In times of trouble

WITH uncertainly continuing to build on what high petrol prices may mean for our weekly eating-out budget, many are considering just to eat more at home while this financial cloud hangs over.

 

I stumbled across an app this week, though, which I believe could be a gamechanger for many, as it seriously helps ease the cost of enjoying a meal out. Eatclub was founded in 2017 by an Australian tech developer, with the help of the man many consider to be the grandfather of modern gastronomy, Macro Pierre White. Given the platform was designed for eat-in experiences, though, the COVID years were a quieter time in its growth, hence why it’s really only now the app is becoming seriously discovered for many consumers, myself included. Its concept is simple: take the quietest times in a restaurant’s day/week/month schedule (eg. tables available at 5.30pm before the normal busy dinner rush starts, or an early week night when customers don’t usually visit) and offer crazy good value specials/discounts to entice diners to fill those seats. I was a little sceptical before signing on, but a quick scan of the local eateries the app has partnered with – Nova Balinese, Baah Lah, Eastern Spice, Leega, among others – showed some good pedigree. It’s not just for restaurants either, with quicker eat-options (Boss Burger, Pizza Bar and Pholklore) featured too. The offers available change daily, depending on how busy/not busy the participating venues are, or if there’s a particular deal they want to push. I found a particular cheap-and-cheerful pizza place offering a mammoth 40 per cent off (including drinks) as long as I was seated at the venue after 8pm. Another local Indian establishment, which I have visited many times, was offering a 30 per cent discount if I was to dine at lunch (including on weekends).

 

These are serious savings in anyone’s book, and aren’t just extending to solely food outlets either: last time I logged on, both 18th Amendment Bar and Hop City (among other bars) were offering great deals if I was to visit during non-peak customer hours. What a win! And best of all, the app is free. If it means still being about to enjoy a meal out, savings anywhere between 20 per cent to 40 per cent should excuse the worry we all share on the price of petrol at the moment.

Another good app similar to Eatclub, is Firstable, which acts in much the same way, but focuses more on booking only the easiest available tables at venues. Different local venues are featured on here (ie. more restaurant-style ones) but the savings are no less tempting. With such large discounts, you’re wondering: “How can the venue still make money?” Well ,the purpose of this app is to also help venues too, giving them the opportunity to optimise any spare capacity they hold – at any stage of the day/week/month – to generate more profit. For these venues, sometimes it’s not so much about the discount they’re offering, but more about keeping the place looking full, staff busy, stock turning over, and a better overall atmosphere. It’s a win for both parties, although I think the diners have the better end of the stick in most cases here!

The decision to continue to eat out at restaurants, pubs, cafes etc. during times of economic uncertainly can not only be an important for our sanity, but it further supports the many hospitality businesses that are still relying on our precious dining-out dollars. Venues I’ve spoken to over the previous three to four weeks have mentioned an increase in delivery prices from their food and beverage suppliers (ie fuel surcharges), adding further discomfort to the worry that petrol prices will keep regular patrons at home. Here’s your reminder to continue to show support towards our local hospitality favourites, even if it means calling past for only one beer/coffee, rather than two.

 

In other good food news this past week, I really enjoyed a meal I had at Woolstore (Newtown) although the acoustics of the place made it hard for our larger group to hear, even though we occupied the upper mezzanine level of the venue. The fit-out is smart (and expensive) but some noise-dampening curtains, insulation panels or thick cushioning around the space could help. The food was tasty, and the service reasonable – I’d come again.

Finally, if your household is anything like mine at all right now with a four-year-old, you’ll have been made well aware that Easter is only a few short sleeps away. The three most exciting items this time of year brings is without doubt hot cross buns, chocolate and public holidays. I’ll spend some time during the week researching a few highlights of the above categories in order to report back before the big day/s arrive.