Published:
June 29, 2024
About Waterloo Hotel
A popular bar and restaurant serving hearty pub grub in a landmark Art Deco building.
Dine in
Takeout
Delivery
Service Options
Highlights
Great cocktails
Live music
Sports
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Happy hour drinks
Hard liquor
Late-night food
Small plates
Wine
Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards
NFC mobile payments
Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Plenty of parking
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Dining_options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Children
High chairs
Kids' menu
Map
Waterloo Hotel Reviews
Went there for a lunch.
Ordered a food.
Advised waiting time was up to 30min. After 30 min asked where my food was.
Looked like my order has been missed.
Waited for another 10 mins but the meal hasn't arrived.
Asked manager for refund as I couldn't wait any longer and during the process food came to the table.
I was asked if I want to take away. I agreed for this and took the food with me but refund was not given.
Now eating cold parma in a cardboard box for $32.
Rip off For take away food and manager's reaction was poor- not giving any refund for their mistake.
- Jason Kelsey
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
We love the Waterloo, today we went for Christmas Lunch and the team and food was amazing as usual, thank you!! Jas & Kylie
- Jas Lee-lo Smith
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
We just went to the waterloo for trivia for the first time. The trivia host was so cool and made a laugh 😂 I feel like he knew my taste in music cause that place played all the songs I love in that set. The food was friken amazing!!! $10 burgers on Wednesday and they come with chips!!!!
If you like seafood, the salt and pepper squid is amazing
And they give you so much, I just had it as one meal. My husband had the rump steak meal for only $22, and they actually give you rare when you order rare! So get medium if that's what you want. Compliments to the chef
As for the staff... Omg they're so Polite and accommodating, I even had someone ask me if I was OK and all I wanted to do was find a seat. This place is the place to go. They have a set up for everything.
Bar seating, outdoor seating, smokers area, restaurant seating, sports seating,booths... And they play all Australian sports and the ufc!!!! 😁 💚
Highly recommended.
- Crystal Dawson
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
We had a last minute booking on a Saturday and the manager was so nice and accommodating, giving us a large space and tables even letting us dj and dance! Thanks for a memorable birthday! :)
- Michael Taylor
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
We absolutely love coming to the Waterloo! (Maybe too much!) Dani the GM is such a delight and is always oh so incredible to us. Makes us feel like the fam. Christian behind the bar is just a gem. Couldn’t be happier to have the Waterloo as our local ❤️❤️❤️
- Chris Dwyer
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Waterloo is a great environment with good food. The service is always prompt and drinks are ready almost before we walk through the door.
- J G
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Very nice pub, friendly staff, food was good, definitely recommend the Gnocchi, Prosciutto Pizza also good but a little hard to eat with one's hands, burgers all look very nice also
- Kaveh Danai
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Update: just had a three course meal for two. Garlic bread was spot on. The barramundi was served with rice and curry which all were the best I could ask for. Pork belly was average and broccolini was really nice. Three course finished with an amazing brownie served with ice-cream and salted caramel and chocolate on top which was the best part of experience today! This makes me changing the review to 5 stars.
Old review: A little bit above average quality so couldn’t give it a 5 star!
- Arthur Hurwitz
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Unfortunately, we chose the night of a football final to dine here, so we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Waterloo was packed, with most patrons having come to watch the football on gigantic screens. That made it noisy and hectic. We had hoped for a quiet night at a pub, enjoying a nice meal and cold beer so it wasn’t exactly what we’d bargained for, but of course no fault of the venue. But good on them, because this place is clearly popular with the locals, who all seemed to be having a good time eating, drinking and watching football. And it’s not hard to see why this place is so popular, because the food is of a high standard, the app makes the ordering process fast and easy and if you add to that professional staff who are polite, friendly and helpful, and quickly deliver food the table, you can enjoy a pleasant experience here. I’d love to come back, but it would hopefully be a quieter weeknight when we can really enjoy it, and soak up the ambience of this place.
As it was just my wife and I dining, we stuck to a fairly simple ordering protocol of a beef burger, onion rings and a “green bowl”. That all cost us 56 pesos for food and 9 for a schooner of XXXX, which is fair value for what we had, but really just goes to show the extent to which our little Aussie peso has become a worthless piece of paper. Think of that: 65 pesos for a glass of beer, a burger, a salad and a bowl of onion rings. That's what happens when you reduce interest rates to zero and turn on the money printers like there's no tomorrow.
But we were impressed with the food. The green bowl had wholesome and nutritious ingredients, like avocado, cream cheese, leeks and celery. Unfortunately my beef burger was too raw for my liking. Now I can understand people wanting a medium or a rare cooked steak, but undercooked mince? No thanks. We took it back to the bar counter, where we were told that that was how they cooked it here, but to their credit, the fab staff kindly prepared me a fresh burger, with the meat beautifully well cooked to perfection just the way I like it. And it came with a little serve of crispy chips. The onion rings were perfect round creations, with fresh onion in a crunchy batter; the ideal complement to the burger, chips and green bowl. We both enjoyed our meals. Serving sizes were just right: not too small to leave you feeling hungry afterwards, or too large that you feel overstuffed. Perfect.
And I love the retro ambience and feel of the Waterloo with low mood lighting, and elegant timber features. It’s a huge place with multiple dining areas, some with bar style seating on wooden benches with wooden tables, some more formal with long communal tables and upholstered chairs in a carpeted, lounge room-type area.
Strangely, even though we had made a booking and received an email confirmation, staff had no record of it, so we ended up at one of the communal tables, in the outer dining area. But that actually worked out well, as there was only one other couple at the table and we were away from the loudest noise from the game.
Given that it was so full that night, parking was bound to be a problem and we struggled in the car park just behind the venue. There aren't enough spaces, and many are reserved for other businesses in the area, like the First Choice Liquor store and the Aqua Gym. Also, it was hard to read the writing on the ground, and to figure out which spaces were designated for patrons of Waterloo. In the end, out of frustration, we simply parked in a space marked for First Choice customers. I think the venue needs to make it clearer where their customers can park.
But despite the few negs I have enumerated here, there are enough positives for us to plan a return visit. Being a member of "The Pass", the recently renamed Aust Venue Co’s rewards program is a further inducement to wanting to return as one can earn points and redeem them for meals and drinks at any A.V.C. venue.
- AJ Dwyer
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
The chicken wings are the worst I’ve ever tasted. It was like chewing my way through drywall coated in buffalo sauce. Have your chef change the way they cook them and this will change to a 5 star. Service and atmosphere are great.
Edit: Updated my review due to their reply. Will try the wings again and, if they are good, will adjust this review score again.
- Adam Pinzone
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Stumbled here during their Beasts & Bourbon event. Great selection of showcased bourbon with a nice description of each to complement the dishes. All the meat was spot on... Juicy, smoked, and delicious. Couldn't get over that lamb shoulder... I feel like I ate so much. Great job to the staff and chef :)
- Sera van der Made
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Staff were friendly and there's quite a bit of space inside. Very eclectic, I liked it! Food came out quickly but even though it was tasty enough, it wasn't memorable. We had the pasta, it was missing something and could have been cooked longer. Lots of sauce though.
- Jonathan Law
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Salt and pepper calamari was very average. Buffalo wings were okay. Rib fillet and rib-eye were surprisingly good and cooked to perfection. Margarita pizza was good. Pizza based could be more crispy but overall good.
Great ambience. Friendly staff. Quite clean. Pool tables available. Price reasonable.
- Charlie
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
My friend and I come here as it is our local, and we have spoken to people that we know of who frequent this venue and like us live nearby. The older female manager continually annoys us and says we aren't allowed to talk to people, even though we know people in this area, and as a result we have been banned for several months!!!!
It’s disgusting to be continually harassed and targeted by the same older female manager whenever we frequent this venue. I believe that hospitality and management training should be provided to this manager. I have seen this lady behave like this to several people now, over time, including myself and my friend. She is clearly on a power trip.
Whatever happened to providing superior customer service, rather than treating customers like villains and throwing their power around? She is clearly uneducated, and if she was employed in any other venue, this type of behaviour would be frowned upon, especially by business owners. People come here to socialise, it is not a crime.
This manager is an older lady and has targeted not only myself and my friend, but other patrons as well and is unprofessional. It’s not appropriate. I have been a local and regular customer long before she was even employed here and to say I am disgusted is an understatement. We have never had any issues, only when this female manager is present.
She must have been away for several months, as my friends and I have been coming here when she wasn’t around and none of the other staff had a problem with us and the bar staff have always been very friendly towards myself and my friends, except she is the only person who seems to have an issue.
It’s discriminatory behaviour and last time I checked, it wasn’t a crime to chat to other patrons. My friend and I were sitting with a couple of people we knew a couple of weeks ago and as soon as my friend and I walked to the bar to get a drink, we were told we were annoying these customers and that they had complained. They didn’t in fact complain at all, and my friend and I are in fact acquaintances with these people as they live in Newstead, and when I told them that we were being kicked out for having a conversation with them they thought it was ridiculous, and ended up leaving with us.
If you are looking to drive loyal customers and business away, then this lady is going the right way about it, particularly as Newstead is a small community. I know a lot of people that frequent this place who live in the area like myself, and I hope that by conveying my experience to people on this platform, that they are aware of what is going on, and that the owners of the Waterloo Hotel take stock of the situation and does something about this.
I highly doubt that the owners will care, however, I think it is worth trying to really look at who they are employing to run this establishment. It’s disappointing how one person who doesn’t have proper management training and interpersonal skills continually targets myself and other individuals, and this type of behaviour can ruin an experience for good customers. It’s not good for business or the community.
In this day and age there seem to be staff who are employed that act entitled and think they own the establishment when they don’t. Years ago, customers were never treated like this and I am so tired of people like this thinking they can throw their weight around with a sense of entitlement, simply because they have what they consider a position of “power” and they have a discriminatory stance with certain people. This is 2024, work to do better and improve the standard of customer service, if not just for the patrons, for the sake of your own business!
As someone that’s been coming here for nearly a decade and that lives in the area, I don’t feel comfortable coming to a place, where someone is purposefully keeping an eye on my every move and is quick to act irrational and target me. That is not ok..
