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| Cost of restaurant dining; Not really more than Seattle | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 23 2009, 10:08:30 AM (1,099 Views) | |
| Lisa66 | Oct 23 2009, 10:08:30 AM Post #1 |
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True Blue Mate
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Something I've been thinking about - seeing everyone talk about how much more expensive it is here. Coming from Seattle (not a cheap / low cost of living city, granted) I really don't think it is all that different for comparable meals. Zoe and I went to the new Groove Train in Brighton last night. A [gigantic and quite delish] serve of fettucine carbonara is around $18 AUD. I looked at the menus of some restaurants in Seattle - not big huge chain places nor single-location fancy chef / owner places either. A similar main dish would be $12 - $15 USD. The thing is, here the price on the menu is the price you pay ... whereas in the States - in Seattle at least - you have to add almost 30%: the tax rate is 9% and I always tipped around 20%. That doesn't even take into account the exchange rate. (Nor does it take into account the fact that working in a restaurant there doesn't pay a living wage ... but that discussion might boot this over into the controversial section.) I know there is a school of thought that says don't compare - but the fact is that we still have $ in the States and my husband still gets paid in USD for some of the work he does, so for us, comparing is sometimes relevent. Anyway. If you're moving from somewhere in the US where the cost of living is low to, say, a Melbourne or Sydney inner suburb, then yes, there will be eating out sticker shock. But for me at least, I feel like it isn't quite as bad as it's made out to be ... Here are the restaurants in Seattle I was looking at: http://www.dukeschowderhouse.com/pdf/DukesDinner1124.pdf, http://www.chowfoods.com/. ;-) Lisa |
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| blarg | Oct 23 2009, 11:23:46 AM Post #2 |
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True Blue Mate
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I think the biggest difference is to the people who yearn for a Denny's or Red Lobster, not the classier places. 
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| waitingwaiting | Oct 23 2009, 12:46:23 PM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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Groove Train has big portions compared to the fine dining places here, but I agree with you - it's easy to find amazing, good value food in Melbourne (I have to say, not so in places like Perth where I found anything good to come with the price tag to match). Not having to tip definitely helps out with the cost as well, especially if you go out for an expensive meal. I find side dishes and desserts here to be really exxy though... Have you checked out The Age Cheap Eats Guide? Are you still happy with the US dollar exchange rate though? It's not looking good at the moment. When I first moved here it was something like 71 cents USD to one AUD... Edited by waitingwaiting, Oct 23 2009, 12:51:56 PM.
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| natasha_alena | Oct 23 2009, 12:52:19 PM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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Oh how I'd love some Red Lobster biscuits!!! |
| "You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather" | |
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| waitingwaiting | Oct 23 2009, 12:59:23 PM Post #5 |
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True Blue Mate
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Yum! I have a good recipe for those if you want... (it's pretty close) |
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| DS6540 | Oct 23 2009, 01:08:46 PM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi Lisa! In terms of value for money, I agree with you 100%. My wife and I lived in London for a bit, we made okay £, but we just couldn't afford eating out there. Whenever we could, we'd take the tube out of the city to Leytonstone where there was a BYO Thai restaurant. Without an 18% tipping requirement and avoiding overpriced wine lists through BYO, my feeling is that eating out is definitely affordable in Sydney. It's not a bargain, but considering the quality of produce and ingredients available - Sydney's restaurant scene is one of my favourite things about the city. Dan |
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| shylady | Oct 23 2009, 01:29:07 PM Post #7 |
oldYank
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There again it depends on where you are in the city, and how "trendy" you want to be. Certainly in the CBD proper and in the Northbridge nightclub district it's more expensive, but there are excellent restaurants that are very reasonable, a very short distance away. We eat in restaurants most every week, and I'm quite a tightwad, but don't mind the prices. If we go somewhere trendy I use the Entertainment Book card, and it saves at least 25% on the bill.  I agree, desserts are expensive from what I've seen, I'm glad I don't eat them!  Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| waitingwaiting | Oct 23 2009, 01:38:11 PM Post #8 |
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True Blue Mate
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True, true, Lisa. We lived in East Perth and used to go across to Vic Park to eat a lot (think that's what the suburb was called). There were some great restaurants there but they were mostly Thai and Indian. I love that kind of food, but I felt like if I wanted something "Modern Australian" or French or seafood, for example, it could be hard to find something reasonably priced. Compared to Melbourne, anyway. I'm sure scarcity is a factor. Love, love, LOVE the Entertainment Book - we didn't even know about it when in Perth but I wish we had. We use the Melbourne one all the time. Such a good value. - Andrea |
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| (provocateur) | Oct 23 2009, 01:38:23 PM Post #9 |
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I find that food here at the run of the mill Turkish, Thai, Indian or Pizza place is more expensive than the US. |
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| waitingwaiting | Oct 23 2009, 01:42:21 PM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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Where do you go for Turkish? I've only found The Kilim in N. Richmond... |
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| pastrycook-136 | Oct 23 2009, 05:51:29 PM Post #11 |
True Blue Mate
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There is a Turkisk place (Marmara I think?) on Chapel St. in Windsor. I did not try it yet. Edited by pastrycook-136, Oct 23 2009, 05:52:27 PM.
