Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Denali]

Denali, Nice to see a trans-Tasman J menu at last - thanks. Are they basically the same as domestic? Any differences in the booze? I have an upgraded SYD-CHC evening flight coming up, and I'm curious to know whether champagne might be on offer...

Sorry, we don't drink alcohol so I don't know.

WLG>BNE, and we were offered red duck something and a curry, no printed menu. We were full from Raiding the lounge so declined.

 

[PDog]

Denali, Nice to see a trans-Tasman J menu at last - thanks. Are they basically the same as domestic? Any differences in the booze? I have an upgraded SYD-CHC evening flight coming up, and I'm curious to know whether champagne might be on offer...

Champagne was on offer SYD-DPS, but only pre departure as just 1 bottle is loaded! Am guessing Trans Tas might be the same? They did have the dessert wine, unlike the east coast flights. Keen to hear your experience as we are booked early next year.

 

[toowongman]

VA823 MEL-SYD Breakfast. Bircher muesli, very nice.



VA858 SYD-MEL, snack. Vietnamese tacos. Complete fail. Do not order this dish.



Very acidic liquid in bottom of bowl prevents making a "taco" from stale, burnt soft quesadillas. With cheese and an Anzac biscuit. I think this service was created by a cook with a random word generator.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

yes have to say that vietnamese 'creation' looks very poor.

 

[Justinf]

VA823 MEL-SYD Breakfast. Bircher muesli, very nice.

View attachment 79459

VA858 SYD-MEL, snack. Vietnamese tacos. Complete fail. Do not order this dish.

View attachment 79460

Very acidic liquid in bottom of bowl prevents making a "taco" from stale, burnt soft quesadillas. With cheese and an Anzac biscuit. I think this service was created by a cook with a random word generator.

The words 'Vietnamese' and 'tacos' do not belong in the same sentence unless it is something like this one.

 

[pblackie]

Flew MEL-PER the other week and ordered the Lamb shank for the main course. It came out cold so asked for it to be reheated, it came out again dumped in the middle of the plate with no sauce and still cold. When I brought it to the stewards attention again he replied with "how hot do you want it?" - well, hot not cold! NO other options available despite the cabin being half empty so went without a main course.

 

[Princess Fiona]

VA823 MEL-SYD Breakfast. Bircher muesli, very nice.

View attachment 79459

VA858 SYD-MEL, snack. Vietnamese tacos. Complete fail. Do not order this dish.

View attachment 79460

Very acidic liquid in bottom of bowl prevents making a "taco" from stale, burnt soft quesadillas. With cheese and an Anzac biscuit. I think this service was created by a cook with a random word generator.

ROLF you've made my Friday night with that quote!! :mrgreen:
I'll make sure not to order them

 

[anat0l]

VA858 SYD-MEL, snack. Vietnamese tacos. Complete fail. Do not order this dish.
...

Very acidic liquid in bottom of bowl prevents making a "taco" from stale, burnt soft quesadillas. With cheese and an Anzac biscuit. I think this service was created by a cook with a random word generator.

The more I stare at this, the more I think:

• Those "quesadillas" look more like slices of pita bread (looking rather lame all the same)
• Just because you can wrap up something in what looks like a soft tortilla doesn't give you a taco
• This dish looks more like someone raided the fridge or, funny enough, the salad buffet at the lounge (except the lounge never puts on Vietnamese dressing or whatever the acidic liquid is meant to be - I assume fish sauce, lime, bit of vinegar...). Now I know QF are not immune to plating up something similarly paltry, but this dish really presents as insipid from the get-go (maybe it's just a poor figment of taking a picture versus in real life).
• The cheese must be OK, even though it looks like a piece of plastic, like a pet chew toy. Just seems so odd (though not off-putting) how it's a little slab of cheese and pie-slice of quince.
• What was the other option that didn't seem so appealing enough that you decided to take a punt on "Vietnamese tacos"...

 

[bam71]

It looks truly foul.

 

[Denali]

Flew MEL-PER the other week and ordered the Lamb shank for the main course. It came out cold so asked for it to be reheated, it came out again dumped in the middle of the plate with no sauce and still cold. When I brought it to the stewards attention again he replied with "how hot do you want it?" - well, hot not cold! NO other options available despite the cabin being half empty so went without a main course.

The attitude and failure to produce a heated meal is not at all acceptable.

 

[Justinf]

Well I can personally confirm that the Vietnamese tacos are indeed ordinary. MEL-CBR 3pm

 

[PDog]

View attachment 79608
Well I can personally confirm that the Vietnamese tacos are indeed ordinary. MEL-CBR 3pm

Ha, how bad was the alternative that made you choose that?!

 

[Milefest]

What was the other option that didn't seem so appealing enough that you decided to take a punt on "Vietnamese tacos"...

Vietnamese tacos are quite nice when prepared and served correctly! This just looks like catering had leftovers and threw it on a plate and called it Vietnamese tacos..

 

[Justinf]

Mushroom soup. I love soup but I'd had a couple of beers in the lounge beforehand and didn't trust myself with soup while wearing a white shirt.

 

[PDog]

Mushroom soup. I love soup but I'd had a couple of beers in the lounge beforehand and didn't trust myself with soup while wearing a white shirt.

Totally agree, my strategy is to always avoid soup on planes!

 

[Justinf]

While the tacos were ordinary, they were slightly edible. What I found disappointing was what was served with them. An anzac biscuit and and some generic cheese with dry crackers. I ate two tacos and left everything else. Had two Crownies though which was a decent effort for a 42-minute flight.

 

[anat0l]

Someone on another group had the tacos as well, except the tortillas (if that is indeed what they are) were served on the side plate rather than on top of the main plate, and there wasn't a pool of dressing at the bottom of the main plate.

Now he could have moved the tortillas off the main plate before taking the photo. In any case, he said they didn't actually taste too bad.

 

[toowongman]

The more I stare at this, the more I think:

• What was the other option that didn't seem so appealing enough that you decided to take a punt on "Vietnamese tacos"...

The alt was mushroom soup with/without bacon.

 

[anat0l]

The alt was mushroom soup with/without bacon.

Hmmm... fair enough. I'd probably have taken a punt on Vietnamese tacos then, too, unless I was on a mainly liquid / light diet.

That mushroom soup with/without bacon was the option for the red eye from Perth in J. I didn't have any supper, but staring at the one my seat mate took, it looked a little thin.

Is it common practice these days that anything that can be put into a tortilla wrap / tortilla-look-alike can be labelled as a taco?

 

[mrmerc500]

Great quick comparison Cory. I agree that Virgin's level of service is more refined, high level restaurant style, maybe being younger I feel more at ease opposed to the generation of Qantas staff. Drink wise, defiantly would go to Virgin, they serve Reckordling in the lounge, this being more preferred personally than spirits & have Baileys onboard for a night cap where QF don't. One suggestion I would recommend is for VA to consider the people who have dietary preferences & intolerances in both Y & J. On Business flights with QF & EK, this option has turned out to be a life saver when comparing to standard onboard menu. One can order a Vegan meal with QF whilst VA may offer a vegetarian quiche or scrambled egged breakfast which is still quite different. Both seats are fabulous, defiantly a leap above the old recliners.