- Monique Simmons
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Monday snitty or parmi nights — what a VIBE. Service is great and attentive. Food is nice pub food.
- Dan Hutchison
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Love love love the Waterloo hotel, especially for a sneaky lunch after meetings.
All the staff here are just great, and their food and drink selection is equal to match.
Especially impressed with the steak sandwich and eye fillet.
Thank you also for keeping your venue clean!
Keep up the amazing work team. :)
- Ste Withington
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Local pub with pool table, pokies, big screens for sports. Some decent choices on the pumps plus a pretty great food menu. Excellent singer on when we went in on Easter Sunday. Friendly staff. Quick service. Nice atmosphere.
- Lee Meredith
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
It's a pub. It's ok I suppose. Food is on the expensive side.
I've also had under cooked food, a steak sandwich and a burger. Staff didn't seem to think it was a big deal.
- Sean Bradshaw
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
I have wanted to go there for years to have look inside, grabbed the opportunity to have a counter lunch there last week, Service, food and drinks top notch, fantastic decor of the pub is a impressive bar to walk into and nice atmosphere.
- Kellyanne Doyle
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
I have organised 2 lunches with large groups of 20 in the past 6 months and both days were a huge success. The food is always delicious and the portion sizes are generous. The staff are wonderful and very friendly and welcoming and the venue itself has a great ambiance. The only downside is that is is sometimes challenging to find a park near by.
- Clinton Morgan
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
I had the Monday chicken parmigiana and I'm glad I did. It was truly amazing. The building itself has a lovely old world charm about it however it has been upgraded and modernised. Now it has a lively bright atmosphere. There's the usual accoutrements of an Aussie pub with TV screens and a healthy well-stocked bar. There's plenty of seating to choose from to enjoy a meal either in one of the plush seats by a window or on a long table with a tribe. The staff were okay. Great location too. On a main street corner near a new but established café society area. That's why I like Waterloo Hotel. It's a nice blend of old and new.
- Invisible Human
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
I don’t know why it took me so long to write a review for this place, I guess because every time I come here I enjoy the food and drink so much I forget about everything else.
My review: For a Super fussy meat eater, this place has never in the last 6 years let me down, My dish always been medium rare Eye fillet with mash and salad with black pepper sauce and some times I have beside it Margarita pizza, the food always 5 star always perfect always delicious and that include fast service Super friendly customer service and reasonable price, very nice atmosphere also to enjoy a glass or two. Special note for all the picky meat eaters, The Eye fillet always literally melt in your mouth super clean please see pics
- Wazza is Awesome
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
I always have a great experience at Waterloo hotel and I wanted to take a moment to commend the excellent service I receive.
Firstly, I'd like to recognise Danielle. Their leadership and attentiveness were evident throughout my visit. They ensured a smooth operation and created a welcoming atmosphere.
Equally impressive was Ellie, the supervisor. They were knowledgeable and friendly. Her positive demeanor added to the overall enjoyment of my experience.
I wanted to give a special shout-out to Vada and Harry. They are incredibly helpful and attentive. They ensured my needs were met promptly and always with a smile. Their friendly and professional approach made me feel valued as a customer.
Chef does a great job.
Overall, my experience at Waterloo has always been excellent.
- Lori Hays
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Food was excellent, quick friendly service, clean, relaxing atmosphere.
I originally posted a negative review which was meant for a different venue. The Waterloo Hotel was lovely and I would definitely eat there again . So sorry for the mix up.
- Craig Kershaw
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Don't know what you have done with the Chicken wings recipie but go back in time as they used to be great. The wings needs to come out smothered in hot sauce rather than how sauce on the side. Also stop deep frying them to get them out so fas as they are too crucnhy. Take time with them and the flavour and I may come back
- Byron Lumley
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
Came for some pub grub, and that’s what we got. Nicely cooked rump steak, with pepper sauce and chips my partner had a buttermilk fried chicken burger. Food was great, I ordered a whiskey highball, which was delicious and staff were friendly.
Men’s toilets water pressure needs to be fixed, it’s hard to wash your hands & venue needs to be de cobwebbed but otherwise very comfortable.
- Zil Silvester
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
A sophisticated pub to enjoy some drinks with your friends or by yourself! Convenient location accessible by bus, plenty of parking, friendly staff, chilled atmosphere and comfortable surroundings. Pretty good range of beer on tap but unfortunately I don’t really rate the food although there are good daily specials to choose from. I love that it has an open setting and doesn’t smell like stale alcohol like some bars. A great place to go in the valley to start your night or when you don’t actually want to get caught up in the commotion of the valley!
- Venice Emery
5 Fri 2024 at 11.58 pm
A fun and stylish Valley pub! The vibe is local business lunch and end of day drinks meets fun night out.
🥗 I love anchovies in my Cesar salad! And here they have real anchovies on Parmesan covered crispy cos with crunchy bacon morsels.
The burger is buttermilk chicken on a gluten free bun - and the gf bun is one of the good ones!
🚗 There’s a little bit of parking for sober bae’s like me.
- Hubert Lutkiewicz