Coopers Alehouse Gepps Cross

So Coopers Alehouse gets my standard 3 stars for a local pub. 2 would be disappointing, 4 would be great, so I think I’m on the money because it was shy of 4.
They’ve obviously started well because we didn’t make a booking and even on a Wednesday evening couldn’t get a table inside and had to resort to the (cold) outside. The waiter moved the gas heater close to us and I saw blankets were available for those who needed that little extra — a nice touch.
Décor is quite nice, simple but with the right touches of colour and wood and also space.
With it’s huge TV screen it should be a big hit when the weather warms up.
None of our food took long to come out despite being busy but we did start from 5.30, before things kick off in most pubs. The steak dishes were cooked as requested and quite nice, the lamb shoulder (I’m told) a little heavy in flavour but enjoyable, and my battered fish (barramundi) tasty but mostly batter and oil — it reminded me of why I haven’t ordered battered since the 90’s. Kid’s chicken nuggets were out of a packet but the Margherita pizza was quite nice and well cooked. There was no ice cream on the menu but they supplied kids with ice cream serves regardless. The other desserts we ordered were beeramisu (that’s correct) and a fudge brownie and crème brulees. The latter hit the mark and beat the mains.
One thing was spot on though — their live act. The young singer/​guitarist with his ripped jeans and backward cap looked like he would destroy decks on a ramp but had a hidden talent — a rather great voice and music to go with it. He belted out various covers and was very enjoyable to listen to.
I’d like to try them again out of winter and a few months down the track when things settle.

What a beautiful place! It is really well designed and modern and the food looks great too. Highly recommend coming here to watch the footy game on the outdoor area.
We had a large group so we preordered which worked really well as we were served within minutes of sitting.
Everyone had different meals so I got to see a lot but my meal in particular was the crispy chicken burger which was pretty good. The combination of the actual place bumps this to a clear 4 but the food was nothing stand out so borderline ¾ if everything else was less perfect — it’s just good food at a decent price in a really beautiful pub.

The joint was done up vey nicely and the beergarden looked fantastic to hang out to watch footy over lunch or drinks.
We walked in for lunch and the place was busy and we didnt realise that you had to find your own seat so we stood around for quite some time waiting for someone to direct us to a table. When we finally flagged a staff down to help us we were told to find an empty table and order at the counter. Fine…
We found a table outside and placed our order at the counter. We were informed that the food would take arpund ½ hour to 40 minutes. 1 hour and 15 minutes later we finally got our food. We ordered burramundi and chips with side salad. The serving was quite small for what you pay. I got two fillets of fish with 10 pieces of chips and barely there salad. I then ordered dessert and coffee. I decided on chocolate brownie with caramel ice cream. Also disappointing. Brownie was not a brownie but a sponge cake. With ice cream…
I will probably not come back.

Was looking forward the launch of a new local joint, so when I heard that the doors had swung open I was down there that weekend. Being that it was only their second day open I’ll go easy on them, but I have to say it was disappointing.
Walking into the place, the fit-​out is very tidy and modern and the beer garden looks world class. We were there at lunch and I would say there were only about 15 other people total, most in pairs or smaller groups. I suspect many people don’t realise that it is open yet.
The main eating area is self-​seating and self-​ordering but this isn’t immediately obvious for a first timer. Service staff stared blankly and said nothing as we walked in so we ended up finding a table ourselves. Menus were piled messily on the ordering counter, and confusingly there were two separate menu types for different times or rooms (this wasn’t clear) mixed in together. I watched as the lady ordering in front of me recited off an entire tables order from the wrong menu before being informed.
I had to order and pay for meals and drinks separately, despite the bar being joined. Twice the wait and EFTPOS fees for no good reason that I could see.
Surely Coopers can get beer right? I ordered a Coopers Celebration Ale but had to take it back as it was flat. Suspecting a bad keg, I asked for Pale Ale replacement but this was also flat. Oh well, drank it anyway. Big thumbs down.
I hadn’t eaten all day so I was excited for a famous Coopers Alehouse Schnitzel. The schnitzel that came out was small, and I think I counted 10 chips on the plate. The «salad» was half a tablespoon of coleslaw on a lettuce leaf.
Thankfully my wife was not enjoying her chicken schnitzel, on account of it just being a fried thick piece of chicken breast, so I got to eat hers too.
The food was passable for a pub meal, but I’d really hoped they were going to step it up a notch for what is being marketed as a flagship gastropub.
Overall the venue looks great, but underneath the façade it’s just another multinational owned, pokie ridden suburban pub.
Will give them another go in a month or so when they’ve bedded things down and see if it’s improved.