Courthouse Hotel - Smythesdale, Victoria

Lisa P.

Decided on a last-minute drive for lunch today and so glad we did.
We were warmly welcomed on arrival, and the cider on tap was a great bonus. Meals were excellent, the salad was one of the best pub salads I’ve had in ages. The pizzas were solid, and the fish was beautifully cooked with a light, crispy batter. Well worth the drive from Ballarat. We’ll definitely be back again soon!

Kayla Y.

Good to see the place packed just after reopening. Even better to get some decent food. Good luck to the new owners 👌

Samuel M.

Meals quick out and all at the same time. Kids had pizza which was awesome and the adult mains were nice as well. Staff were happy and chatting so made it feel like a really great atmosphere

Meralin L.

Compliments to the new owner and the chef. Can definitely recommend this venue. Service attentive and friendly- food excellent ( steak tender and cooked to requirements + delicious lemon calamari and lemon tart for dessert topped it off - just yum ) 😋

Myles C.

A friend of mine called The Courthouse Hotel around midday to book a table for five people at 6:30pm. She spoke to a woman who took her name and number and confirmed the booking. But when the five of us arrived that evening, we were told there was no booking under her name.

The woman behind the bar, Meg, was the one speaking to us. Rather than taking any responsibility, she immediately started suggesting that my friend must have called the wrong place — even though my friend showed her the call log clearly showing a call to The Courthouse Hotel in Smythesdale. It felt like she was being gaslighted into thinking she’d made a mistake, when she absolutely hadn’t.

When my friend mentioned she had spoken to a woman on the phone, Meg quickly shifted the blame and said, “It must’ve been Poppy,” without even checking or showing any real interest in getting to the bottom of it. We were simply told they were fully booked and there was nothing they could do.

To make things worse, there were quite a few tables visibly available at the time — yet they didn’t even offer us a table for a shorter sitting or any kind of workaround. There was no apology, no ownership of the miscommunication, and no offer to make it right — not even something small like a free meal next time or a chance to rebook.

It was really disappointing service. The five of us had been excited to come back since they reopened, but after that experience, I’d seriously think twice before returning.

Phillippa H.

Great atmosphere, delicious meals at reasonable prices, great menu with so many choices, friendly accommodating staff, took a while to get our meals but they were completely booked so we understand the wait. Definitely will dine here regularly, great job reopening the establishment.

Amy M.

Went out for a family dinner.
They were busy out in the bistro, we sat in the booths.
Food was delicious no one had something they didn't like.
We will definitely go back!

Rowan T. T.

Just awful. We ordered a chicken schnitzel and a beef burger. It took 57 minutes to arrive. The burger was raw and cold on the inside. The schnitzel was bland.
The service was below average and we will never eat there ever again.
We are local , but it will be quicker to travel to Ballarat and get our food, than eat raw mince pretending to be a burger at the Courthouse.
Thoroughly disappointed