"Island Dining" in the Domestic J lounges: Tips, Timing & Menus

[JohnK]

Currently sitting at the Island at Syd looking decided hungry. Praying for a miracle. That said the chowder was very tasty.

I suspect that may have something to do with public holiday as well.

I am here now and Island dining is not setup but no hot option yet except for some silly looking fritata and chilly con carne Empanada. And the chowder is still here as well.

If people seriously think this is "premium" food then there is something seriously wrong with your interpretation of "premium" food.

 

[mikejr]

Same in the MEL Business Lounge at the moment - nothing really appetising, even the cheese looks like it has seen better days! There are some calzone looking objects but they are harder than diamond so the dentist might be the one benefiting from these...

 

[medhead]

I suspect that may have something to do with public holiday as well.

I am here now and Island dining is not setup but no hot option yet except for some silly looking fritata and chilly con carne Empanada. And the chowder is still here as well.

The Empanada is really really good.

If people seriously think this is "premium" food then there is something seriously wrong with your interpretation of "premium" food.

There you go again completely confusing the issue. Island dining is the premium food and it is also the subject of this thread. The general self serve food, like the empanada is not the island dining option.

 

[Nizar]

No sign of "Island Dining" in the ADL J lounge last night.

Just the soup, bread and salads lol and I asked someone if one of the staff if they had island dining OR were serving other "dinner" type hot food or anything like that, and at first she looked at me strangely as if I was speaking a foreign language, then she replied "No, that will be all the food until we close, we will keep topping up but nothing different to what you see now will be served".

This was at about 5pm.

Maybe they just don't have it in ADL ?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

No sign of "Island Dining" in the ADL J lounge last night.

Just the soup, bread and salads lol and I asked someone if one of the staff if they had island dining OR were serving other "dinner" type hot food or anything like that, and at first she looked at me strangely as if I was speaking a foreign language, then she replied "No, that will be all the food until we close, we will keep topping up but nothing different to what you see now will be served".

This was at about 5pm.

Maybe they just don't have it in ADL ?

There is no J lounge, hence no island dining.

 

[Nizar]

There is no J lounge, hence no island dining.

Ahhh that explains it.
Just the useless QC lol what a waste of a J ticket lol.

 

[JohnK]

There you go again completely confusing the issue. Island dining is the premium food and it is also the subject of this thread. The general self serve food, like the empanada is not the island dining option.

Not confusing the issue medhead.

I have not seen any Island dining food that I would consider "premium" to date.

 

[pauly7]

Not confusing the issue medhead.

I have not seen any Island dining food that I would consider "premium" to date.

Which ones have you personally eaten?

 

[JohnK]

Which ones have you personally eaten?

I have eaten a few but I did not think that was a prerequisite.

I saw the Vietnamese noodle soup on Friday and anyone that calls that "premium" really has no idea about food. I did not need to taste either to have that opinion....

 

[Must...Fly!]

Pizza again tonight in SYD. I was discussing with Must...Fly that is was very tasty but it also would benefit from variety. As it not the same every week, much like hot dogs.

Thank you again for the guesting, it was very much enjoyed!

Not confusing the issue medhead.

I have not seen any Island dining food that I would consider "premium" to date.

I had my first experience of Island Dining on Thursday night with medhead and the mini-pizza was on offer.

Was it a premium offering over what was otherwise on offer? Yes, I would regard it that way and found the food quite tasty even though I am not a massive fan of anchovies.

After all it is not a 5* restaurant nor is it a First lounge...

 

[JohnK]

I had my first experience of Island Dining on Thursday night with medhead and the mini-pizza was on offer.

Was it a premium offering over what was otherwise on offer? Yes, I would regard it that way and found the food quite tasty even though I am not a massive fan of anchovies.

After all it is not a 5* restaurant nor is it a First lounge...

Again I am ecstatic that you think Island dining is offering "premium" food over what is otherwise offered in the lounge.

