The Customer is always right

A Google business Review was recently posted, by an Olivia Chang, for the business that is run and operated by Mr. Grant Cohen and/or the Block Arcade.

The review notes the dissatisfaction of Olivia Chang she experienced at the business run by Mr. Grant Cohen.

Mr. Grant Cohen has replied to the review, highlighting that the review was posted by either myself, and/or my husband.

Mr. Grant Cohen has continued to make accusations that are false and misleading and have nothing to do with me and/or my husband.

The google review has not been posted by Kon and Kelly Koutoumanos. We are not disgruntled but we are victims of fraud and conspiracy, and investigations continue.

We do not owe creditors millions and we are victims of fraud and conspiracy, and investigations continue.

The Block Arcade are running an imitation business of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ and have committed numerous crimes from 2016 to date.

It was not found by the Magistrates Court Judge during the Intervention Order that the Koutoumanos’ were the authors of these fake reviews.

No court application was ever made, and/or granted for Mr. Grant Cohen to verify and prove the identity of the reviews that Mr. Grant Cohen claims to be fake. Mr. Grant Cohen, immediately labels all reviews that are not to his liking to the Koutoumanos family.

29-March-2022 – Attacking the Customers – again!!

A Google business Review was recently posted, by an Roya Lotfi, for the business that is run and operated by Mr. Grant Cohen and/or the Block Arcade.

A note to Mr. Grant Cohen, if you can’t take the criticism from your customers, stop looking for excuses. I do not need to post on Google reviews we have a whole website dedicated to you.

The Koutoumanos family

23rd April 2022 – Miss the old Hopetoun @ The Block Arcade

by Hayley Wong (8 reviews)

Ordered a roast beef sandwich, it was alright. Tea was okay as well, so disappointed with the cake. I know there’s a change of management, but I really miss the good old Hopetoun Teahouse.

20th April 2022 – Overpriced @ The Block Arcade

by Amber Min (3 reviews)

It is a shame.

This place used to be the best place to get traditional cakes but now has become a bland, plain and over-priced cafe.

16th April 2022 – Extremely Slow – Will not go back. @ The Block Arcade

by Nerida Treloar (24 reviews)

Took about 40 mins for my pot of tea and only came because i asked where it was.
Then had to chase where our scones were. Wasnt even a full house. Not what it was 6 years ago when I first went. Wouldn’t go back.

13th April 2022 – Girls High Tea @The Block Arcade
by RippaPippa (3 reviews)

High Tea was booked in advance. The bread on the sandwiches was a little dried out. Scrimped on jam and cream for the serving of scones and the pots of tea were forgotten.

13th April 2022 – Avoid the disappointment @The Block Arcade
by ShirlyLevit1408 (1 review)

A very underwhelming experience today for both adult and child.

Poor variety of the warm savoury high tea food. We didn’t go past one bite on any of the high tea desserts.

The ‘pistachio’ slice overwhelmingly tasted like marzipan and what was meant to be creamy layers had so much gelatine that it was like hard jelly and very unpleasant to eat. The other desserts were no better.

Finally, the fruit was terrible. A very hard rockmelon, and the 2 pieces of 50 cent sized watermelon to feed two people? Really?!

For $140 for adult and child and a 1 hour drive to the city, entirely centred around a visit to this venue, the experience was well below the expected standard.

We got up to leave within 30 minutes of being served our 3-tier high tea. Such a disappointment and wasted trip.

If I could provide a zero star rating, I would.

11th April 2022 – Nice but not great.. @The Block Arcade
by Tarabbey (20 reviews)

Had heard great things about Hopetoun Tea Rooms but this isn’t it.

New owners of this tenancy appear to be piggybacking off the old Hopetoun Tea Rooms (which appears to have moved to Bourke Street but is closed down (another covid causality??)

Food was nice but not great, coffee was not great very milky not very strong.

