AFF Gathering #13 in SYD on 18 - 20 October 2019

[daft009]

I do hope Cafe Sydney is the pick for dinner in Customs House as it has views and pretty good food. It is just across from the Circular Quay Station so very easy and bus stops and ferry stops right there.

yeah the food is pretty good. the views are slightly better.
last time i went we spent so much time talking we were asked to vacate the table for the next group and no time for dessert, unless it was at the bar or on the couches, mind you it was melb cup day last year so I forgive them

 

[CMA222]

yeah the food is pretty good. the views are slightly better.
last time i went we spent so much time talking we were asked to vacate the table for the next group and no time for dessert, unless it was at the bar or on the couches, mind you it was melb cup day last year so I forgive them

I agree the food is good and the location is excellent but they do have strict turnover of tables and you are moved along when your allocated time expires if in the first sitting. I had a standard booking for an early dinner and they strictly enforced the "second sitting" when we were asked to leave . Private dining appears to be restricted to 14 to 16 seated or 30 standing in the private dining room ("PDR")

This may confirm it is towards the high end price wise with a minimum spend in the PDR

https://cafesydney.com/cms_uploads/docs/private-dining-room.pdf

but the price of drinks may make the minimum spend easy to achieve !!

https://cafesydney.com/cms_uploads/docs/cafe-sydney-wine-menu-20190201.pdf

The general menu (and a separate vegan menu) are comprehensive and not too expensive given the venue and its location.

https://cafesydney.com/cms_uploads/docs/cafe-sydney-alc-lunch-and-dinner-menu-281218.pdf
https://cafesydney.com/cms_uploads/docs/vegan-menu-081118.pdf

 

[support]

I do hope Cafe Sydney is the pick for dinner in Customs House as it has views and pretty good food. It is just across from the Circular Quay Station so very easy and bus stops and ferry stops right there.

Exclusive use is far too much. The PDR is too small, with a maximum 16 seated guests. A group booking makes the most sense, ranging from 12-40 guests, but the price for 3 courses is over $100, and this would be more than we've ever paid for a dinner, by nearly 50% more (previous high was $80 in Perth).

Not to mention we have had 3 years in the past where numbers have gone above 40. Additionally, we are usually in a space longer than the usual 2-hour booking slot, as we have speeches to get through and the like. Generally, minimum spends aren't a problem with the number of alcohol drinkers, but I think it all depends on the quality and price of the wine list... and perhaps to a lesser amount, what the prepayment for dinner was. After all, if you've already paid over $100 for food, you might be less likely to want to spend big on drinks too compared to if you saved money on food.

Therefore, this option is low on the list, but is on the list as there has been some interest in it. Choosing a suitable venue is quite often more work than most people realise, and goes beyond just the food.

 

[cove]

Yes I saw where folks are hurried out so that won’t work for a group that size.

 

[penegal]

It's okay @cove - I will have dinner with you at Cafe Sydney sometime. I do enjoy it there.

 

[cove]

Good thinking penegal......we can do pre-load prior to dinner at a place nearby.

 

[kpc]

It's okay @cove - I will have dinner with you at Cafe Sydney sometime. I do enjoy it there.

Good thinking penegal......we can do pre-load prior to dinner at a place nearby.

don't forget to invite me

 

[cove]

Ok I will do that kpc provided my memory isn’t shot.....This getting older is a bit of a worry.
I think we have Moët,Veuve and maybe some Chandon in the cupboard and maybe a bottle of Dom.

 

[CMA222]

It's okay @cove - I will have dinner with you at Cafe Sydney sometime. I do enjoy it there.

Count me in if you are going to Cafe Sydney for dinner some time. Always happy to have a meal there.
Now back to the topic of the thread ............

 

[SydneySwan]

Count me in if you are going to Cafe Sydney for dinner some time. Always happy to have a meal there.
Now back to the topic of the thread ............

Perhaps there should be a Cafe Sydney thread?

 

[Buzzard]

Probably 'cause until recently a seniors from another state needed to. This has changed in the last year or so with Senior cardholders of states other than WA being exempted from the 60 days validity: (Opal for interstate seniors | NSW Government | Opal)

I checked our cards today and they are valid for 9 years. Opal informed me that this change only occurred earlier this year.

 

[clipped_wings]

This is the first year in a long time that we will not be in the States during October. I live on the Central Coast so a Sydney venue is a wonderful opportunity to meet you all!

But I fly once or twice a year - a fraction of the time you all do. And I'd be petrified of feeling like some impostor among a pedigree group. Is there a colour bracket for this phobia? Charcoal perhaps.......

 

[cove]

Imposters are welcome as are +1s clipped_wings.
Last year was excellent and Adelaide is a really good fun city to visit.
It is true some AFFers are flying every week which we don’t do either.

 

[TomVexille]

This is the first year in a long time that we will not be in the States during October. I live on the Central Coast so a Sydney venue is a wonderful opportunity to meet you all!

But I fly once or twice a year - a fraction of the time you all do. And I'd be petrified of feeling like some impostor among a pedigree group. Is there a colour bracket for this phobia? Charcoal perhaps.......

Trust me, it's all about meeting like minded people who enjoy travel

 

[Bindibuys]

Clipped wings, we only fly a couple of times a year, but I have attended the last 4 gatherings, and I promise you will not feel out of place.

 

[Buzzard]

You can always come to ADL in April for the wine tour I've organised and increase your flight count

 

[Jacques Vert]

You can always come to ADL in April for the wine tour I've organised and increase your flight count

And the dates are?

 

[JessicaTam]

And the dates are?

April Wine Tour - The Elder Tour to Rockford

 

[Jacques Vert]

April Wine Tour - The Elder Tour to Rockford

Thanks JT.

Somehow missed this thread.

 

[Natalie Z]

Gold for me This will be my first AFF event