And this is where you and I are totally different and I do not want sound negative nor detract from what is on offer in any way but I would simply describe it as slop.

Please do not take this post as a complaint as it is not a complaint. I am not the expert but If I see food I like I eat it. If I don't like it then I do not eat it.

But let's not confuse something here. The food on offer in any of the lounges (both Qantas and Virgin) is not "premium" by any stretch of the imagination.

If it is then I am sadly mistaken and I totally apologise for having no idea what "premium" food is all about....

 

[Flashback]

Again I am ecstatic that you think Island dining is offering "premium" food over what is otherwise offered in the lounge.

And this is where you and I are totally different and I do not want sound negative nor detract from what is on offer in any way but I would simply describe it as slop.

Please do not take this post as a complaint as it is not a complaint. I am not the expert but If I see food I like I eat it. If I don't like it then I do not eat it.

But let's not confuse something here. The food on offer in any of the lounges (both Qantas and Virgin) is not "premium" by any stretch of the imagination.

If it is then I am sadly mistaken and I totally apologise for having no idea what "premium" food is all about....

Nowhere near as bad as BA's recent changes: Your recent feedback on catering in our lounges [General discussion] - Page 80 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Must...Fly!]

But let's not confuse something here. The food on offer in any of the lounges (both Qantas and Virgin) is not "premium" by any stretch of the imagination.

If it is then I am sadly mistaken and I totally apologise for having no idea what "premium" food is all about....

Perhaps we have differing definitions of what premium food is?

In this context I think it is intended as premium over the regular offering - which I think it is (at least, the meal I tried). When compared to other domestic lounges around the world it is (imo) very good.

But if you take Premium food to mean something like fine dining - well obviously Island Dining is not that...not that it tries to be that, again, imo. That's what the F lounge is about.

 

[Mal]

Nowhere near as bad as BA's recent changes: Your recent feedback on catering in our lounges [General discussion] - Page 80 - FlyerTalk Forums

Mmm. Tasty F lounge food (slop)... Us UK based elites are spoilt rotten... (Photo credit to layz @ flyertalk.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8737465447_2babb9b39c_c.jpg

 

[serfty]

I have eaten a few but I did not think that was a prerequisite.

I saw the Vietnamese noodle soup on Friday and anyone that calls that "premium" really has no idea about food. I did not need to taste either to have that opinion....

That is YOUR opinion - you state "no idea about food" - in MY opinion that statement is rubbish. There's a lot more to the world that that which may revolve around the OPINIONS of just one person.

(Unless your name is Zaphod Beeblebrox )

Being "Vietnamese noodle soup" does not automatically disqualify food from being premium, but again, that's my opinion. For me, there are other factors involved - But hey - I guess that's just me!

As an example, I have published a photo upthread of an Island Dining dish that I though looked most disappointing- but found it was really nice, and certainly premium, upon trying it.

 

[medhead]

Not confusing the issue medhead.

I have not seen any Island dining food that I would consider "premium" to date.

You mentioned the non-island dining option and then complained about the premium food. I just call it as it comes across.

In any case the thread is about island dining. Not premium vs non-premium. You don't want to be negative but you're going to call it slop. I've always taken this thread to be about showing the options offered and letting the reader decide.

 

[kevrosmith]

BNE tonight. Had this in SYD one other time. Chicken sandwich. No menus were out but asked one of the staff walking by. Apparently mine was the last one (the bread was a little dry)

 

[11sjw]

Does island dining occur on weekends? I've got a few hours layover in BNE on Sat afternoon this weekend and thought it maybe an opportunity to try it.

 

[kevrosmith]

Does island dining on weekends? I've got a few hours layover in BNE on Sat afternoon this weekend and thought it maybe an opportunity to try it.

No, I don't think so.... but do tell if you find out they do.

 

[11sjw]

No, I don't think so.... but do tell if you find out they do.

Will do.

You quoted me before I could edit. Massive ninja move!!