The Woodport Hotel in Erina, a recently renovated venue on New South Wales' Central Coast, has found itself at the centre of a social media storm over its $25 Woody Cheesy burger. Following a substantial $10 million refurbishment and a rebrand from its former identity as the Sunken Monkey, the pub reopened in January to high expectations, but some patrons have expressed significant disappointment with the premium-priced offering.
Customer Complaints Highlight Issues
One diner took to an online discussion forum to share a photo and review of their experience, stating they waited 90 minutes for a cold burger that appeared "prepared by a five year old." The accompanying image, showing the burger held between a fingertip and thumb, sparked a flurry of comments focused on its seemingly diminutive size. Many respondents described it as "tiny" or akin to a "mini slider," with one noting, "The thumb size to burger ratio is disturbing."
Management Responds to Criticism
Sean Wagstaff, co-owner and licensee of the Woodport Hotel, acknowledged the issue in a statement to the Daily Mail, expressing disappointment and confirming that the venue had reached out to the customer to apologise and offer a return visit. "We are extremely disappointed to hear about this experience of one of our guests, as it's not to the standard we pride ourselves on delivering," Wagstaff said. He added that the hotel has received overwhelmingly positive feedback since reopening and is committed to fine-tuning its service.
Further Reviews Echo Concerns
The criticism extends beyond a single post. Two Australian content creators from The Jibbies YouTube channel reviewed the burger in a video posted on February 27, with both adding extras like an additional beef patty or bacon. One remarked that the burger was "pretty small" even with the extra patty, while the other questioned its value for money. Another recent patron commented online that their children's meals were larger than the Woody Cheesy burger.
Mixed Online Reception
Google reviews for the Woodport Hotel's food offerings since the reopening paint a divided picture. While some patrons award five stars, praising the venue's bright new look and quality pizzas, others have left one-star reviews citing poor food quality, long wait times exceeding an hour, and small portions lacking flavour. One negative review described the burger as "a really depressing looking burger," adding sympathy for the cow involved.
Despite the backlash, the Woodport Hotel remains a popular live music and nightlife spot on the Central Coast, with management emphasising their dedication to improving the hospitality experience for locals and visitors alike. The incident highlights the challenges new venues face in meeting customer expectations, particularly when pricing items at a premium level in a competitive dining market.