Overall looks nice but that’s where it ends…

10th April 2022 – What a waste of afternoon @ The Block Arcade
by Daniel Galea (8 reviews)

Have been wanting to visit this cafe for years and finally got the chance recently but was utterly disappointed.

Confused and distracted staff ignored us for a while and then hurried us into seats. We ordered but waited about 20 minutes for 3 simple teas… it’s not that hard.

Nearly every table in the venue had an issue – the table next to us received their tea but without any teacups.

We walked out and they were still waiting. Let’s just say the experience proves the current owner isn’t living up to the Hopetoun reputation.

Wish we knew this before wasting our afternoon.

10th April 2022 – Not a great experience @The Block Arcade
by F668RXmariab (10 reviews)

After visiting Hopetoun tea rooms for over 20 years, we decided to give the new owners a go.

It kind of looked the same, but that’s where it ended. Dirty tables in the middle of the arcade for over half an hour were left as no one bothered to clean them and very rude staff.
Finally, after waiting for twenty minutes to get a table (despite the dirty tables sitting there) we decided to do takeaway.

We purchased a packet of earl grey tea and two cakes. When we got home we discovered we had been given English breakfast tea and two stale inedible cakes at a cost of $48.

Please don’t bother with this fake version of what was there before and find another tea room.

3rd April 2022 – Racist Experience @ The Block Arcade

by Jen Lee (11 reviews)

RACIST EXPERIENCE. Not even worth 1 star.

Was told that we had to sit outside despite having more than 3 free tables inside – excuse was ‘you don’t have a booking’. Other caucasian customers queuing behind us were allowed to sit inside. Waited 15min tor menus – I had to go in and ask for them.
Polite gentleman in a suit (?manager) gave me menus and welcomed me to sit inside when questioned.
Waitresses could not even get a simple order right. Gave us 1 fork at a time (seriously, is it so hard to get us 3 forks at once?) even got tea order mucked up, made excuses to delay getting us a teacup. Lacking in customer service. This was a lovely place before COVID hit.
Would never go back again – and to the waitress reading this, you know who you are. Please do your job right.

3rd April 2022 – NOT HOPETOUN TEA ROOMS @The Block Arcade
by Loveagreathotel (300 reviews)

Tea Rooms 1892 IS NOT HOPETOUN TEA ROOMS.

They are in the same location as Hopetoun operated for many many years and due to heritage listing the name Hopetoun is still on the facade.

The interior is the same as previously owned however that is where any similarities end.

Unfortunately this business is trading on the coat tails of the previous owners and give very strong impressions it is the same business even down to the Menu with the history of the Tea Rooms.

I have been coming here for decades and to say the owners of Tea Rooms of 1892 give anything in service and quality of previous owners is laughable.

I should have known there was a big difference when I was the only person in line for a table at 12.00pm. I waited for approx 7 minutes to be acknowledged and finally was guided by an unfriendly staff member to a table in the Arcade and then told I needed to pay and place my order inside. Surely in these times, an order can be taken and paid for at the table with portable Eftpos Machines.

The Block Arcade is a popular place for people perusing the shops and beautiful arcade. Eating food in the middle of the arcade was not preferable for my little group, particular in Covid times.

We declined the table.

As we had been coming here for many decades we decided to try again a day later. Again no lines. We ordered and waited AND waited. Finally after about 30 mins our cakes came out, no tea or the sandwiches we had ordered. Eventually we received the tea but no sandwiches.
As we were preparing to leave, the waitress came near our table and we explained we had’nt received the sandwiches. She just didn’t seem to understand that we had not been served all our order and could not wait any longer.

The people next to us were also having the same problem and waited for well over 30 mins to get their order.

The quality of the food is poor. Cakes look nice in the window but are not fresh and cream is not real cream.

The service is terrible and attitude from staff is they don’t really care or know what they are doing. After many decades and 4 generations later we will not go back to Tea Rooms 1892.

We are looking forward to Hopetoun Tea Rooms to open in new premises soon and are confident the quality and service will be the same as their name is known for.

