Current Qantas First Lounge Menu (SYD/MEL) and relevant topics

[Ade]

Spring menu SYD F.



Tried the Bloody Mary for the first time ever. Loved it. #InstantFan


Had the watercress, roast tomato and avocado salad, hold the egg. Loved the avocado and toast tomato, but didn’t like the watercress. Went well with some sourdough with butter.



Had the sweet corn fritters, hold the bacon (obvs) - enjoyed it. It is a staple for me when I’m in F lounge.

 

[justinbrett]

Presumably a regular G&T is ok???

Yeah, spirit and mixer is fine.

 

[SYD]

Yeah, spirit and mixer is fine.

So as suggested earlier, an iced coffee with a vodka and kalhua on the side should be fare game!

 

[Ade]

perhaps the bartenders are not well trained so they don’t let them go off script.

Also I think it depends on which company is contracted to run the bar. I was talking to the massage staff in SYD F couple of days back and was told that there is a very strict guidelines on pretty much everything. This might not be a apples-to-apples comparison, but my understanding is that the contracting company that runs F&B (I think it's Accor in SYD F) have a set menu to operate off. They can hold/add certain things to your drinks/dishes, but simply can't make a new item that is not in the menu "agreed & paid for" with & by Qantas.

May be this is why the bar staff are unable to (even if they know how) make new drinks that are not "agreed & paid for" by QF.

All being said, if you know the staff in the lounge, by being there a few times, being friendly etc, you may be able to get a drink made to order. Just a thought.

actually fairly well stocked bar

That is true. A very well stocked bar at SYD.

 

[Princess Fiona]

There is actually so little difference between the Winter and Spring breakfast menus that they shouldn’t really need to reprint.
Ditto the all day menu, maybe one or two changes extra.

The dishes remain more or less the same, some have changes of accompaniments.
Would be better off having a standard menu and a short specials list which changes seasonally.

I’d also separate the wine and drinks list as that’s actually where the majority of the changes are.

 

[Ade]

I thought they had some signature coughtail

The signature coughtail was the “QF2”.

 

[serfty]

Corn fritters appears different, taste OK but missing crispness.

 

[Ade]

but missing crispness.

That was my experience as well.

I had these fritters in August this year from SYD F, it was super crisp and hot.

But what I got this week was cold, warm, non-crisp version. I thought that I got the not-so-great version because I ordered it around 1045, and may be they just served me what was made early that morning ...

 

[astrosly]

Spring menu SYD F.

Thanks for posting as I will be visiting in the morning next month.

That is very egg heavy

Where's the cheese? It isn't breakfast without cheese!

 

[Ade]

Thanks for posting as I will be visiting in the morning next month.

That is very egg heavy

Where's the cheese? It isn't breakfast without cheese!

Re : cheese - I’m sure you can ask for it and they should have some handy. There is whole grain toastie in the breakfast, so they should be having some cheese in it …

 

[Fergo747]

Asked for an espresso martini in the SYD Flounge today and it was refused “we only do the coughtails on the menu”.

Got one in the MEL Flounge in May, and could get them here in SYD pre covid. Not like it’s a difficult coughtail, and they’re making espresso anyway.

Yes, I’ve had the same response in the Syd lounge. And given I could see they had the ingredients required was a little annoyed.

Slight OT, however this was one of the points of feedback I provided in a recent survey and the particular question was around lounge experience / service. Not sure whether it would change anything though!

 

[exLXCXFF]

I think it’s just because of their liquor contract, they‘d only get the beers aligned to that particular distributor. This can include craft beers but more the mainstream mass produced craft beers (Eg Stone & Wood).

But surely, you would think that Qantas has distributor who would have some gems in their distribution basket other than the standard beers that we see.

Having said all that, I'd never drink a beer in the first lounge when there are so many better booze options available, and I'm not going to be driving any time soon.

Well, that's exactly the problem. For someone who is not drinking hard/high percentage alcohol and simply does not care about any kind of bubbles either, I go like - from a pure alcoholic beverage point of view, leaving food options completely aside - well, what's the comparative advantage of the beer selection in F vs Qantas Club? The answer is, probably, none and as a beer lover, I am then a bit sad because - while it would Qantas cost a bit of money - the F Lounge essentially has no benefit to me from a beer perspective over Qantas Club. Yulli's for instance would not be too far away to source as mentioned further up . That is exactly where my comment regarding CX lounges came from (pre-Covid) - I once had a nice chat to the Deck Lounge Manager who was delighted about my feedback on local craft beer selection.

As I said initially, first world problem....

 

[Vic]

Well, that's exactly the problem. For someone who is not drinking hard/high percentage alcohol and simply does not care about any kind of bubbles either, I go like - from a pure alcoholic beverage point of view, leaving food options completely aside - well, what's the comparative advantage of the beer selection in F vs Qantas Club? The answer is, probably, none and as a beer lover, I am then a bit sad because - while it would Qantas cost a bit of money - the F Lounge essentially has no benefit to me from a beer perspective over Qantas Club. Yulli's for instance would not be too far away to source as mentioned further up . That is exactly where my comment regarding CX lounges came from (pre-Covid) - I once had a nice chat to the Deck Lounge Manager who was delighted about my feedback on local craft beer selection.

As I said initially, first world problem....

When it comes to it, really only the bubbly French muck is beyond the ordinary. The standard wine selection is pretty much standard. Occasionally the use to have a decent wine in a decanter on the var in Sydney. Not sure if they still do that now.

When it comes to champagne even the cheap stuff is decent enough. I'd rate even Piper ahead of almost all Australian sparklings.

What you say is true about beer, they could certainly offer something more in keeping with first class. Unfortunately, it seems that champagne is the only acknowledgement of "first class"

Luckily, we're not the USA where any spirit mixed in a glass is considered to be a coughtail. I gotta laugh at a Mimosa being one of the "coughtails". I wonder if they'll do a Kir Royale

 

[arrow]

Occasionally the use to have a decent wine in a decanter on the var in Sydney. Not sure if they still do that now.

Haven’t seen the wine in the decanter in a few years. So sad they took it away. It was always the highlight of the visit!

 

[mitti]

I hate how they have hidden the champagne on the list - they would probably argue its because it changes regularly, but the underlying reason is cost savings of course. The same as getting rid of Bolly and Taittinger etc.

 

[SYD]

I hate how they have hidden the champagne on the list - they would probably argue its because it changes regularly, but the underlying reason is cost savings of course. The same as getting rid of Bolly and Taittinger etc.

If I remember, I’ll ask why. It’s not exactly hidden. There’s usually big ice buckets in each dining area. Knowing what they have before asking for a glass is obviously handy.

 

[Austman]

Spring Menu Melbourne F:



From the menu, here is Grilled sumac lamb, Bowl of chips and Steamed seasonal greens:

 

[Princess Fiona]

If I remember, I’ll ask why. It’s not exactly hidden. There’s usually big ice buckets in each dining area. Knowing what they have before asking for a glass is obviously handy.

I’m nosy
I actually just check the buckets on the way to my table.
Agree that they aren’t hidden

 

[sudoer]

Apparently some Indian themed dishes in the SYD F lounge to celebrate the SYD-BLR route launch. Unsure if it was just today or will be sticking around for a bit.

Watch this story by Qantas on Instagram before it disappears.

instagram.com

 

[Princess Fiona]

SYD F has Pommery, Piper and Jacquart today.
Tried a couple of new dishes.
Spa hours just recently extended now open 0730-1530 (last appointment 1500)
Spa menu (had my usual facial)

And tried the Tiramisu. Yum