Melbourne CBD - Entertainment Book - Worth It for a Few Days?

SBOB on 16/08/2019 - 17:46
Last edited 16/08/2019 - 18:06 by 1 other user

Got a few days in Melbourne CBD coming up with with wife (Harry Potter musical), and currently entertainment book has a deal allowing you to buy an extra area for only $25

For those that know the book, is it worth it?
Likely be looking at a couple of nights dinner, likely going to 'decent' places (not super high end, but not a basic pub meal either)
Couple of lunches and maybe a breakfast

Worth it for $25, and if so, any 'definitely worth it' options in the entertainment book?

Thanks for any local knowledge tips.

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Comments

  • Tech5 on 16/08/2019 - 18:01
    +1

    I would say definitely worth it. One dinner where you use a coupon would be $25, if not much more

    • arcticmonkey on 18/08/2019 - 21:13

      Agreed. One use and it has easily paid itself off.

      It doesn't require pre booking and has far greater options than the others.

  • bluesky on 16/08/2019 - 18:07
    +1

    To me, it is worth it for $25, but clearly depends on whether the places you want to eat out at coincide with the book offers.

    For e.g.
    Bistro Guillaume at Crowns - 25%

    Din Tai Fung - 25%

    The Le Petit Gateau buy 1 showcase cake, get one free voucher will probably save you around $10 already. And I highly recommend their signature Passionfruit and Brownie Gateau as one of the pieces to get.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 16/08/2019 - 18:26

    Maybe things have changed, but 2 years ago and before it was a PITA to use a voucher at a decent restaurant. They'd make a fuss and only eventually accept it. Worse still if you told them about it when booking.

    • JimmyF on 16/08/2019 - 18:50
      +2

      All done in the app now days :)

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 16/08/2019 - 18:54

        I might re-look into it again then :)

        • JimmyF on 16/08/2019 - 18:55
          +1

          App is handy as you always have the 'book' with you. No issues with stores taking the voucher, just present your phone when paying the bill, let them push the redeem button on the app, and everyone is happy :)

    • slknv on 16/08/2019 - 20:28
      +1

      Never had a problem using it in melb - taxi kitchen, ezard, guillaume, phillipe, sezar etc etc. For the OP, definitely worth it as many great places to eat in CBD.

      • try2bhelpful on 16/08/2019 - 20:31

        I’ve had a couple that have been “problematic” but most are good.

    • bluesky on 16/08/2019 - 23:18

      Yes, when I had the book a few years ago, menus considered already "on special", say a fixed-price menu, you get knocked back. Maybe this is still the case for some restaurants. Not sure.

  • ritasaurus on 16/08/2019 - 18:43
    +1

    Definitely worth it

    Has vouchers for lots of good restaurants, including hatted ones :-)

  • bengal tiger on 16/08/2019 - 18:48
    +1

    I can't speak for the digital book version, but if you are buying the print version then keep in mind some vouchers can be used interstate for additional value. For example:

    • McDonalds - VIC only
    • KFC - all VIC and southern NSW locations
    • TGI Fridays - all states except WA
    • Red Rooster - all Australian locations excluding stadiums and airport locations

    Check your own book, if a voucher is valid nationwide then there's a good chance the Melbourne one will be as well.

  • sahh on 16/08/2019 - 18:53

    Try find/use the main course offers, more value if just the two of you!

  • SBOB on 16/08/2019 - 19:10

    thanks, bought one

    now to pick some the best restaurants to put on the short list

  • try2bhelpful on 16/08/2019 - 20:11
    +7

    If you are in Melbourne, during the week, I would look at going to Philippes for lunch.
    https://www.philipperestaurant.com.au/menu/
    The Prix Fixe menu is very good value and includes a 250ml carafe of wine. It isn’t the cheapest food but delicious.

    I would also recommend the lunch time Thali at Daughter in Law if you like Indian food. It is $15. However, their wine isn’t cheap.

    If you like African food I would recommend Nyala in Fitzroy, it is also BYO.

    Also Lune Croissants has a place in the CBD but if you want the better range go to Fitzroy. They aren’t cheap but very delicious.

    Enjoy yourself in our fair city.

    • SBOB on 16/08/2019 - 21:27

      yeah, will be a mid week trip

      thanks for the tips

    • bluesky on 16/08/2019 - 22:50
      +1

      Hey try2bhelful, just learned something new from you. Philippe in the entertainment book must be a new thing since I stopped getting the book last few years. I wanted to try other restaurants, not in the book.

      Philippe garners huge respect from many who knew him, including a lot of former staff. He cares a lot about food. Also, unlike some celeb chefs, who open many restaurants, and oversee them from afar, he spends a lot of time in the restaurant, watching over the dishes as they are served. Highly recommended.

      One question: does the entertainment book offer apply to fixed price menus? Thanks in advance.

      • try2bhelpful on 17/08/2019 - 13:26
        +1

        Sorry can't answer that one because I don't have the book, however, the book usually tells you if there are exceptions. The fact you get the wine included in the price is the real kicker, effectively 2 glasses of wine and 2 courses for $45 is a bargain, given the quality, although we normally opt for the $55 for three courses. They never make us feel like we are "cheaping out" by getting the Prix Fixe. Frankly, we have been stalking Philippe Mouchel since the Paul Bocuse restaurant at Daimaru. What has impressed us is in all his incarnations they usually havw a well priced option and they never make you feel "beneath them".

        • bluesky on 17/08/2019 - 15:41

          Thanks, agree the fixed priced menu is very good value at $55 for 3-courses and wine.
          Same here re stalking him from Paul Bocuse time :-) To me, Paul Bocuse Daimaru will always remain the zenith of dining in Melb, and its closing one of the saddest moment in the Melbourne dining scene. I also have yet to encounter waiters more professional in Aus since that time.

          • try2bhelpful on 17/08/2019 - 18:16
            +1

            @bluesky: The chocolate pudding desert at Daimaru was brilliant, and the cake area in the food hall was terrific.

            The guy who, presumably still, runs “Hell of the North” is the best waiter I’ve ever encountered. He was at Guernica’s, which was Ezard’s restaurant before he opened the city one, and he was the waiter who could describe each special in a way that made you immediately want to buy it. When we walked into “Hell of the North” he recognized us from Guernica’s; which had shut 15 years earlier.

            If you are anywhere near Kew then I recommend you try out Cocoa’s cakes, they are magnificent.

            • bluesky on 17/08/2019 - 18:42

              @try2bhelpful: Thank you, I appreciate the suggestions, will definitely keep them in mind.

              When we walked into “Hell of the North” he recognized us from Guernica’s; which had shut 15 years earlier.

              Must be nice to be recognised after 15 years, you must have made an impression :-)

              • try2bhelpful on 17/08/2019 - 18:57

                @bluesky: We did go there a fair bit :). Guernica’s was great because it was before Ezard became really well known so the prices weren’t too bad.

  • doweyy on 16/08/2019 - 20:36

    Thanks heaps for posting this, was thinking the exact same thing for a trip at Xmas time, will pick one up also with the $25 offer.

  • holdenmg on 17/08/2019 - 09:31

    Also, check out:
    http://www.halftixmelbourne.com/listings.php (updated daily)

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