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| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| Lisa66 | Oct 23 2009, 06:15:23 PM Post #12 |
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True Blue Mate
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There are a few Mediterranean / Turkish / Lebanese places on Glen Huntly Road - Talk of the Town in Elsternwick. |
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| Pamm | Oct 23 2009, 08:01:52 PM Post #13 |
True Blue Mate
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I miss Denny's and IHOP myself. The only places we've eaten out since I've been here are the roadhouse stops on trips, so far the best one was in a small place on the way back from Albany to Kal. Best hamburger I've had here yet! Anything fancier, I prefer my own cooking  |
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| shylady | Oct 23 2009, 09:19:29 PM Post #14 |
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oldYank
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I know that place!
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| miki | Oct 25 2009, 09:22:39 PM Post #15 |
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Chinwagger
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I went to The Kilim recently with a friend for the first time and we did not enjoy it, although I had heard it recommended by a lot of people. I've been to Marmara on Chapel Street and always found their food very good, although if they're having a busy night, they try to get you to leave quickly - it's not a place where you can linger. For Lebanese: no one has mentioned Almazett on Balaclava Road in North Caulfield. I think they are considerably better than Talk of the Town, although Talk of the Town has some good salads. There is also a Turkish place on Glenhuntly Road called Arda, but it's fairly average. Marmara is better. There is lots of Turkish food on the other side of town (I think in Coburg?) Can anyone recommend a specific restaurant? |
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| Bukko | Oct 25 2009, 09:49:58 PM Post #16 |
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Anklebiter
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There are SO many good Turkish places in Melbourne! Right around the corner from where we live is a place called Lezzet, on the west side of Brighton Road in Elwood, almost to St. Kilda, in the shopping strip across from the Grosvenor Hotel/liquor store. Good grilled stuff, and they do nice Turkish-style fish. You don't associate Turkish cuisine with seafood. But the BEST is Alasya on Sydney Road in Brunswick. I'm not Turkish food expert, but it seems to span a range of that country's food styles -- Turkey is a diverse place, after all -- and it's not expensive. The pides are big, good value for money. Going there is one of my "bucket list" things to do one more time before I leave. Sorry if I'm going on a lot about food, but my wife and I are major food-hounds. The Brunswick suburb of Melbourne is my favourite place, because I like odd Middle Eastern stuff. And I don't usually comment this much, but I'm trying to get my comment count up so I can access for "Sale and Swap" section. How many posts does one need to get in there, anyway? |
| Madness, meanness and pure farking genius | |
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| shylady | Oct 25 2009, 10:47:20 PM Post #17 |
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oldYank
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Looks like you've done it! (I was really hoping, when I said maybe 10...) 
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| KimInMellie | Oct 26 2009, 09:52:32 AM Post #18 |
True Blue Mate
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Hey folks Back to the OT: I'd agree that the lower-end fast food or pretty-fast food is more expensive here, but like others have said, most middle- to upper-end restaurants come out about even once you factor in what you'd have to shell out in tax & tip in the US. I think it just takes some mental adjustment to look at the menu prices here and realize you don't have to factor in a percentage increase on top of it. I'll admit when I first got here I held the illusion that meals out were pricier here, for just that reason. Did I just reiterate what you guys have already stated eloquently and succinctly? Oops. I've been out of town and out of the loop the past couple of days and will probably go place posts that add no extra value to a lot of threads just to make myself feel better ...
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 Go that way really, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn. -- Charles De Mar | |
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| Bukko | Oct 26 2009, 02:16:53 PM Post #19 |
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Anklebiter
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One other reason that resto prices seem excessive here is because of the fluctuating exchange rate of the AU$ vs. the (not so) Big Yankee Dollar. When the Aussie was 63 US cents last year, stuff struck me as cheap, because I'm always mentally converting prices into what stuff costs in "real" money. Now that the Aussie is 92 cents, the $28 price on those mains MEANS something. FWIW, I did a dash through New Zealand a couple weeks ago, and with their puny dollars, the list prices at restaurants came off as even higher. And in Canada, the menu prices are high; they stick you with a 10% liquor tax if you drink wine, a 5% GST, PLUS you're expected to tip. So Aussie dining out isn't all that bad. |
| Madness, meanness and pure farking genius | |
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| surfermomkelly | Oct 26 2009, 08:15:37 PM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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I think dining out in about the same-ish as the US (or where I was in the US) When you figure all the tax, tip etc there is comes about the same. the only thing I can't find is sushi where we are and its killing me. but I have found super good places to eat which is nice
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