‘Not the same’: Sizzler’s cheese toast returns, but Aussies aren’t impressed
The iconic restaurant has finally returned, albeit temporarily, to Australia – but after much fanfare, many are claiming “it’s not the same”.
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Aussies have been left bitterly disappointed by the return of Sizzler’s cheese toast – with some even calling it a “massive fail”.
The iconic restaurant officially called time on its service back in November 2020 after a long 30-year legacy serving up cheese toasts, grilled steaks and all-you-can-eat salad bars.
But fans who have craved Sizzler’s most popular dishes over the past four years had their tastebuds tantalised when the cultural 90s icon announced a two-week collaboration with The Coffee Club to serve its cheese toast.
However, no sooner had the nostalgic side-dish risen from the dead, grumblings from disappointed Aussies began to emerge online – as many claimed the new cheese toast failed to hit the mark.
A video shared by the official Sizzler Australia TikTok account announcing the news has been flooded with complaints from customers who alleged the $4.99 snack “doesn’t taste the same”.
“Rushed there this morning only to be very disappointed,” one wrote.
“It’s nothing like Sizzler toast,” another claimed.
As one lamented: “My cheese toast wasn’t cheesy.”
Melbourne food blogger @nectoriouspapi was among the first to try the restaurant’s iconic side dish at The Coffee Club in Pacific Epping, Victoria.
Despite stating it was “delicious”, he told news.com.au it was “nothing like” the dish Australians knew and loved.
“It tastes nice as you can’t really stuff up cheese on toast, but it is NOT the OG Sizzler toast,” he said.
“The piece I received looked like it had been made on white bread, it didn’t have that famous golden colour we all remember.
“The original also used parmesan but this tasted like it was just mozzarella and butter. It’s a poor imitation, a massive fail that definitely does not compare to the original.”
Many agreed online, stating: “That’s just normal bread with cheese on top. It’s not Sizzler bread.”
“WTF is that?” raged another, while one ranted: “Absolutely not the same thing.”
One person, who claimed to be a former Sizzler employee, even chipped in: “The cheese toast would NEVER look like that. It had a spread on it, not cheese that would melt like that. It was cooked for 1 minute with a weight on for the first 20 seconds.”
However, there have been some who have enjoyed the return of the cult item, after receiving a cheese toast that looked more like the Sizzler version.
“It is as cheesy, buttery and soft as everyone remembered,” Sydney food blogger @rose.khater said in a video.
The “limited-edition” return of the incredibly popular side dish comes after Queensland KIIS 97.3 radio hosts Robin Bailey and Kip Wightman hosted a one-night-only Sizzler pop-up in Brisbane alongside The Coffee Club.
“We’ve gone to great lengths to bring the original Sizzler Cheese Toast to The Coffee Club,” The Coffee Club CEO, Scott Meneilly, said in a statement of the exclusive partnership. “Everyone knows Sizzler’s Cheese Toast. It’s been an Aussie favourite for decades and a comeback not to be missed.”
The cheese toast will be served at all of its venues for a fortnight, from July 24.
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