No Más Nachos - Brisbane J Lounge

[justinbrett]

I'll definitely concede that the beef nachos were getting a little tired at the Brisbane Domestic J lounge - but noticed on Friday night they were gone. Replaced by "The Oven" serving a Beef Ragu and some other vegetarian option. It wasn't terrible but could have just been served up in the warmers with the other hot food - it wasn't really making the most of the fresh hot food station idea that the Mexican Cantina had - as does the Melbourne Spice Bar and the Perth Pizzas.

I think they stuck with the nachos a bit too long, they have had more interesting Mexican food like tacos and quesadillas before. Not sure if they needed to change the entire theme.

Is this just an in between step while the Brisbane lounge gets a new theme (noting that Sydney is still lacking one) or has the Brisbane lounge just been "enhanced"?

 

[love_the_life]

I'm not 100% sure that the Mel J Dom 'Spice Bar' does it well - had some awful sweet sour thingy the other week. It was supposed to be meat but was like a gelatinous blob.

 

[Austman]

had some awful sweet sour thingy the other week.

This one? (sweet and sour pork)



I thought it wasn't bad, although not as good as some of their other offerings.

I was actually looking forward to some more on my next visit 4 days later but their change cycle had kicked in.

 

[juddles]

This one? (sweet and sour pork)

View attachment 197951

I thought it wasn't bad, although not as good as some of their other offerings.

Interesting colour! Is it "inspired" by an oil spill?? Can't help but visualize poor sea birds on a beach....

 

[Austman]

Interesting colour! Is it "inspired" by an oil spill??

It's true it was dark! Although perhaps not as dark as my photo!

I thought more of a soy inspiration...

 

[kermatu]

At least it was open. I was there recently just after 6pm and the entire Cantina space was shut and had been cleaned.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

That looks more like a blackbean sauce than sweet and sour!
Also the pizzas are getting very dull in Perth.

 

[Rangalad]

At least it was open. I was there recently just after 6pm and the entire Cantina space was shut and had been cleaned.

Same.
Slim pickings at the self serve too.
Might wander to the QP next time.

 

[Austman]

That looks more like a blackbean sauce than sweet and sour!
Also the pizzas are getting very dull in Perth.

Indeed. Although the sign said "sweet and sour"

It was the vegetables on top that were the best part.

The Spice Bar staff told me that they have a 2 week menu cycle. Which at least means you won't get the same thing repeated over and over. Althought it's always supposed to be Asian street food.

 

[Beano]

I never liked the Mexican. I was in the lounge three times two weeks a go and never noticed the changed. Will look tomorrow. The lounges have different services at different times of day so I may have missed the new products.

 

[Borisdog]

None if it has ever been bad by me.

It’s free after all.

I’ve certainly paid for way worse.

 

[Altair]

Never relied on it for food, just a snack. To me the biggest loss was the extra corn chips, salsa and Mexican sauces that I used.

 

[Beano]

BNE domestic J. Rigatoni with beef ragu today. OK but heavy on the rigatoni. Took a couple of mintos on the way out but suspect that is what they are for, so no guilt pangs. Mind you a couple of elderly ladies near me were organising their handbags and some small jam sachets fell out. Hotel souvenir or J lounge? Life goes on.

 

[opusman]

Beef ragu, aka "lounge slop".

 

[Deleted member]

The Mexican food was rubbish. I’ve not been flying much so far this membership year, but will no doubt get to try it soon enough.

 

[RichardMEL]

Never liked the Cantina. Good on them for trying it out but yeah am kind of glad if it has gone the way of the dodo.

I agree the BNE J lounge buffet tends to be sparse if one is not into the Mexican.

In contrast I found whenever the Spice Bar open at MEL J there is usually one or two asian/noodle dishes in the buffet that were pretty good. Not slop but obviously not fresh cooked to order, but then neither is the spice bar itself, though it's way more fresh than the buffet. I've generally enjoyed the dishes from the SB though I have found the ratio of actual solid meat items to rice was always off...far less actual substance. - which has meant I've gone back for 2 or 3 serves to get enough for a meal.. but I have enjoyed the quality in the main.

Passing through BNE in a week or so so look forward to seeing what's on offer in the "Oven"

 

[Beano]

I've always thought MEL J lounge better than BNE. The spice bar comes up trumps most times.
A hot dish is served as well but only after a certain time. If you are too early, no hot dish.

PS Natchos are gone

 

[RichardMEL]

Yeah SB opens at noon