Fodder - Full Menu

We were recommended Fodder for lunch by people at a nearby winery. Sunday lunch and the place was packed. They were able to find us seating (just). So I would r... read more We were recommended Fodder for lunch by people at a nearby winery. Sunday lunch and the place was packed. They were able to find us seating (just). So I would recommend booking particularly if you are travelling in a group. The food was excellent. We had the soup and then a mix of dips. The pizzas looked great too. Well worth a visit.

As a group we've been going to this venue for many years as the initial gathering point for our annual Coonawarra trip - well before it became known as Ottelia... read more As a group we've been going to this venue for many years as the initial gathering point for our annual Coonawarra trip - well before it became known as Ottelia Fodder. Our first experience with the new owners was when we came in for lunch a few years ago and instead of welcome we were asked "Did it cross your mind to make a booking at any stage" in a rather abrupt tone. We've continued to go back over the last few years but we've decided that yesterday was our last visit. We rang and booked for 10 and said that as per other visits we just wanted to order 6-8 pizzas. We were told no - it was their policy we would have to have set menu. We said we understood why a set menu for larger groups but we just wanted pizza - we weren't going to order a variety of dishes, just pizza. Told NO - YOU MUST HAVE SET MENU FOR GROUP OF 10. Disappointed that there was no flexibility but went ahead with booking.When we arrived on the day, I informed the Manager that we would only be 9 as one of our group coming from interstate had been delayed and wouldn't arrive in time for lunch. What happened next was gobsmackingly poor customer service. We were very aggressively asked "when did you know etc etc" and then it went downhill from there. We told her we'd just found out about the late arrival but that just didn't seem good enough. There was a brief discussion on what good customer service looks like and there is clearly no appetite for that at this venue.In small towns choice is limited and this venue is probably still only in business because options are limited. There is a continual stream of feedback exactly the same as our feedback, and then a defensive rant from the Manager about circumstances being different. In a world where customer service is so important my recommendation is that there are other venues that welcome your patronage in Penola with good old fashioned customer service and that Ottelia Fodder doesn't.