Templestowe Hotel

$300 for a Christmas day lunch that had been nibbled at, before we even arrived, by people who sat at our table by mistake. The nibbled food was left on our table with a "sorry about that" from the waiter. The food wasn't replaced, we were expected to just accept that complete strangers helped themselves to our food first and we got to eat their left overs. Our table was also covered in salt and our jug of water was full of floating debris. My family and I are beyond disgusted!

Approximate cost: $300

Great value buffet. Plenty of variety of food choices. Not super busy and there are kid discount prices. Kids play area also. Worth a visit

thinking of a buffet? don't bother with this one - not much variety and not much taste either. pretty generic school canteen quality except you get to pay $30 for it. go further to templestowe village to a proper restaurant, for the same price you'll get actual food instead of leftover slop fed to people who are only there to play pokies and lose money.

6 adults , accompanying a 5 year old boy and 13 month old girl were forced to hang out in the public bar for 2 hours Saturday evening, as they were denied access to the kids club due to not purchasing buffet. Manager when asked for a response was extremely rude and deliberately not helpful. Official complaints been raised. Yes we had late dinner reservations at a restaurant and were not there to eat. Website does not explain this policy.

I went to this place with low expectations as I am not really a fan of buffets in hotels that are predominately drinking places offering buffets. The first time I went there, my expectations were low and they were met. It really wasn't exciting and the quality just didn't cut the mustard. The offerings were what you'd get elsewhere - four bean mix that seemed to be from a can, salads that were plain and basic - do you call shreded carrot and lettuce salad? garlic bread, french fries that were soggy, roasts that were a bit dry and desserts that I'm sure even Sara Lee could do better.

When another friend asked me to go on a Friday night I thought oh no, here we go again. But much to their pushing I went along. And I was pleasantly surprised!

Friday nights are their seafood special night and for the price of $27 you have a choice of prawns, salmon, calamari, other shellfish, mussels and on the night we went, chilli crab!

This turned out to be one of the bargains of the month because the salmon was fresh and tasty as were the other seafood items and the regular salads seemed to be replaced with more palatable ones such as rocket and parmesan with pine nuts, caesar style salads and desserts that included profiteroles and mini eclairs and other better quality cakes. Included with your meal is limitless coffee, tea or hot chocolate from a machine.

All in all, well worth the $27! And we all left satisfied! From a value for money perspective if you're a seafood lover it is great value and the quality ain't half bad! But just remember to go on a Friday...

Approximate cost: $27

Personally I hate smorgasbord restaurants. I hate to line up, it feels like feeding time in the barn. I've been to this restaurant only in groups for a few occasions. There are from what I'm aware two sittings, I've never made the booking so you have a time to turn up and OMG cattle crush to get in and pay. Anyhow when you have your table you go grab a plate and dish up. I was surprised the first time I went and somewhat enjoyed the food, the majority of my food was from the carvery and vegie end, I left the fried chips and calamari section to the masses lined up for them. Food was tasty and not as bad as expected. Dessert by the time I got there looked like it had been attacked and there was hardly anything so I went without. My next visit to this restaurant was with group of friends and their kids, the kids enjoyed managing their food intake but enjoyed the play area below which can be viewed by rotating views on TV screens in restaurant, however kids still need supervision. Food this time seemed on par with previous visit. My third visit was christmas lunch. Family member who's turn it was to host selected this as option over home entertaining. The food was much better than on a normal day, the range of seafood was fantastic and I felt like I'd eaten the ocean bare by the time we left, everyone enjoyed especially the women who usually spend all day preparing the food. We served ourselves but all plates quickly removed and fresh plates available for next round. Even though time limit with visiting this place we all truly enjoyed the Christmas lunch there in a relaxed atmosphere, was not busy and plenty of space as many tables vacant.

We went to the Templestowe Hotel last friday for a birthday with my two young children.Great value for a family with kids under 12 with 'kids eat free' . It's good, fast, really friendly. We all love it.

Approximate cost: $25

If you want value for money, in a classy environment, this is the place to go. Food was delicious, fresh and the variety was HUGE, from pasta, to pizza, to a range of seafood, finger foods, salads, plenty of choice for desserts and only cost $19 for an all you can eat buffet on a Monday night! Beautiful place!

Approximate cost: $19

A buffet menu. There is a room downstairs for children to play, and the deserts are yumm. It is also very cheap and worth it for the unlimited food you can eat there.

Horrible experience. Don't normally like buffets but it was my friend's daughter's birthday celebration so went along. Don't worry, my friend assured me as we watched a bus load of pensioners queuing up for the food, they will replenish everything. They don't normally run out. Famous last words. Maybe they didn't run out of the things she wanted but everything I wanted to eat had gone but the time I got there. It was like feeding time at the zoo! Then to add insult to injury, the rudest waitress (cleaner? not exactly sure what she was) proceeded to get in the way of just about everybody. When asked if there was more food coming out, she snapped, I'll get some in a minute!! I had had enough by this stage and told her she was really rude. So she chased me (no kidding!) she literally ran after me back to my table and in front of our party, caused the biggest scene. "what do you mean, I'm rude?" she shouted at me...."I have great people skills" she continued. I was just in shock and wanted to get out of there. I have never been so rudely treated in a restaurant in my whole life. I will never, ever go back there. In hindsight I should have spoken to a manager but I was just too stunned.

Approximate cost: $20.00

The Templestowe Hotel smorgasbord (lunch and dinner) is a long time favourite for me. It clean, the food is fresh, the variety is excellent, there's plenty of seating, natural light, it's not noisy or crowded and the staff are friendly and helpful. Eat as much (or as little) as you like. Excellent value for money. Plenty of parking.

Approximate cost: $22

I really like this place for sports team end-of-season dinners or mothers' group get togethers. It offers something for everyone, and there's a festive atmosphere that lends itself to large groups.

The buffet style suits everyone's ordinary Aussie cuisine palate, whether you're a seafood lover, a roast aficionado, or a pasta freak. Don't expect good ethnic food. That's not what this is. But the food is very high quality for a buffet style service. It has a high turnover, so everything looks appetising in the trays.

The supervised children's play area downstairs is a hit with the kids. There's enough to do that they're not in your hair and you can actually have a conversation with the other adults, even though the cavernous rooms make it a little noisy when it's full.

The kids love the help-yourself dessert bar, and so do the adults with a sweet tooth.

It can be a little exie for a family of four on a budget, but the set price for dinner and pay-your-own bar bill means that you know ahead of time what it will cost you. There's no splitting the bill amongst 17 people and feeling cheated by your girlfriend's boor of a husband who bought the filet mignon and six Coronas to your fettucine and glass of house white.

i dont really like buffet style venues so i may be a harsh critic, although in comparison to others this is a step in the right direction. good for families, birthdays or large functions. large variety of food including deserts and good value for money.

Approximate cost: $25

This a great place to have a meal they have an all you can eat menu which has a variety of food from soup, pizza, roasts, Chinese, fresh prawns, salads and many other food also desserts They have seniors prices children's prices and adults prices with the kids price it includes bottomless soft drink They also have a play area for the kids inside which is always manned by staff and the kids can have slurpes in the play area parents can see the kids playing in this area as there area big television screens showing the play area