Savoy Tavern

Convenient location, nice food but it only gets two stars cause the service was so slow.
We waited nearly an hour for our burger and even then we had to followup our meal.

Very underwhelming experience. Beer and cider was overpriced and the décor looks like a 70s porn set.
We were a group of 6 watching the footy after the crowd left for the game. There was maybe 20 people in the whole place.
Mid game the staff changed the tv over to rugby. We questioned the staff and was told the man on a table in front of us had requested to watch the rugby. There were many other Unwatched TVs in the place
I found it very rude and unprofessional.
We finished our beers and left. Never to return. They lost our business not only for the night but for the future. We went around the corner to the waterside hotel and had a much better time.
Visit this place if you want an empty wallet and to be treated like second class citizens.
Rubbish, should have stayed closed for another 20 years.

Should really have kept this place closed for good…
Smells funny, the coke tasted funny, bar dude greeted us with a «what do you want?», and the squid salad I ordered was 80% parsley (gross) which was not stated on the menu. Also their ‘gravy’ contains a crap-​load of peppercorns (also not stated on the menu) so it should really be called ‘peppercorn gravy’. Pffftttt!!!
Yeah…not a fan.
Savoy Tavern, you can stay in Melbourne. 1 star.

Hey, it could have been worse.
The Savoy is definitely a pub pub. You know what I mean? It’s one foot up from a pokie venue though, so I’ll give them that. Vego and hungry? Hahaha eat before you go. The mushroom burger isn’t worth the $ 14. Lord of the Fries at Southern cross across the street will sort you out.
Grab those happy hour beverages while you can, but there isn’t much left for this place after that. Not when you consider how many other drinking hole options there are in the CBD. When it’s full the place is loud and a lot of awkward standing. Possibly because of the way the seating has been set up. Some of the table booths are way too long. You can’t get in and out easily or hear someone at the other end. It’s like sitting at a Viking hall table with everyone yelling.
There is heaps of potential for this place, don’t get me wrong. I was actually quite hopeful when I saw it open, but with the way it is at the moment I wouldn’t recommend it. There is need for attention to its food quality, maybe a little more clarity at the bar as to what is available drinks wise/​promotions. Staff had the «oh for fuck sake» attitude which is generally either an understaffing issue or a lack of training or procedure. I don’t want a bartender to jump across the bar a hold my hand through the drink ordering process, but a little bit of happy goes a long way.
Maybe sus this place out in a few months time.
Overall The Savoy is a step up from a dive and a little bit confused about wether is a sports bar or a over lit mini nightclub.

The Savoy Tavern was a big place that was easy to move around and quiet enough to talk. Some of the patrons looked like they had been keenly waiting the two decades for their favourite bar to reopen.
We drank Little Creatures Bright Ale and White Rabbit Dark Ale. Their chips were decent but their only substantial vegetarian food was a salad with goat curd.

Savoy has become a regular addition to my work lunch options, being very easy to get to at that end of town; conveniently located across from Southern Cross station with a few different trams within rattling distance.
Pity then that a place that only recently re-​opened after seemingly forever being a condemned-​looking eyesore might be closing again if this goes through:
If you’re not wrapped in your team’s scarf & colours you might want to give it a bit of a wide berth when games are on at Etihad Stadium as it can get busy and boisterous, but as a footy-​head I’m just glad that another place is open to take some of the strain off Royal Melbourne around the corner during AFL peak hours, and when it does get busy the Savoy basically doubles in size to accommodate the crowds as they open the second bar in the back room.
During the week though it walks the balance between looking popular without feeling too busy, and the daily $ 10 meals + pot of beer specials are well worth trying. The burger w/​fries Monday special is probably the pick of the lot if you’re after quantity (although the bread could be nicer), and I found the fish and chips very nice even though it was more «and chips» than fish.
Hope it sticks around.

Ok I know it’s the VFL Grand final bit I’ve been waiting to be served, at the bar since before the game ended and the crowd arrived

The Savoy tavern would be more aptly named if it was the Ghost tavern.
For about 20 years, this site has stood unloved derelict and abandoned,
causing those that walk by it’s walls to wonder about what was inside.
Now It’s open, and features a large island Bar area. It’s like a 70’s throwback
with a 2014 make over. Bright, shiny and new and still a little daggy, I’m guessing
the main purpose of this building is to house the hordes of footy crowds at the
near by docklands based stadiums. Or travelers etc, roaming across from southern cross. It’s an odd space to be inside, but they’ve made the most of what they have. Two bars open when it’s really busy, and by the looks of the kitchen, they’re also serving up some pretty decent fare. I didn’t get a chance
to look properly at the drinks, but didn’t see anything bad. Thank heavens this place isn’t a tab venue or pokies, that is, a strong redeeming feature.

Having walked by the old run down site since I moved to Melbourne five years ago, I often wondered what was there before and many times felt that it’s location screamed for a renovation and re-​opening. How excited was I when I found out about it’s re-​opening this year!
I strolled in after work to check to the digs (on a Wednesday afternoon) and was delighted with how it looked. I ordered a steak sandwich and a beer and drank in the surroundings like a mini fan girl (I did a lot of reading about the site’s history when I heard it was re-​opening).
Popped in after work on Friday night and with the footy back in town it was much much busier — quite packed and looks like the weekends are going to be a get in early kind of deal.
So. food-​wise, there was nothing on the menu over $ 20 and the beers run on a pot an schooner sizing all ~$ 8 – 9 for a schooner. Quite reasonable indeed. The steak sandwich came with fresh deep fried onion rings and while the serving didn’t look huge, the flavour was out of this world!
Wonderful, refreshing and handy location!

Welcome back the Savoy Tavern.
Great for a pre or post game beverage, just missed the train drink or any excuse really.
There are 2 main bars with a huge space to hang around and have a chat with friends. The bar has retained some of the characteristics and features of it’s previous bar life, including wrap around cigarette trays at the bar. Classy!
Looking forward to seeing what else the Savoy offers up as it finds its feet over the next few months.