2 June 2008

Burns Club - New Bistro

| Peter Holland
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I went to the burns club on saturday night, with the intention of feeding the family – unfortunately, there were no kids meals, and the tables had tablecloths on them. only about 3 people eating there. hmm. Went to the counter – (we came in the back way) and found that it is now called the “Banana Leaf”. The prices were not family fare. why would a restaurant not have family “club” meals and prices, when based in a club??

I am voting with my feet – I took the family to the Southern Cross club in tuggeranong and we had great food and service. I will not be going to the burns club for a meal – we simply cannot afford it.

Here is why: the steaks were over $20.00, the chicken dishes were the same.

At the Southern Cross club, we were able to spend a total of $45.00 including drinks for 2 adults and 1 child, with garlic bread, mains and desserts.

it is a shame that the Burns club are trying to cater for champagne tastes, when most of us are on a beer budget.

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Just wanted to comment on this as I just had lunch at the Burns Club at the Banana Leaf Cafe.

I had previously had lunch at the Burns on Anzac day and thought it was the most horrendous meal I had bought at a club in years so I was dissapointed when my partner suggested we head up there for lunch this afternoon.
However, when we got there we discovered that they were no longer serving hideous chicken schnitzel with bearnaise sauce (and I use that term lightly as it was not so much bearnaise sauce as it was beige goop with a mild tang to it), but were instead serving Sri Lankan meals that were very reasonably priced. I ordered the Chicken Bhiriani that arrived on a plate packed full of rice, three kinds of curry, chutney and chilli paste and a pappadum. It took me about 25 minutes to finish and was some of the tastiest Sri Lankan food I had eaten in a while. The dish cost $14. This is not, in my view, an exhorbitant amount to pay for a very tasty meal.
My partner ordered a steak sandwich. His steak was marinated in spices and ginger and was one of the best steak sandwiches he had had in a while too, and was served with more chips than he could finish. Again, it was about $14.

Ok, so it might not be ‘steak and chips’ for $6.99 like you can get at crappy clubs around Canberra but it was a hell of a lot better than most of the vile slop you can find in Kambah (the takeway shops in the area are revolting! I challenge anyone to find such an array of consitently bad food anywhere else).
I will definately go back.

la mente torbida11:34 am 04 Jun 08

club food – oxymoron

I made my first and last visit to the Burns Club on ANZAC day. It was the scariest experience of my life. I was convinced Goulburn gaol had let their inmates out for a day excursion. The security staff looked at you like you’d just raped & shot their mothers.

Conversely, I had a delicious meal at the Hellethnic club and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Everything the SCC staff aren’t.

FC said :

I Or you usually get “We’ve got salad”.
Just what I felt like, week old lettuce, bit of tomatoe and carrot and some gross dressing.
My idea of a top meal.

Oh yeah! The good ol’ Aussie salad. Rotting iceberg, crisp, crunchy pink tomato in wedges, and GRATED CARROT. Yummo!

I have previously eaten at the Burns club on a few occassions and will never go back. I guess they must have been betting on their patrons already being drunk or something because the food was disgusting.

Being a vegetarian now I avoid club food completly as there is usually only one or two extremely bland, boring veggie meals on the menue and its not worth getting into. Or you usually get “We’ve got salad”.
Just what I felt like, week old lettuce, bit of tomatoe and carrot and some gross dressing.
My idea of a top meal.
Much cheaper and easier for me to go to a proper restaurant (but I don’t have kids)

You sure this has nothing to do with the Banana Leaf restaurant out the front of the Canberra Centre?

Because those guys make some of the best curry in the city.

Erindale Vikings. Good and interesting mains, mostly under $20. Needs more desserts and, like everywhere, really needs a cheese plate.

Like all clubs, I’m sure they have off nights, and dishes that the world regrets. But good value, and booze at club prices.

We use the Woden SCC (The Feed Lot) for a cheap feed, but in recent years the prices have been creeping up, and it’s not the greatest food. Recently, it seemed to change and we felt a bit icky after our meal (too much fat, dunno) so haven’t been back.

A club can do really good, hearty “club food” and it isn’t too hard. I don’t know why so many get fancy ideas. Although the Hellenic has made quite a success of adding Greek stuff to the array of meals.

Vic Bitterman6:44 pm 02 Jun 08

Sammy said :

You were lucky you received ‘great food’ at SCC Tuggeranong.

Both times i’ve eaten there in the last 3 years the food was appalling.

The roast dinner, at around $15, was very poor value, with the meat being tough and inedible, and the vegetables consisting of boiled (not baked) potatoes with the skins still on, and peas and corn. They were also ‘out’ of gravy, which made the whole thing even worse. A poor roast can be slightly redeemed by the presence of gravy. Not this time.

