Sidebar Exclusive at PJ OBriens Southbank
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1-3 Southgate Ave, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
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Reviews for PJ OBriens Southbank
nickelfoodrevs
There's a certain "something" I expect when I go to an establishment that's rated 4.4 stars and charges quite a bit for some of their food items. I got the Angus Beef Burger ($29) and Irish Coffee ($16). Fairly expensive, and that's part of the issue because the price didn't match what I received. Service was a little rough. For example, it's not a huge issue, but one of the waitresses asked if I wanted the drink first or together with the burger. I said, "Together is fine." But I got the drink first within five minutes of ordering. The burger took around 30 minutes to arrive, with no communication about wait times and no apology for the delay. Had I known the wait would be that long, I would have gone somewhere like Grill'd, not far from here, which is often much quicker. I was quite hungry and found myself watching the clock like a hawk, especially after the 15-minute mark. I've spoken to people who think 20 minutes is unacceptable, so 30 minutes, especially when the venue wasn't full, felt quite long. The burger itself didn't seem particularly complicated, and it didn't taste particularly complicated either, so the wait time didn't really make sense. The burger tasted decent enough. I liked how thick and crumbly the beef patty was, and the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and crisp. The cheese was melted nicely, and the buns were soft. The chips were also crisp and well seasoned. But ultimately, it was a basic burger. Good, but simple. At $29, I expect something that stands out, either in terms of flavour or the type of ingredients used. Instead, it tasted like a solid homemade burger. If my mum made the same thing, she'd probably charge $16, with chips included. Other places charge $20–$25 for something similar, sometimes with a drink included. The Irish Coffee was enjoyable. It tasted like it had a proper amount of whiskey, with a nice, sweet caramel finish. It also arrived quickly, which I appreciated. Still, $16 is on the higher end. I think my disappointment largely stems from the gap between expectation and reality. With a 4.4-star rating and premium pricing, I expected either exceptional food or exceptional service. I didn't really get either. Nothing was bad, but nothing justified the price or the wait. And when you combine average service, a long wait, and food that doesn't distinguish itself from cheaper alternatives, it becomes difficult to justify the cost. For $29, I could get two basic burgers elsewhere, or a better burger for less — and receive it faster. Because of that overall mismatch between price, experience, and my expectations, I think 3 stars is fair in this case.
Sherilyn Harris
June 2025 - Enjoyed an early dinner (5.30pm to 7.30pm) with a friend at PJ O’Briens Irish Pub. Service was excellent (timely and attentive) for drinks and food. Atmosphere was great and not too noisy - we were in the Sidebar area - it’s a lovely restaurant area whereas it it is booth style seating next door in the main bar area. Food was very good. The croquettes weren’t served with the advertised tomato relish and I forgot to request it - just too hungry! The steak, mash and peppercorn sauce were also great. Good range of dishes and would definitely return to try them.
Brooke Youl
This is something out of the ordinary now. They have table service, absolutely love that. The amazing friendly staff come to the table and take your order, bring you water on your arrival and continue to refill it and come back and ask if everything is good or if we need more drinks etc. Rory was our server. He was very bubbly, polite and friendly. We loved having a quick little chat with him. His service was amazing, very tentative to us and watching him work, he hussled all night. They had a live band playing which was great and because of Rory making the place a friendly place we moved to the bar after dinner and had a few more drinks listening to the music. Will definitely go back here on our next Melbourne visit. Thank you Tory for making us realise there are still fun people put there who love their job.
Rob D
If you want an Irish pub that served food then this is the place for you. Most importantly is the food is really nice, the atmosphere is better and the staff are friendly. A nice pint of Guinness!, Cider or wherever wise takes you fancy. On the right day there is live music which is normally a good standard.
Alastair Quin
Walked in and the air felt heavier in a good way. Dark timber. Brass taps. Carpet that has heard stories. Raff ordered the wings and entered a state of revelation. “Slathered, drenched, dripping, sweet and salty succulent goodness.” Sauce climbing his fingers with purpose. No survivors. Guinness arrived. Settled properly. Calm. Confident. Up there in terms of Guinnesses. It travelled well. Burger was a structural challenge. Succulent. Sloppy. Immediate napkin deficit. We adapted. Ambience doing the classics. Josh and Raff quietly delighted in the noticeable absence of children. “Good. Quiet.” Peace achieved. At some point I felt a longing. Not for anything specific. Just… Irishness. A desire to own a wool jumper and speak wistfully about rain. Left full. Slightly sticky. 5 stars i reckon