The Royal Hotel, Daylesford, Daylesford VIC

Well we have spent many Christmas lunches over he years. I don't think it's the same as the service was ordinary and prices are higher. No seniors lunches and the chicken pesto is like soup ! Frozen seafood plate was ordinary and most probably won't return

I've been here before, and the service and food at the bistro were fine. However, at our last visit, we decided to have dinner once again as it did not disappoint last time. I ordered the chicken parma surf and turf whilst my partner had the chicken pasta. After a long wait, I received my dish. The surf was just 3 small prawns on a schnitzel with a dash of cream sauce. The salad had next to no dressing, and to top it off, the dish was ice cold. The waiter was a gentleman and, without question, tried to rectify the issue. But it only returned to be thrown back into the fryer drenched in oil. Overall, it was disappointing, but the pasta dish was nice.

This is my choice of places to stay in Daylesford. The rooms are comfortable, quiet and reasonably priced. The location is terrific. The meals I've had here have all been good. The people running it are great. Most recent stay I screwed up the booking dates. They helped me out even though they most definitely didn't have to. Can't recommend them and the hotel highly enough.

Seven of us ordered lunch and six adults were very disappointed with the food served. Meals were inedible caused by over salting to the point where mouths were burning. Presentation was average which should have reflected better pricing. My calamari was raw tasting of uncooked flour and salt, won't be going back.

We read the reviews here and didn't think the food could be that bad. Turns out it can be!

Schnitzel was tiny and somehow simultaneously soggy and dry - mind boggling, really. The pork belly came out with completely charred black crackling. Why the kitchen would even send that out is beyond me.

Do yourself a favour, pay the same amount for a significantly better meal at the Virgin Kitchen down the road in Hepburn.