I had that experience at Tuggers Southern Cross Club one lunchtime a few months ago. I sent them a complaint email cos the roast well and truly sucked.

They sent me an apology letter and a $50 voucher to make up for it. So at least that side of the business is well run.

The Burns Club goes ‘fine dining’?

Bizarre. I give it 3 months before it goes tits up and the catering is farmed out to someone else.

I had enough of the Burns Club Bistro 6 years ago, havent been back since and beginning to feel the same way about the The Tuggers SCC. Seriously over priced for what it is.

tylersmayhem said :

So what you’re saying is that the Burns Club has changed in the last 10 years, but are still money grubbing bastards!?

When I was starting out in my hospitality days (12+ years ago) I was keen to get a second job to keep putting myself through CIT. The Burns Club were “prepared to offer me an unpaid trial shift”. For that 8 hour shift, I worked my arse off, running rings around the lazy are full-timers. At the end of the shift, I was told that they’d get back to me with an answer. 3 days later, they informed me that they’d like me to come in on a Friday night for “one last unpaid trial shift”. That first (and only) shift I did there over 12 years ago serving “Burnsed” out winos, while wearing a naff tartan vest is the last time I set foot in the place. If they still prepare the food now like they did then, I’m suprised you came out without some kind of permanent damage!

I was the victim of the “trial shift” at another restaurant, and have since worked off and on for several paying restaurants. I now have a fairly good understanding of the mark ups that are in use at restaurants, and know that if a steak costs $20 – $30, they are making fairly good money. It is what they do with it that will make or break them.

the burns club has had over the years about 4 different bistro companies. I have finally decided that enough is enough – and won’t renew my membership again.

Woody Mann-Caruso3:00 pm 02 Jun 08

If you’re in Sydney, you can feed the family at Ikea for $10. Come on Canberra clubs – why don’t we get Swedish meatballs and chips for a gold coin donation?

tylersmayhem2:57 pm 02 Jun 08

So what you’re saying is that the Burns Club has changed in the last 10 years, but are still money grubbing bastards!?

When I was starting out in my hospitality days (12+ years ago) I was keen to get a second job to keep putting myself through CIT. The Burns Club were “prepared to offer me an unpaid trial shift”. For that 8 hour shift, I worked my arse off, running rings around the lazy are full-timers. At the end of the shift, I was told that they’d get back to me with an answer. 3 days later, they informed me that they’d like me to come in on a Friday night for “one last unpaid trial shift”. That first (and only) shift I did there over 12 years ago serving “Burnsed” out winos, while wearing a naff tartan vest is the last time I set foot in the place. If they still prepare the food now like they did then, I’m suprised you came out without some kind of permanent damage!

I would almost recommend the SCC, but it’s a Catholic club. I;’ sure Kostka frequented the club many a time with the rest of the pokie addicted “Catholic” shamsters! Thanks be to God!

marcothepolopony1:28 pm 02 Jun 08

If the Burns Club is out of your price range, why not try the Spring Garden Chinese restaurant in the Kambah Tavern? Reasonable prices and great food. Service can be improved however. Much better than the food at the SCC in Tuggeranong or Woden.

barking toad12:25 pm 02 Jun 08

Thank you for sharing the incredibly interesting thought that one club is shysen with food and the other is teh hotness.

I will sleep better tonight.

thats a shame – last time i went there they had great meals that were cheapest around and much nicer than SCC. even had $1 ice cream and topping for the kids.

I tend to go to hellenic club now cause I got sick of SCC disasters. Food is nice but not ultra cheap!

SCC Woden is pretty good too. 🙂

Hahaha I love these stories. Clubs trying to be classy is hilarious. Seriously, people go to clubs to get cheap piss, watch the footy, play the dokes and get a parmy. Tip to all clubs, don’t move away from that awesome formula.

On a similar subject, I know there have been a few negative reviews for G Lakes, but I have been a few times recently and its been tops. The Fillet Minon and Parmy were fantastic.

You were lucky you received ‘great food’ at SCC Tuggeranong.

Both times i’ve eaten there in the last 3 years the food was appalling.

The roast dinner, at around $15, was very poor value, with the meat being tough and inedible, and the vegetables consisting of boiled (not baked) potatoes with the skins still on, and peas and corn. They were also ‘out’ of gravy, which made the whole thing even worse. A poor roast can be slightly redeemed by the presence of gravy. Not this time.

The time before that I had the chicken kiev and spent the next day or so riding the porcelain express.

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