Terrible disappointing Tea Rooms 1892 and the standard, service and quality of food is no where near comparison to Hopetoun.

20th March 2022 – Masquerading @ The Block Arcade

by Steve V (30 reviews)

This review was posted on the Hopetoun Tea Rooms Google reviews page, as the customer assumed they visited the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

The Block Arcade will not remove the signage, making false claims that it is Heritage Listed and in order trade on the previous success of my hard work.

Correction, read Hopetoun Tearooms response – venue we visited was in The Block Arcade where Hoptoun Tearooms USED TO BE, this is no longer Hopetoun Tearooms.

What a farce that another business is masquerading as Hoptoun Tearooms.

*****************************************

Oh no, what has happened to the Hopetoun Tea Rooms? My partner and I visited on 4th March 2022 for a cuppa and snack and it was incredibly disappointing.

It wasn’t too busy, plenty of spare tables and there seemed to be plenty of staff on. All staff were very friendly. BUT:

– My partner ordered scones with jam.and cream and a cup of tea. Beautiful scones arrived but no cutlery or serviette which we had to ask for. She also had to ask for milk for her tea.

– I ordered Brioche de Raisin (imagining a delicious french buttery pastry thing😋) and a long black coffee. I received instead 2 pieces of raisin toast (might as well as been supermarket bought, nothing fancy), no butter, no cutlery or serviette and no coffee. I asked for butter thinking a knife would also come with that but my expectations were too high. Butter came but no knife. Finally that came. My partner was onto her 2nd cup of tea and no sign of my coffee yet, so I reminded the waitress – she was very apologetic and said it wouldnt be long. It never came.

When I went to pay the bill, there was a charge for the coffee which I had removed.

Is there hope for the Hoptoun Tearooms. Yes! It’s a great place and staff were very friendly. But obviously someone doesn’t know what they’re doing here and some simple procedures need to be put in place.

As for my delicious brioche that morphed into raisin toast, give me a break that’s ridiculous. Call it raisin toast or take it off the menu. I never would have ordered it.

16th March 2022 – Disappointing High Tea @ The Block Arcade

by Stella Syrios (1 review)

Disappointing. Had High tea here for my birthday.

Was disappointed in the quality of the food which seems to be bought in and not made in store, even the so called fresh juices are bought in as we questioned the taste. Scones tasted and looked like a packet mix.

Also saw another patron having cake outside complain about their cake. Front cake displays did not look fresh either. Nothing like the old hope toun rooms as far as quality and taste goes. Will I go back probably not. Much nicer places elsewhere

7th March 2022 – Weird Things happen @The Block Arcade

by Rick Morty (24 reviews)

Looking for a quick snack and drink. The sandwiches were lovely altho definitely a small snack. Ordered one pot of tea. When it arrived 5min after ordering we immediately poured it. It was really dark and I knew there were way too many tea leaves. The waitress returned bringing water and I asked for a cup to pour the rest of the tea before it became undrinkable (it actually already was too strong).

She said she couldn’t give a second cup because of policy but would see what she could do. I said anything I just wanted to be able to actually drink the tea. If I could go back I would have just asked to remake even though that wasn’t offered.

She returned with… a vase. I didn’t realise it was when she dropped it off and she said here this should do. It wasn’t even clean at the bottom and was really cloudy.

None of the other tables outside have vases so looking at the photo you can see this actually happened. I chose not to use it and quickly drank the water. We transferred the already poured tea as it was cooler. The next pour was darker.

I had to ask for additional hot water so we could even drink the rest. 50/50 was the ideal amount but we didn’t realise and suffered through the strong tea. I am a tea drinker. When there was a lot of water we actually tasted the flavour and were disappointed we didn’t change it from the start. Considering it was $7 really disappointed.

