Spice bar at Melbourne Qantas Domestic Business Lounge

The spice bar had the Sichuan Eggplant last Friday, it was fantastic. In fact, all the food available in the buffet is excellent.

The Sydney International Business Class Lounge need to take notes, the difference is alarmingly huge.
 
I really don't know why it is so popular.i find the food ordinary.You probably will find me there Sunday but as usual when asking it to be spicy I will wander over to the buffet and put chilli flakes or other spicy stuff onto the dish.
 
I rarely get to see the Spice Bar open so really looking forward to trying it tomorrow.
 
drron said:
I really don't know why it is so popular.i find the food ordinary.You probably will find me there Sunday but as usual when asking it to be spicy I will wander over to the buffet and put chilli flakes or other spicy stuff onto the dish.
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And that's what they are there for so you can customise it more to the way you want it.

I reckon catering in a lounge situation must be a bit of a nightmare in some ways because they probably have to deliberately cater to a certain level of taste to suit average tastes (or what they think they are, anyway) A bit like how some asian restaurants in Western countries like AU and the US tend to tone down the spice compared to their home countries. Not saying I agree with it, but I "get it"

And that's why they have the chilli and a few other sauces IIRC there at the buffet so you can add to it.

I do get the irony when it's called "Spice Bar" yet some may find it is not...

At any rate I will also be there in a few days and look forward to whatever the dish is - that pork looks great so fingers crossed.

I think many of us delight in it because it's not the "slop" you get in some other lounges (hello MEL Int J and SYD J) - even the buffet tends to have a slightly above average (for QF anyway) offering specially the asian dishes obviously made in the SB.

(aside if anyone could make actual proper non seemingly out of a packet and tasty scrambled eggs I'd be most happy!)
 
RichardMEL said:
I think many of us delight in it because it's not the "slop" you get in some other lounges (hello MEL Int J and SYD J) - even the buffet tends to have a slightly above average (for QF anyway) offering specially the asian dishes obviously made in the SB.
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Yep, the chili con carne on offer in the CBR QP yesterday fits that exact description - slop. I don't know if that's the usual QP standard or if QP/SG members were treated to an upgrade with the J lounge being closed, but it wasn't appealing at all.

The veg stir fry options at the MEL J buffet are usually very good as a side to whatever's on offer at the Spice Bar. Some basic asian greens tossed in a wok with garlic can be delicious and I'm thankful NP hasn't tried to put his own spin on it.
 
Interesting, I'm not much of a fan. It does look very lovely with great presentation as per photos posted by others, and admittedly I don't fly through Melbourne that much these days, but on EVERY occasion I have eaten from the Spice Bar, the food has been all but cold (temperature, not spice). Lukewarm chicken skewers present some food safety issues!
 
Seat0B said:
Interesting, I'm not much of a fan. It does look very lovely with great presentation as per photos posted by others, and admittedly I don't fly through Melbourne that much these days, but on EVERY occasion I have eaten from the Spice Bar, the food has been all but cold (temperature, not spice). Lukewarm chicken skewers present some food safety issues!
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This actually is a reasonable point. I have found on some visits this to be the case. I imagine during busy periods of lunch or dinner time when the lounge is busy that this would not be so much of an issue as they'd be having demand and cooking fresh bashes much more. I tend to prefer outside of peak hours when I can when things are not so crazy, and yes on occasion it has been cooler.

Probably on par with the buffet items sitting there for a bit.

So, go when it's busy or sit nearby o get an inkling when they are doing a fresh batch?! :)
 
Last Sunday was Sichuan Minced Pork with Noodles and Cucumber.

I have to say sounds delicious, looked OK.. but was the blandest most dull thing I've ever had out of the spice bar. The regular dishes were more interesting. Sorry to say but the first fail I've had out of TSB imo.

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Has the MEL J Spice Bar been enhanced?

The menu suggests it is now the "hot snacking station", and Qantas seems to be intentionally serving the least spicy food you could imagine 😢

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