The Rose Hotel
Remember when I wrote this about the people that stole our table at The Standard Hotel?
IT BLOODY HAPPENED AGAIN!
This time my friends and I had a booking at The Rose Hotel. Perhaps it’s a Fitzroy thing. Who knows.
Again, my friends and I (including D & T, who experienced the table stealing last time) walked through the pub to the dining room, only to stand around like a bunch of idiots looking around at all the full tables.
What is WITH people?!
This time I do believe that The Rose were at fault. All the other tables had a plastic sign with the booking information, and I think that the staff may have forgotten to put a sign out for us. Kind of important for a group of seven don’t you think? Unlike last time, the people who were sitting at our table didn’t seem to be nasty shitty people. In fact, it was all a bit awkward as they seemed to be very nice. And most likely saw an empty table, couldn’t believe their luck and sat down.
My friend went and found the manager to inquire about our booking. What happened next was quite embarrassing: the manager walked up to the people sitting at ‘our table’, informed them that they had taken a table that was booked (no booking sign in sight) and could they please move. The worst part? One couple at the table had a little baby. And lots of little baby equipment to carry.
If we had known that moving a table full of people who had a baby would be the solution, I think we would have just waited. It wasn’t their fault! But up they got, carrying all their baby stuff, so that we could sit down.
It. Was. Awful.
We all slunk into our seats, feeling the judgemental eyes of all the other diners on us. While the baby-people stood around, holding all the baby stuff while another table was sorted out for them. Why did he have to kick them off the table if he could create another one so easily? We didn’t care where we sat! (Just a thought though – is it normal to take a newbie baby to a pub? Just wondering…)
Anyway…
The Rose is an interesting place. The patrons are a colourful bunch. As we arrived, a bushy-bearded man asked myself and T for ID. As we are closer to 30 than 18, we gave him an odd look. To which he responded with ‘oh go on in, I’ll check your IDs later’. A few hours later I saw Bushy Beard lurching out of the toilets, blind drunk, and clearly not a staff member. Heh. If you are thinking of rocking a mullet anytime soon, I’d suggest that you visit The Rose for inspiration. Might have had something to do with the fact that there was a Collingwood/Geelong game on though.
The food is CHEAP. I have to say, when I saw the prices, I started to get worried. $13 mains aren’t usually that crash hot. And while the food wasn’t anything gour-met, it was tasty and excellent value for money. Quite glad that I decided not to bring the new SLR camera though. Would have felt like a total knob.
While it wasn’t the best chicken parma I’ve ever had, I was pretty impressed considering I only paid $13. Crunchy tomato-ey cheesy goodness. The chips were slightly awful, but the salad was fresh and tasty.
Mr had the fish and chips:
See how he’s rearranged his chips to hide the piece of fish he started eating before I yelled at him to take a picture? I thought I had him so well trained.
The mains were definitely better than the desserts. I had the $7.50 sticky date pudding:
Tasted exactly how it looks: not that great. But I ate it all :D
Mr had the berry crumble:
His description: “tastes like somebody already ate it. Good thing I like berries”. Like me though, he finished it.
All in all it was a great cheap and cheerful night out. Other than the toilet smell that wafted over to our table from time to time. Although sitting near the toilets gave us a great viewing spot to check out the packs of cougars that came and went. Glow mesh is in people.
$13 parma + $7.50 sticky date pudding + $8 for 2 glasses of Pepperjack shiraz = not too shabby.
Check it out. Just leave your valuables at home.
The Rose Hotel 406 Napier StFitzroy 3065 (03) 9417 3626
Food gobbler. Wine lover. Kitteh keeper. Gen-Y. Fiancée. Twitter addict.
Fighting the war against Leggings As Pants one fashion victim at a time... 
I’ll have to make point of never eating here… no matter how close or cheap it may be.
Budget eats? Noodle Kingdom, Russel Street. Handmade noodles, as fresh as it gets, $9.50.
oh gees what it with people and stealing tables? So rude! Kind of awkward too with a baby…
BTW thanks for linking me, I’ll link you back!
XXASAB
Must be a Fitzroy thing! I think I might give the Rose a miss – although I’m tempted to go there just to find out how chips can be “slightly awful”. How can that happen?
Love the Noodle Kingdom, Samuel! It has to be one of the best and heartiest cheapies around.
gotta say, that crumble… wow… just speachless.
i wonder how bad something can be until its not worth spending money on or charging money for.
People with babies aren’t allowed to leave home?
Samuel – thanks for the tasty tips!
Ange – anytime, I love your blog!
Injera – It was the best way I could describe them. I kept going back for more and wishing I hadn’t!
Davo – The weird thing was, our other friend ordered a crumble too and his was really good!
Lou – I don’t think that I implied that people with babies couldn’t go out?! I was genuinely wondering if taking newborns to pubs was common. To me, The Rose seemed like a less than ideal environment for a baby. But that is just my opinion. People can do whatever the hell they want!
I agree with you MM- we have 2 children (under 3) and have taken them out to dinner- obs not places like circa, grossi etc but have thought it important so they knew how to behave- we take them at a reasonably kid friendly hour ( 5ish pm) and have had comments on how they behave all good ones!
MM was not commenting on the fact that they baby was out but that they had to move- this was the eaterys fault- not the people the booked that table.
MM- so for when and if you have your own bubs- it is a bit easier to take them out when the are newborns cause the tend to sleep a lot, then mum and dad can brag about what a good kid they have! So when and if you have yr own, do let’s do dinner so we can brag with you!!
PS. the crumble did look like throw up- kthxbai
Jo – Loving all the baby info, thanks! I am a total baby noob. Not even a noob. As I don’t have one. Dinner’s a DATE!
Oooh food looks yucky.
Best kid friendly place is Touks in Seddon.
Great food, reasonably priced, and they practically babysit!
Lexi: free babysitting? Sweet!