3rd March 2022 – Very, Very disappointing @ The Block Arcade

by Olivia C (2 reviews)

We had visited this place at the recommendation of multiple tour guides citing it for its “heritage and quality”. We were very impressed with the history and heritage of the site, it’s etched mirror is truly a beauty.

However, the quality of the food and service was sorely disappointing. The pastries were stale as if they had been left out overnight. The cakes were sickly sweet with no more finesse than a woollies chocolate sponge. Our tea came out very delayed and were originally taken to the wrong table. The waitresses were clearly inexperienced and/or poorly trained in hospitality – they lacked knowledge of their own menu, forgotten our order, and represented none of the charm that the shopkeeper is boasting of.

I would not recommend visiting the tea rooms if you are expecting quality cakes and pastries. There are plenty of outstanding cafes in Melbourne that are more worth visiting. It might be worth popping your head in to see the decor if you are in the area, but not worth your time otherwise.

Edit: in response to the owner (The Block Arcade)

This is an appalling way to respond to your customers. Clearly ensuring your guests are happy with their experience is not important. If you have the time to respond to reviews with false accusations and arrogance then you have the time to review your products and services to actually improve your business. Very, very disappointing.

19th February 2022 – Disgusting racist Treatment! @ The Block Arcade
by no1 fan (4 reviews)

Disgusting racist treatment!

Connie told me that because of 20 seating capacity in store, I could only sit outside.
Me and my partner sat outside and waited for the menu. However, 3 more white people came after and they were seated inside right away. The only people sitting outside was an elderly Asian lady and us- Asian couple.

I went up and raised this issue and asked to speak to the manager and was told the manager was conveniently on a break. Really appalling treatment. The saddest part, the staffs were all Asians.

22nd January 2022 – Tiny Portions-Very Expensive.. @The Block Arcade
by Shay D (1 reviews)

For $23 I got a glass of green instant powdered chai “tea” and two small microwaved crepes with fruit. Left hungry and disappointed.

No table service if you sit outside. Not what it used to be.

19th January 2022 – Over-Hyped! @ The Block Arcade
by Angelique (27 reviews)

Very over-hyped!
The good reviews must be from tourists or people who haven’t truly experienced good cake here in Melbourne.

As a true, pure born & raised Melbourne girl, I can say there are much nicer cakes available than what this place has to offer. This place is kinda like one of those over-hyped tourist attractions that people from out of Melbourne come to but no one in Melbourne actually raves about.
It’s all looks here, no class, no quality.

Cakes below average – some were stale, others very bland. Decent selection of teas but nonetheless not worth the hype.

16th January 2022 – A food court @ The Block Arcade
by Narissara Kaewvilai (133 reviews)

They want the table back after 20 minutes sitting here. I have half of the tea pot left. Most of customers are coming after me but the lady said she pick me because others have larger orders compared to me.

This place use to be a nice place but post covid, it has been changes to be a rushing food court.

Reply to owner:

I was there today and I am wondering how you have checked your system and couldn’t see my name on it. It isn’t a professional excuse to refuse a negative review on google. I know you aren’t even checking.

15th January 2022 – Ignored @ The Block Arcade
by Jacque Levelton (1 reviews)

Was there today, no queue and the wait staff, just ignored my presence. Not even as busy as it once was, and they just ignored me. Will give it a miss.

28th December 2021 – Cake not so good @The Block Arcade
by F8334LAsarahm (2 reviews)

This review was posted on the Hopetoun Tea Rooms Google reviews page, as the customer assumed they visited the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

The Block Arcade will not remove the signage, making false claims that it is Heritage Listed and in order trade on the previous success of my hard work.

Coffee was great- however the red velvet cake was really dry. Not saved by the icing and would expect better than your franchise cafe. Unfortunately wasn’t better

28th December 2021 – Not what it used to be @The Block Arcade
by Tabatha P (1 reviews)

When I visited this establishment I didn’t realise that it wasn’t the old Hopetoun Tearooms which I had visited many times in the past in The Block.

