal. Paid 5 dollars for it and was greeted with 3 whole onion rings. Extrapolating this to its natural conclusion. The austral is paying around 17 dollars an onion. Really hope they find a better supplier soon. Either they’re getting ripped off, or I am, though one can never be sure.
- Tammy Langwe
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Had lunch for first time at austral today with a friend. The staff were polite and quick service I ordered crumb steak an salad an chips with Diane sauce everything was tasty not much salad on the plate but I enjoyed it. i can only complain about my chips some chips was cold, an warm but otherwise I liked it. Crumb steak was cooked perfect juicy soft tender nice.
- Jasmine
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Great service by friendly Staff. Roxy made our experience warm and enjoyable her service to our table was exceptional. Highly recommend Dining here, the steak and service are 5 star worthy!
- Donna Bullock
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Great pub food highly recommend the pork cutlet, absolutely melt in your mouth tender and the sauce was delicious it paired really well with the pork. Service was great, really friendly, our bistro waitress Roxy was just lovely. Thank you Roxy. Will be back again
- Craig (GrungeNut85)
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Great location of the place as it's in the middle of the City and it's very clean and well presented but the food is bang average quality and the service is little bit of let down with our server pretty much dropping the plates on the table and not even a hint of a smile.
- Louis Christensen
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
Good cold beer, ordered a porterhouse medium, got a porterhouse rare with a bit of gristle in at least 3 parts.
Steak last night was superb 300g rump done to perfection.
Not so lucky tonight.
Great place though.
Probably different Chef tonight.
- Paul Reid
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
As a chef, this is the first time I've had a steak as ordered. Cooked on point a d the Jus sauce was amazing. Compliments to the chef, an absolute credit to you. I'd almost given up at ordering steaks at a restaurant
Thank you
- Thomas Wakefield
5 Fri 2024 at 11.41 pm
3 starrs because of the ribs It had cheap taco sauce and the ribs didn't seem right for $38 wasn't good enough and only came with chips. but they need more people serving especially behind the bar .... pokie room ok vaping area good Remember this is a small town. No XXXX Bitter on tap but tried the new Powers thats good stuff!
- Bogans Run