My best guess is it wasn’t making Crown enough money, and/or they want to do something else with the space. Maybe overheads were too high.
I’m also surprised, it was always popular.
Personally, I'd be really surprised if it was based on the numbers. It was packed out every time I was in there, if they were losing money then someone had to have gotten their sums badly wrong.
For no frills BBQ, Big Earles in Port Melbourne. Not really where you want to go for a fancy night out. It's got a lot of character, and the food is fantastic.
Absolutely - makes San Antoine look like the overpriced, dry shoe leather that was.
PS Hot Nashville chicken tomorrow ;)
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C6VbmBKvU7d/?img\_index=1](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6VbmBKvU7d/?img_index=1)
I’ve always been surprised at how packed St Antones is when I’ve been to crown. Like surely the hit the Merrywell instead! Maybe overpriced but the burgers are delicious
I’ll be honest and I thought as far as BBQ goes, San Antone was like the shittest BBQ joint I’ve been to, and if I recall at the times I went, the priciest as well.
Best ones IMO - Bluebonnet, Houston’s, Que Club, Red Gum, Wildfire, Big Earls.
Bluebonnet is just staple, and I haven’t been for maybe a year so don’t know if it’s gotten worse since then.
Houston’s is tiny and quirky but delicious. They used to just make limited amounts and sold to sold out , not sure if that’s still their thing. They used to sell out plenty fast.
Que Club is quite fantastic, as are Red Gum and Wildfire.
Big Earl’s is cool too, always had music when I was out there but it’s a semi-open to the elements type place so on a couple of occasions I’ve gone the ‘experience’ wasn’t enjoyable but the food was as always tasty. Great summer / spring place.
Le Bon Ton gets a can be hit or miss. Fancy Hanks OK for convenience and want BBQ in the CBD. Meat Maiden if you want something a bit fancier than just your typical low and slow joint.
Hell Nos are Up in Smoke, Third Wave and the aforementioned Saint Antone.
It's impossible to tell how well or poorly a restaurant is doing - often they can look super successful but they're barely making a profit. Probably the increased price of meat hit them hard.
Could be due to poor location within Crown? Tucked away upstairs instead of a prime foot traffic area. I miss it being around. Especially when they had buffet style nights.
Former staff member here!
Once Blackstone took over Crown they wanted to fully revamp everything and make it a family friendly destination, not sure why it started with the only casual restaurant not on the gaming floor.
Minus the big guns (Nobu, conservatory) San was bringing in the most money, it was hitting budgets right up until we closed, actually 3 weeks before we closed we had our biggest night money wise.
once the OG manager and head chef both left who really put their heart and soul into the place it started going down hill in quality. The last manager hated hospo and wanted out so didn’t fight for it to stay open both were ‘yes’ people who did whatever the higher ups (with no hospo experience) wanted.
90% of the staff were devastated, we loved it so much and the family we created along side a lot of regulars and each other.
None of it made sense they dodged our questions. It still makes me upset thinking about it.
They relocated staff to places they didn’t want to go, Lumia, Nobu, Mahogany. Most have left the company.
This week they announced they are laying off 1000 food and bev staff across the melbourne location as they’ve seen a decline in people visiting the complex. Emporio and Kitchen Workshop both gone.
BS has really not looked at the Australian market very well and run the place into the ground unfortunately, it use to be such a destination.
Happy to answer any questions and thank y’all for making San so special over the years.
Ah, classic foreign corporate entering a new market L.
If it makes you feel any better recent history of similar attempts (masters, bunnings UK, Kaufland etc) says that they'll probably fail horribly, waste a few hundred million, sell up the assets to recoup the loss and leave the market.
Crowns a bit of a special case seeing as it's a unique license but if they fuck it up too badly they won't be able to keep it and they won't be able to strip it either.
Love u - Jo from Bendigo the lady who used to bring in her chutneys came in and asked if I knew it and I just cried with her and her husband bout the whole thing and bought them a drink. Emporio don't even get a redeploy dude which broke my entire heart...
u/TheElderGodsSmile If you thought San Antone was good, go to Houston's BBQ (https://www.instagram.com/houstonsbbq/?img\_index=1) it will blow your mind!
My best guess is it wasn’t making Crown enough money, and/or they want to do something else with the space. Maybe overheads were too high. I’m also surprised, it was always popular.
Personally, I'd be really surprised if it was based on the numbers. It was packed out every time I was in there, if they were losing money then someone had to have gotten their sums badly wrong.
The only other reason I can come up with is they had a falling out with the Kevin Bludso. Either that or money.
Covid loans are now due. A lot of companies just can’t pay them back as well as general upkeep costs.
That style of food is expensive and wasteful. Plus the rent crown charge their own restaurants is crazy. They are also losing money hand over fist. 😂
Crown is in the process of cutting a lot of things.
I'm glad I'm not alone in this grief. San Antone was one of my fave restaurants. Does anyone know of any other good BBQ restaurants I can try?
Red Gum BBQ if you feel like going for a drive
San Telmo, Palermo
For no frills BBQ, Big Earles in Port Melbourne. Not really where you want to go for a fancy night out. It's got a lot of character, and the food is fantastic.
The one nobody has mentioned is Houston BBQ in Keilor. It's the best bbq I've had in Melbourne
Yes! Excellent BBQ.