It’s now a new business, the Hopetoun Tearooms having moved out some time ago.
Well, this new business is a real disappointment!
The service was incredibly slow and the tea and food were below par.

I should have thought that something was up when there was no queue outside at lunchtime.

12th December 2021 – Never Again @ The Block Arcade
by Jack Maersk (4 reviews)

Never Again

25th November 2021 – Not quite right @The Block Arcade
by 619jeffry (10,146 reviews)

The Hopetoun Tea Rooms were established in 1892, and carried on business in the Block Arcade ever since. Since a change of management, standards seem to have slipped.

The girls are doing their best, but the Hopetoun Tea Rooms’ old customers seem to be disgruntled.

19th November 2021 – Confusion & Poor Management @ The Block Arcade
by Shingi Sa (1 reviews)

Service was problematic.
I do not mind the queue, but the long wait and confusion arised from poor management, lack of system and poor hygiene do pose a serious question mark – note that I only come here for take aways.

Taste wise, its cake is inferior to any standard Japanese tea house, definitely over rated and does not deserve 4 stars at this day and age.
Simply put, you go to a sweet place and expect sweet things.

When that place makes you unhappy, then there is no point returning at all.

12th November 2021 – Disinterested Staff ruin a lovely setting @The Block Arcade
by amrelaxed (34 reviews)

Disinterested staff ruin a lovely setting.

The customers seem invisible.
I waited at the front door and was finally approached by a staff member who had walked past me earlier. After seated and waiting for my wife, I ordered a coffee.

The arrival of my wife generated no interest by the staff as time passed and despite attempts to make eye contact with the waitress I needed to raise my voice to get her interest.

The sandwiches ordered were just ok. We will not return.

19th September 2021 – Terrible Experience @ The Block Arcade
by Maria Romas (1 reviews)

Our experience was terrible, it was very cramped, the table was too small for the food. There wasn’t 1.5 spacing between tables per COVID rules.

They are extremely difficult to deal when trying to get a refund – they don’t give refund, so be careful when booking.

Our dessert were squashed on top each other, it was disgusting because the liver pate was mixed in with the sweets (they had to be thrown out).

Wait for Hopetoun to re-open is my advise because 65 per person is too much to charge for the service.

22nd August 2021 – The service was awful @ The Block Arcade
by Atheer Aikhayrat (4 reviews)

I was so excited to visit the place and i was planning for a week to go there . But the service was awful we asked for a table for 3 ppl.

The waitress asked us to sit on the table after minutes she came back and asked us to change the table so we change the table after minutes she came back and asked us to change the table again. I felt like a kid she was moving us from table to another.

We just left the restaurant and did not try it we were mad because of this.

18th August 2021 – No clue @ The Block Arcade
by Geo George (32 reviews)

Least accommodating place for dietary requirements. Called ahead to confirm options for dietary and then waited in line for a while before seeing the menu and realising the person on the phone had no clue. It’s unacceptable wasting people’s time by providing false information!

22nd July 2021 – Musical chairs @ The Block Arcade
by Melissa Rahmani (5 reviews)

Very delicious cake and hard working people but from the experience I had there, it did not match with the atmosphere.

Firstly, I asked for a table for one, I was then placed on a table in the middle of the room. Shortly after, I had asked to be moved into a quiet corner after I was elbowed in the back twice by other customers, but to no prevail. I had ordered tea and cake.

The cake came out first, and the tea came out 5 minutes later. I was in an awkward spot and even had to lean forward sometimes to allow other customer see the cakes that were on display. By this time I was getting frustrated and had enough when another customer had got up to leave, she put her cost on and her sleeve went into my cake. Right after that I had decided to get up and leave and get my tea to go.

I left the rest of my cake and left. The staff members didn’t bother to ask if everything was ok. Its great to be busy after a pandemic and businesses need to make money, but don’t say yes if you can’t provide a proper service to your customer.

