Harpodom Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I really think it's something to do with having to pay the staff a lot more after a certain time. Unlike some other countries (yes, America, I'm looking at you) most serving staff in Australia get paid a decent wage and are thus not dependent on tips - in fact, here in Adelaide tipping is so not expected I've even had people run after me waving money at me, saying "You left this behind on the table!" This does mean though that a small restaurant cannot justify staying open late and paying higher wages to its staff if there are likely only going to be a few paying customers. It's the same on public holidays: I asked a friend who runs a motel in South Australia whether they had considered doing Christmas "Turkey and Tinsel" breaks, but she said as they would have to pay upward of $60 an hour minimum for staff to work on the holidays, it just wasn't cost effective for them. to me that demonstrates one of the downsides of a high wage economy: complacency and laziness from service providers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 A friend of mine is a chef and owns a cafe/restaurant in Perth - I asked about the closing at 9:30 thing, and apparently staff wages go up significantly and the demand is simply not high enough to justify staying open - on the other hand they do a roaring trade at 7pm in the morning!! The thing I find most bizarre is the restaurants around where I live that maybe open or not depending on the whim of the owner, if you dare to turn up at 8pm on the quiet night they may already be closed! I agree though it is simply a cultural difference - I need to learn to do business over breakfast rather than dinner I would rather prefer it if you did not do business at any time in a cafe or restaurant. I find it rather irritating to listen to "suits" droning on about "market share, blah blah, profit margin, blah blah," screeching their phones, or conducting foreign language courses, when want to relax with the newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I would rather prefer it if you did not do business at any time in a cafe or restaurant. I find it rather irritating to listen to "suits" droning on about "market share, blah blah, profit margin, blah blah," screeching their phones, or conducting foreign language courses, when want to relax with the newspaper. We counter that with two hyperactive pre schoolies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Hi,In Sydney with my better half. Thought we would go to see the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge lit up, then grab a bite to eat in Darling Harbour. Got back there about 09:30pm, all restaurants closed. Yes that's right, in one of the worlds major tourist cities, and in one of their tourist hotspots, all restaurants are closed by 09:30pm! Starving, we considered McDonalds, but in the end were seduced to try "Chinatown." Found a restaurant, another joke. Starters arrived with the main course, and when I explained to the waiter that the word "starter" on a menu implied "first course," or "prior to the main course," he looked at me askance, stormed back off to the kitchen, whereupon the Chef popped his head round the corner to gaze at the Idiot who wanted to start his meal with a starter. Whatever next! Oh yeh I know what happened next, the main course arrived cold, no surprise, it had been laying around in the kitchen for 20 minutes. At least their staggering incompetence continued to the bill, they only charged us for two beers each. Anyway, the only decent restaurants I have found in Oz are Pizza Capers, and a Chinese called Obsession in Brisbane. As for tonight's "sweet and sour rat," I will let you know what happens in the morning! I'm sure someone from Sydney will know, but I would have thought there were several places open in the casino. In Melbourne it is easy to get fed at 9.30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I'm sure someone from Sydney will know, but I would have thought there were several places open in the casino. In Melbourne it is easy to get fed at 9.30. Yep, no shortage of servos or 7-11's if you fancy a pie (with or without sauce), or there are the bins if you fancy a free feed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Yep, no shortage of servos or 7-11's if you fancy a pie (with or without sauce), or there are the bins if you fancy a free feed. Ha ha! Ever been to Southgate, Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Crown Casino, St Kilda just for starters? I think some people need to download some good food guide/ urban spoon apps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Ha ha! Ever been to Southgate, Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Crown Casino, St Kilda just for starters? I think some people need to download some good food guide/ urban spoon apps. Forgive him, he knows not what he says, he lives in Geelong........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 to me that demonstrates one of the downsides of a high wage economy: complacency and laziness from service providers The quickest death for a business is if its outgoings (of which wages form a major component) exceed the money coming into the business. If retail employers were to cover staff penalty rates for late shifts, weekends and public holidays, just imagine how PIOers would bellyache about prices then.:rolleyes: Maybe you think "complacency and laziness" don't prevail in a place like the USA, where waiting staff can still be paid $2.13 an hour. But that should conflict with your human rights concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Forgive him, he knows not what he says, he lives in Geelong........ The biggest thing there this weekend is the lights going on at Kardinia Park - such a big event that the PM is going...............I'm not sure they could take the excitement of a decent restaurant as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 The biggest thing there this weekend is the lights going on at Kardinia Park - such a big event that the PM is going...............I'm not sure they could take the excitement of a decent restaurant as well... They have some really nice ones, they just close at 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 The quickest death for a business is if its outgoings (of which wages form a major component) exceed the money coming into the business.If retail employers were to cover staff penalty rates for late shifts, weekends and public holidays, just imagine how PIOers would bellyache about prices then.:rolleyes: Maybe you think "complacency and laziness" don't prevail in a place like the USA, where waiting staff can still be paid $2.13 an hour. But that should conflict with your human rights concerns. I realise you're just doing what you always do: sticking up for Aus. I understand why you feel compelled to defend it, you do an EXCELLENT job. But it (the difference of ideology between Aus and elsewhere) boils down to.....who's in charge here? The staff or the customers? Is the tail wagging the dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Forgive him, he knows not what he says, he lives in Geelong........ says the guy who lives in Somerville, not exactly Melbourne CBD is it? What time to cafes shut there? 4pm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 says the guy who lives in Somerville, not exactly Melbourne CBD is it? What time to cafes shut there? 4pm? Midday I think. They cater for the breakfast crowd. Maybe it's too expensive to pay staff after noon? Two of the three servos close by 8 though. That leaves a choice of Woolies fuel or nothing. Which sucks. Mind you, we have a population of 12,000 so there is only a few people who will want to eat after 9 ish anyway. In that case there is McDonald's, or as you say, the skips outside Woollies themselves. If you want the skips option, get in early, the best stuff is gone by 9! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Maybe you think "complacency and laziness" don't prevail in a place like the USA, where waiting staff can still be paid $2.13 an hour. But that should conflict with your human rights concerns. I can better that. My mate's girlfriend worked 6 nights a week in a Miami bar for free, no wage, no healthcare, nothing. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday she'd come home with a few bucks a night because they had no customers. Friday and Saturday however, she used to pull $2000 a night in tips and require an escort home with her bag stuffed full of cash. The job was a goldmine and very coveted. I always wonder how they pay tax when nobody knows what you earn. Some of the poorly paid waiting jobs are because the big corporate jobbies like Starbucks and McDonalds also provide healthcare, sometimes for your whole family. That's got a big value in America...so you tip the small independent businesses but not the brand name workers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 But it (the difference of ideology between Aus and elsewhere) boils down to.....who's in charge here? The staff or the customers? Is the tail wagging the dog? We've had this conversation before. A business is not going to survive unless it knows the segment of the market it's catering to. Not all cafes, restaurants cater to all segments of the market. If a food service place is not going to get enough customers at a certain time to cover their costs, it's business suicide to open then. There are areas in every large Australian city which cater for late night dining. With smartphones, it's easier now than ever to discover them. the difference of ideology between Aus and elsewhere) It's not the difference between Aus and elsewhere...it depends on whether there is sufficient density of population to warrant it. I have been in plenty of places in Europe, UK and Asia where late night dining is not offered or were closed on Sundays or public holidays. It also often depends on whether the place has a culture of siesta. Obviously the Fisheys, coming directly from Spain, would be accustomed to the late night dining such cultures have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Midday I think. They cater for the breakfast crowd. Maybe it's too expensive to pay staff after noon? Two of the three servos close by 8 though. That leaves a choice of Woolies fuel or nothing. Which sucks. Mind you, we have a population of 12,000 so there is only a few people who will want to eat after 9 ish anyway. In that case there is McDonald's, or as you say, the skips outside Woollies themselves. If you want the skips option, get in early, the best stuff is gone by 9! I almost got caught out by the "country town closing time" thing myself once (in Kiama, if anyone cares) I see a nice looking Italian place and think "that'll do, no need to book, it's out of season in a holiday town, won't be busy, t here's two pubs, two clubs, a couple of Thai places, a Mexican and a big hotel, how busy can this place get? We only want a table for two". They *just* managed to squeeze us in when we rocked up at 8 pm......place was packed. Because everywhere else was trying to close by 8, even the pubs......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Don't you guys realise, you're in Aus now...different country, different rules*. *such as all the restaurants closing before 9.30....and itunes charging 70% than US itunes for exactly the same product, Penny slowly dropping :wink: plenty of pubs open though, pity we weren't boozers :laugh: then we'd be in pub heaven :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest26012 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I'd be asleep by 930 these days never mind going out to eat, I'm ozzified! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyay1 Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 I almost got caught out by the "country town closing time" thing myself once (in Kiama, if anyone cares) I see a nice looking Italian place and think "that'll do, no need to book, it's out of season in a holiday town, won't be busy, t here's two pubs, two clubs, a couple of Thai places, a Mexican and a big hotel, how busy can this place get? We only want a table for two". They *just* managed to squeeze us in when we rocked up at 8 pm......place was packed. Because everywhere else was trying to close by 8, even the pubs......... That happened to me in WA once. Nearly missed the small sign on the restaurant door saying "dinner - 630-8pm".... otherwise it would have been a long hungry night in the middle of nowhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 Never had trouble getting a late night (early morning actually) feed in Sydney and I don't even live there. DPB syndrome maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Never had trouble getting a late night (early morning actually) feed in Sydney and I don't even live there. DPB syndrome maybe? Dare I ask what DPB syndrome is? :biggrin: I think I can hazard a guess that it isn't complimentary :wink: ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Dare I ask what DPB syndrome is? :biggrin: I think I can hazard a guess that it isn't complimentary :wink: ...... Thread starter material methinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Thread starter material methinks Yeah ... I think Pommy B&^%a$# .. but what's the D .... dozy .... ?? Yes maybe thread starter, but it will be closed soon enough :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Yeah ... I think Pommy B&^%a$# .. but what's the D .... dozy .... ?? Yes maybe thread starter, but it will be closed soon enough :biggrin: ah, go on.....its boring as bat $hit today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Put the energy into finding eating places that stay open until the early hours of the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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