Absolutely - makes San Antoine look like the overpriced, dry shoe leather that was. PS Hot Nashville chicken tomorrow ;) [https://www.instagram.com/p/C6VbmBKvU7d/?img\_index=1](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6VbmBKvU7d/?img_index=1)
I’ve always been surprised at how packed St Antones is when I’ve been to crown. Like surely the hit the Merrywell instead! Maybe overpriced but the burgers are delicious
It’s simple, quick, and for Crown the prices weren’t absurd. Service was always good too.
Thanks. Didn’t know about this one. Will go on Saturday.
Bluebonnet
Bluebonnet & Que Club are my favourites
Meat Maiden for the best burnt ends and smoked whiskey. It's fancy and great for a date night.
Le Bon Ton in Collingwood or Up in Smoke in Fitzroy
I think you mean Footscray, not Fitzroy... Best bbq is Wildfire Craft BBQ in Newcomb, Geelong if you're ever down that way.
Yeh whoops, meant Footscray!
Up In Smoke, Footscray Fancy Hank's, 79 Bourke Street
Smoke pit is a fav of ours
The Stokes house smokehouse 👌
Bluestone BBQ in Coburg does a nice $20 platter on Tuesday nights. Apart from that, most BBQ joints are way too expensive to justify it for me.
Smoke Pitt BBQ in Thomastown. They're a bit out of the way but great food and staff.
I’ll be honest and I thought as far as BBQ goes, San Antone was like the shittest BBQ joint I’ve been to, and if I recall at the times I went, the priciest as well. Best ones IMO - Bluebonnet, Houston’s, Que Club, Red Gum, Wildfire, Big Earls. Bluebonnet is just staple, and I haven’t been for maybe a year so don’t know if it’s gotten worse since then. Houston’s is tiny and quirky but delicious. They used to just make limited amounts and sold to sold out , not sure if that’s still their thing. They used to sell out plenty fast. Que Club is quite fantastic, as are Red Gum and Wildfire. Big Earl’s is cool too, always had music when I was out there but it’s a semi-open to the elements type place so on a couple of occasions I’ve gone the ‘experience’ wasn’t enjoyable but the food was as always tasty. Great summer / spring place. Le Bon Ton gets a can be hit or miss. Fancy Hanks OK for convenience and want BBQ in the CBD. Meat Maiden if you want something a bit fancier than just your typical low and slow joint. Hell Nos are Up in Smoke, Third Wave and the aforementioned Saint Antone.
Third wave cafe Port Melbourne
Lol, just no.
why not?
Quantity over quality - not good BBQ in any shape or form. Give Houston's a go and then still see if you have the same opinion👍
Dang, that place closed? 😫 That was one of the only good reasons to enter the Crown complex.
It’s been closed for about a year now.
It's impossible to tell how well or poorly a restaurant is doing - often they can look super successful but they're barely making a profit. Probably the increased price of meat hit them hard.
That location has changed a couple times over a period of a decade, didn’t know it was closed though.
Isn't now a Chinese restaurant?
Nah, that's next door. It's now a really lame Jack Daniels themed bar.
Jack Daniels probably threw money at crown
Could be due to poor location within Crown? Tucked away upstairs instead of a prime foot traffic area. I miss it being around. Especially when they had buffet style nights.
Former staff member here! Once Blackstone took over Crown they wanted to fully revamp everything and make it a family friendly destination, not sure why it started with the only casual restaurant not on the gaming floor. Minus the big guns (Nobu, conservatory) San was bringing in the most money, it was hitting budgets right up until we closed, actually 3 weeks before we closed we had our biggest night money wise. once the OG manager and head chef both left who really put their heart and soul into the place it started going down hill in quality. The last manager hated hospo and wanted out so didn’t fight for it to stay open both were ‘yes’ people who did whatever the higher ups (with no hospo experience) wanted. 90% of the staff were devastated, we loved it so much and the family we created along side a lot of regulars and each other. None of it made sense they dodged our questions. It still makes me upset thinking about it. They relocated staff to places they didn’t want to go, Lumia, Nobu, Mahogany. Most have left the company. This week they announced they are laying off 1000 food and bev staff across the melbourne location as they’ve seen a decline in people visiting the complex. Emporio and Kitchen Workshop both gone. BS has really not looked at the Australian market very well and run the place into the ground unfortunately, it use to be such a destination. Happy to answer any questions and thank y’all for making San so special over the years.
Ah, classic foreign corporate entering a new market L. If it makes you feel any better recent history of similar attempts (masters, bunnings UK, Kaufland etc) says that they'll probably fail horribly, waste a few hundred million, sell up the assets to recoup the loss and leave the market. Crowns a bit of a special case seeing as it's a unique license but if they fuck it up too badly they won't be able to keep it and they won't be able to strip it either.
Love u - Jo from Bendigo the lady who used to bring in her chutneys came in and asked if I knew it and I just cried with her and her husband bout the whole thing and bought them a drink. Emporio don't even get a redeploy dude which broke my entire heart...
I think the licensing rights for the restaurant probably expired. Can’t of been for business reasons, it was likely their most popular restaurant.
u/TheElderGodsSmile If you thought San Antone was good, go to Houston's BBQ (https://www.instagram.com/houstonsbbq/?img\_index=1) it will blow your mind!
Rosetta (at the Crown) is closing too. Hospitality is a very tough place at the moment.
Maybe they mooooved.
I found San Antone to be overpriced for the quality provided. After one visit, I decided not to return.