4th July 2021 – Disappointing and not the same @The Block Arcade
by 613Sonia60 (43 reviews)

We have been visiting the Hopetoun tea rooms for many years and only found out recently that Tea Rooms 1892 have been trying to copy the original Tea rooms in The Block Arcade.

Our lunch was disappointing. The chicken sandwiches were dry, which is unacceptable for the price. Pot of expensive tea tasted like dishwater and we had to ask for more tea leaves. Water arrived after we almost finished our dry sandwiches.

There was only one waitress on duty and the cafe was full….probably a poor effort to save on staffing costs. She was polite but clearly could not manage on her own.

I regret posting this onto the Hopetoun tea rooms page, which has been relocated to Bourke Street and opening soon.

Tea rooms 1892 need to remove the deceptive signage which leads customers to believe that this is the original cafe!

I am so glad that the original owner notified me that this is not the same Hopetoun Tea Room, which always provided the best food, cakes, coffee and service!

24th June 2021 – Disappointing Lunch @The Block Arcade
by 613Sonia60 (43 reviews)

This review was posted on the Hopetoun Tea Rooms Google reviews page, as the customer assumed they visited the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

The Block Arcade will not remove the signage, making false claims that it is Heritage Listed and in order trade on the previous success of my hard work.

We were a little disappointed when visiting this cafe today.
The bread used for the chicken sandwiches was dry and definitely not the usual sandwiches we have had in the past 35 years or so.

There was only one waitress on duty during lunchtime, who wasn’t coping with the number of customers today, which was not her fault and she was pleasant and friendly. They should have more staff on board to ensure that everyone is served in a timely manner. Some were waiting for some time to be served. We also ordered a pot of tea, which merely had a few tea leaves and boiling water.

We had to ask for more leaves so that we could actually taste the tea. This is a shame given the history of this tearoom.

Sadly the basic service of water was brought to the table after we had already finished our sandwiches and coffees. There is definitely an opportunity for improvement here.

We would like to continue dining here, but not sure when or if we will be back.

17th June 2021- Cannot Get it Right! @The Block Arcade
by J Turvey (1 reviews)

I got a takeaway of 2 cakes; I didn’t realised until I was home and opened the box and found that my order was wrong; I don’t know how they can get things so wrong on such a quiet day, they will never cope if things get back to normal; really very disappointed with the quality of the cheesecake too which tastes like an overly sweet slice of gelatine. If I want cakes that look great in a window but taste rubbish I would go to Ackland street but now we have the same in the city.

Like a lot of so called iconic venues, this one is trading on its former reputation as being Hopetoun Tea Rooms , time to move on and await for the original Hopetoun Tea Rooms to open.

7th May 2021 – Not Hopetoun Tea Rooms @The Block Arcade
by Ginty012 (1,282 reviews)

We thought this was Hopetoun Tea Rooms based on the sign underneath the front window. Very cramped inside with little room to move. We were seated in a corner and it was very difficult to attract the attention of staff to take our order. Cakes were delicious. Coffee good. Expensive.

3rd May 2021 – On the Block Alright… OF DISAPPOINTMENT!! @The Block Arcade
by Heidi_AHA (1 reviews)

Booked The High Tea experience as an early Mother’s Day gift, and was beyond disappointed. The booking was made for 3 people at 2pm. Of course this was pre-purchased online.
Not a single staff member checked in on our table for a good 25 mins till they were called over. Food was less than average and beyond late. Orders were mixed up more than once.

Staff were negligent to not only our table but the the table next to us.
For 65$ per person, you’d expect a little more from all angles of what is supposed to be a city experience. Upon leaving I spoke to a staff member who didn’t even care.
The shoe box store we were in catered to way too many people whether it’s pre or post COVID. There was simply no room to move.
In short, Over staffed-under qualified.

24th April 2021 – The Love Affair is over @The Block Arcade
by Yvonne_Raeside (1 reviews)

Unfortunately these Tea Rooms deliciousness that appears in the window doesn’t translate to the tasting. While the surroundings are lovely and the front window is simply divine, I have to say my disappointment with the scones cream, and jam were a let down.

Someone needs to teach the pastry chef how to make fluffy scone that melts in your mouth. These Tea Rooms 1892 scones were AWFUL.
They were not fresh and resembled Little Rock cakes rather than scones and the jam tasted as it if came out of a supermarket jar.
On the day we were there the Barista was in training. Hire someone experienced who knows how to handle a crowd. I’ve been going to the Hopetoun Tea Rooms for years, when they used to be there. The love affair is over with the Block Arcade and the attempt to copy the Hopetoun Tea Rooms and I shan’t be going back.

I will visit the Hopetoun Tea Rooms when open in Bourke Street.

21st April 2021 – Someone else’s order @ The Block Arcade
by John Agar (17 reviews)

First time I’ve been here since management changed. I ordered my wife’s favourite cake, takeaway, as a surprise. They gave me someone else’s order. What they gave me was just like a big pile of cream.

Would have been cheaper to just go to Woolworths.

20th April 2021 – Rude Staff @ The Block Arcade
by Neda Erjaei (10 reviews)

This review was posted on the Hopetoun Tea Rooms Google reviews page, as the customer assumed they visited the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

The Block Arcade will not remove the signage, making false claims that it is Heritage Listed and in order trade on the previous success of my hard work.

Very rude staff,and discriminative behaviour.
Worst experience in Melbourne. For such fancy place in heart of Melbourne, their customers service is a minus 10 (-10/10)

5th April 2021 – Disguisting Attitude from Staff @The Block Arcade
by Neda_Rassekhi (3 reviews)

Very rude staff, and discriminative behaviour. Worst experience in Melbourne.

For such not so fancy place in heart of Melbourne, their customers service is a minus 10 -10/10. The Hopetoun Tea Rooms sign has been left in the shop windows, and should be removed as the Hopetoun Tea Rooms it is not, as they have moved to a new location, which I will now make sure I visit.

I feel I have been ripped off by this attempt of imitation.

4th April 2021 – Greed @ The Block Arcade
by Michelle Hutchinson (1 reviews)

Morally questionable?

Charged for using a debit card, i.e. linked only to my savings account and NOT a credit card, in these Covid days when people are being asked to not use cash if possible in case of passing infection.
I will not be going back and am making a complaint to the Ombudsman.

20th March 2021 – Will not be going back @ The Block Arcade
by Black Blaze (9 reviews)

This review was posted on the Hopetoun Tea Rooms Google reviews page, as the customer assumed they visited the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

The Block Arcade will not remove the signage, making false claims that it is Heritage Listed and in order trade on the previous success of my hard work.

Unfortunately Hopetoun Tea Room’s deliciousness that appears in the window doesn’t translate to the tasting.
While the surroundings are lovely and the front window is simply divine I have to say my disappointment with the scones, cream and jam were a let down.

Someone needs to teach the pastry chef how to make a fluffy scone that melts in your mouth. HTT scones were awful. They were not fresh and resembled Little Rock cakes rather than scones, and the jam tasted as if it came out of a supermarket jar.

On the day we were there the Barista was in training. Hire someone experienced who knows how to handle a crowd.

I’ve been going to HTT for years, but now our love affair is over and I shan’t be going back.

2nd February 2021 – Hopetoun it is Not! @The Block Arcade
by Anthonyza2015 (114 reviews)

The new owners need to remove the sign below their front window.
Hopetoun Tea Rooms has moved and reopening in Bourke street.
People need to know that it is no longer Hopetoun Tea Rooms, it is called The Tea Rooms 1892.
Let me tell you the difference, standards and quality have dropped.

Make sure you check the itemised bill befote you pay, better still make sure you ask, not sure what it costs. You’ll be surprised.

Other reviewers have put their review of this place on the Hopetoun Tea Room site.

This was disappointing.