The end of fine dining in Australia?

[opusman]

Well, maybe not yet. But was sad to read today that Rockpool (the original, not B&G) is closing.

Actually in Melbourne now there are very few "true" fine dining restaurants left. It's still possible to spend a shedload of money on dinner, you just won't get white tablecloths and professional waiters in very many places any more.

 

[amaroo]

Loved his original restaurant, ambience and food .... the new one was dreadful on all fronts IMO

 

[LadyC]

I remember eating a delicious lobster dish there many moons ago.

I think Melbourne struggles to support these high end restaurants - i don't think we have a large enough population and tourists willing to spend those dollars on a meal.

 

[travelislife]

Well, maybe not yet. But was sad to read today that Rockpool (the original, not B&G) is closing.

Actually in Melbourne now there are very few "true" fine dining restaurants left. It's still possible to spend a shedload of money on dinner, you just won't get white tablecloths and professional waiters in very many places any more.

It's interesting that he says name confusion is one of the reasons. 100 people a month going to the wrong restaurant!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well, maybe not yet. But was sad to read today that Rockpool (the original, not B&G) is closing.

Actually in Melbourne now there are very few "true" fine dining restaurants left. It's still possible to spend a shedload of money on dinner, you just won't get white tablecloths and professional waiters in very many places any more.

I remember eating a delicious lobster dish there many moons ago.

I think Melbourne struggles to support these high end restaurants - i don't think we have a large enough population and tourists willing to spend those dollars on a meal.

It's Rockpool in Sydney that's closing.

Neil Perry: Why I'm closing Rockpool

 

[opusman]

Yes I know. Unlike some people I'm able to discuss two things at once

 

[love_the_life]

Don't think he can complain about Rockpool B&G. After all, he called it that. I think he has spread himself a bit thin and is finding the returns are not as good.
Then again, maybe he wants to concentrate on his QF menus :mrgreen:

 

[opusman]

Don't think he can complain about Rockpool B&G. After all, he called it that. I think he has spread himself a bit thin and is finding the returns are not as good.

I think all "celebrity" chefs end up going down that route. High-end fine dining restaurants are apparently just not that profitable. The path to true riches lies in endorsements, TV reality shows and the commercialization of the "brand" rather than the actual food. Here in Melbourne (note: not Sydney), Frank Camorra had a fantastic Spanish restaurant called Movida. The first thing in Melbourne (and Australia) like it. Then he opened another one, then another one. Then a bakery. Then he opened one in Sydney. Great, the empire is expanding - but Movida is sadly nowhere near as good as it was originally (although it has to be said, no less popular).

They take their eye off the ball, as you say spread themselves too thin, and service and food quality starts to slip.

 

[Princess Fiona]

This is from the email I received. I think it's just a re-branding really.
Eleven Bridge

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yes I know. Unlike some people I'm able to discuss two things at once

I can also discuss two things at once.
IMO it would be more on topic for a discussion on restaurant closures in Sydney.

 

[opusman]

IMO it would be more on topic for a discussion on restaurant closures in Sydney.

Why, because Sydney is a different country or something?

Seriously, start your own thread if broadening the discussion beyond a single restaurant offends you.

 

[Cynicor]

I found it interesting that some high end restaurants aren't profitable. El Bulli springs to mind. Maybe the chefs just aren't great businessmen, because if I owned the "best restaurant in the world" that only opened reservations one day a year and was still overbooked, I'd probably raise prices until it was profitable. And handsomely at that.

Most of the restaurants I've been to in the top 20 (on the San pellegrino or 3 mich star lists) are cheaper/comparable to a decent dinner in Perth.

That doesn't help rockpool, I'm sure, as it doesn't quite have the same pull, but more of a general observation.

 

[LadyC]

I haven't been to Movida in a few years for a few reasons, one being that it became a lot harder to get into. I went to his restaurant when it was at the Carron Tavern. Delicious and cheap if I recall correctly. It wasn't there that long before he moved to Hosier Lane.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Why, because Sydney is a different country or something?

Seriously, start your own thread if broadening the discussion beyond a single restaurant offends you.

It doesn't offend me at all.
I just found it a bit odd that the opening post refers to the closure of a long-standing Sydney restaurant and then referred to Melbourne struggling to support similar restaurants with a follow up poster saying the same thing.

Discuss any city you wish.

 

[opusman]

I just found it a bit odd that the opening post refers to the closure of a long-standing Sydney restaurant and then referred to Melbourne struggling to support similar restaurants with a follow up poster saying the same thing.

And the title of the thread? Sheesh...

 

[Pushka]

I thought it was the Melbourne Rockpool closing from the first few posts. Clearly I'm not multi-tasking today.

 

[Warks]

I went to Wockpool at Darling Harbour once. That was a long time ago.

 

[amaroo]

I managed to work out is was Sydney

 

[kaktusdigital]

too bad the Melbourne one isn't closing down.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Times / peoples habits and reqts change - one thing for sure - the market is never wrong.

FWIW I have only ever been to Rockpool in MEL once - loved the food - stumbled at the price - still had a great time.