Page 500 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

498  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Australia has developed a strong culinary restaurants, reflecting the country’s
identity. Modern Australian (or Mod Oz, multicultural population. Native Australian
as it is more commonly known) cuisine food is increasingly popular, as some chefs
is a fresh, inventive style that gives local begin to embrace meats such as kangaroo
ingredients, particularly seafood and beef, and native fruits and vegetables. The best
a French, Mediterranean or Asian twist. restaurants offer a superb selection
Australia also has a wealth of ethnic of local wines or beers (see pp502–3).

Eating Hours and Children
Reservations
Most restaurateurs will allow
Most restaurants serve lunch admission to children as long as
between noon and 3pm. Dinner they are well behaved. Many
tends to be served from 6:30 to restaurants also provide high
10:30pm, but budget and ethnic chairs and a children’s menu.
eateries often close earlier. Some The best budget options for
bistros and cafés stay open from families are local sports club
breakfast time until late at night. bistros, pub bistros, hamburger
Restaurants in hotels are usually chains or one of the many
open daily, but other eateries may no-fuss Italian or Asian eateries.
close one day a week, usually
Mondays. For fashionable, high-
end restaurants, booking in Wheelchair Access
advance by phone or online Spurred by legislation in the
is highly recommended. various states, most restaurants
now provide special wheelchair
access and toilet facilities for
Paying and Tipping the disabled. However, it is still
Picturesque outside terrace at Lavandula Most Australian restaurants advisable to check the facilities
La Trattoria (see p531) accept major credit cards, but available in advance.
in cafés and pubs a minimum
Types of Restaurants spend (usually $10–20) may be
All major Australian cities have required. A 10 per cent Goods Vegetarians
a wide variety of formal and and Services Tax (GST) is inclu- Most restaurants offer dishes
informal restaurants, bistros, ded in all restaurant bills in for vegetarians; a variety of
cafés and pubs offering Australia. Tipping is discretionary choices is the norm, particularly
everything from haute cuisine and not compulsory. In a in regions where there is an
to quick snacks. Many have restaurant, adding 10 per cent of abundance of home-grown
outdoor tables for alfresco the total bill to the credit card produce. There are also
dining. Outside the main cities, transaction, or leaving the same specialist vegetarian and even
some restaurants, particularly at in cash on the table following vegan restaurants and cafés in
wineries and high-end resorts, very good service, is appreciated. the major cities. Many
are destinations in themselves.
Prices vary widely, but there
is generally a quality offering
to suit every budget, though
drinks add significantly to the
bill in restaurants. As a general
guideline, the bill at a showcase
restaurant in Melbourne or
Sydney featuring a celebrity
chef will be at least A$150 per
head, including a shared bottle
of wine. At a BYO (Bring Your
Own) or an unpretentious Asian
or Italian restaurant, it may be
A$30–50 per head. A meal at a
pub, café or snack bar should
generally cost no more than
A$20–30 per head, if you
include the price of a drink. Alfresco dining at Skillogalee Wines in the Clare Valley (see p525)