The Service Critic: The Groove Train - Robina Town Center, Queensland, Australia

The Service Critic - in short

Service - 3/5
Ambience - 4/5
Quality of product - 4/5

Wheelchair access - yes
Position and outlook - Lake views
Parking - Close by
Amenities, bathrooms - Short walk away

My review

Thursday night, I caught up with a couple of my girlies at ‘The Groove Train’, a restaurant / bar at the Robina Town Centre. The Groove Train at Robina is one of many franchises, found dotted around Australia. A rather funky outfit with a bar, lounge areas, booths and table settings. I love the interior design and colours, it is good mood lighting and background music. I had been there two weeks prior, and had mixed feelings about the place, due to some dodgy service.

Last time I had ventured there, my friend and I sat outside in the lounge area. After about 25 minutes (or more) we start feeling as if we had super human powers, and had turned invisible. It was then we noticed a typed out A4 piece of paper on the wall, unfortunately my binocular night vision goggles were out of action….dang!! Well on closer inspection we found out that we were in a ‘no table service area’!!

We went inside to the bar , and stood waiting, and waiting…and waiting…while staff carried crates of glasses, waitresses and waiters whizzed by, and the bar men was pottering around in behind the bar….The restaurant wasn’t all that busy and we were the only people waiting to be served. I have no problems with waiting, just a polite, “I will be with you in just a moment ladies”, would have done.

But no one even acknowledge us, my friend said in a big a loud voice, “What do we have to do around here to get noticed?” finally the barman stopped, looked at us…and said, ‘yes’…...Not good, I felt like leaving then, however I went ahead and placed our order.

I am glad we stayed, because in the end we had some yummy drinks and a gorgeous pumpkin, feta and pine nut wood fired pizza. The second time we approached the bar, we were greeted by an efficient friendly staff member. So on our return visit, I couldn’t resist ordering that yummy pumpkin pizza again, and the barman that took our order this time was friendly and efficient.