LUNCH AT MAINEY, ARVO AT TAV, NIGHT AT NINETEEN
Bulletin gossip columnist Andrew ‘Squirrel’ Meadowcroft writes that he’s well and truly ready to rip the seal off and support venues having a crack at limited opening from today after six weeks of closures
AS I celebrated my birthday at Nineteen at The Star in March, after downing a few sauvignon blancs I announced to my guests: “Drink up, this could be the last supper!”
We all laughed raucously, but we knew it was highly probable.
And thus it was. It was the last lunch served at the venue, with all cafes and restaurants in the country told to close due to COVID-19. But we’re back baby.
Being a bit of a man about town, covering social events and well known for being a “sir lunch-a-lot” (guilty, your Honour!), my social calendar was decimated overnight.
Many tried to look on the bright side and moved into the “home cooking” phase and experimented with cocktails.
But as I watched the Premier’s speech last week about the easing restrictions, before she had even finished I was on the phone to restaurants booking a coveted spot.
Now listen up: If you are up for some social interaction, rip off that stinking apron, toss the crappy cocktail in the sink and frock up, because it is time to hit the restaurants again.
Close to 100 restaurants and cafes are opening today – albeit a little restrictive with only 10 diners at a time. Clever venues are hosting timed slots.
Shuck restaurant owner Scott Budgen said: “We filled every two-hour timeslot, so 100 diners this weekend and next week is almost full too. It is better than nothing, and just to open up the doors again feels amazing.”
I have personally locked in reservations at Shuck, D’Arcy Arms and Nineteen at The Star – and that is just this week.
Best book ASAP if you are keen to break the lockdown shackles too. See you around the city. Cheers.
DON’T MISS NEW SECTION ‘CUISINE SCENE’ WITH SELFCONFESSED ‘SIR LUNCH-A-LOT’ ANDREW ‘SQUIRREL’ MEADOWCROFT. HE’LL DO THE ROUNDS FOR A NEW WEEKLY FEATURE LAUNCHING TUESDAY IN THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN.