I love to visit Australia around Christmas, but always seem to forget that a lot of shops close down for the holidays. One day before the holiday I was wandering around, hoping to find a place to eat. The Crown was the first pub I passed that was open, so I stopped in.
I was able to order a drink and some food downstairs. They heavily advertise daily lunch specials, so I inquired with the bartender about them. He seemed out of it and said he wasn't sure - but then made no move or indication that he'd find out.
After I sat at my table for about 7 minutes, I realized I had to go back and order at the bar. And after he made me pay right away (I wanted to keep a tab open for more drinks...), he told me that there was no service downstairs and that I would need to go upstairs if I wanted someone to serve me. What? I was perplexed... but a strange guy in the bar kept staring at me so I decided to head up.
Upstairs was a bit of a different scene. Two servers and an empty restaurant meant I got all the attention I needed. I decided against sitting in the formal dining room and instead sat in a room with all leather armchairs and a television. I was able to watch a horrible/amazing Christmas movie called Blitzen, which had me in tears by the end.
For lunch, I had the lobster, prawns, and calamari combo. The lobster tail was meaty - prepped to eat easily - but dry. The calamari strips were delicious, and I was sad I only had a few. Finally, the prawns, served cold, were fine - about 10 of them I think, head on. I would have preferred fewer prawns and more calamari!
Meal came with fries and a salad, which I didn't get to.
I was glad that The Crown was open on Christmas Eve for lunch, but I would not come back here again. Unless it was just to get some calamari. read more