If you are female, would you go to a restaurant like this?

[sussudio]

http://www.shamiana.com.au

yet this place has been included in the 2003 Age Good Food Guide! (the GFG is like the eating out bible for most people).

I'm got an opinion on this and have already written to the editor of the Guide, but I'd just like to get other peoples opinion (female or male) first before I express mine.

the review, that resulted in the restaurant's entry in the Guide, is here: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/02/1017206194997.html

 

[Stucey]

I'm sure there are plenty of single males or who like to eat out, and I am assuming some of them might even buy the GFG...therefore I think it is quite reasonable to put this in the guide. As long as it serves good food. They don't have to only put in restaurants that have a 'Family Friendly' environment.

Just my opinion anywayz....

 

[TADS]

I saw the news item on this when it opened.

Not a restuarant I would go out of may way for, but if I was invited out to dinner for any reason to this place, I would go and check it out.

Apparently the food is great and it is not like the woman are naked just seductively dressed.

As a female I could feel a little strange at first but as long as the chef is cute!!!!!!!

 

[Docker_Brat]

If I were a woman, I'd be a lesbian.. so yeah

 

[sandeano]

Reading the review I see the critic ordered the fish. I suppose the aroma was irresistable...

 

[Pessimistic]

A guy I Know was pictured in that article - without his consent ! He was not happy.

Personally I like to seperate eating and sex. So 'sexy' restaurants are not for me !

 

[McAlmanac]

I remember reading the review at the time. The bottom line with the GFG is the food - on this score, the restaurant would seem to be deserving. Tacky waitresses should count no more than tacky decor in some Vietnamese or "shopfront" places. In fact, I love that laminex look.

I think Sussudio should put his own restaurant guide out, as he always seems to have his finger on Melbourne's culinary pulse.

 

[bunsen burner]

Not if I was a female, but being a male, I wouldn't go to see the Chippendales either.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by McAlmanac
I think Sussudio should put his own restaurant guide out

I'm working on it

with regards to shamiana, I think the reviewer summed it up nicely: it's a girlie bar with food. now, I haven't been there, but I'm pretty sure the food is good, because I've been to the restaurants that the chef, Paul Knight, used to cook at (sans the hostesses). however, I disagree with its inclusion in the Good Food Guide because Shamiana obviously sells itself more on sex than food. the problem with the GFG is that it's become very commercialised these days.

this is not to make judgement calls on people who dine there - each to their own. people who don't like it, don't have to go. I agree that food is not the only criteria for judging whether a place is good - there is also ambience, service, etc..

I guess I'm just disappointed that the perceived state of dining has come to the point when restauranteurs have to go to such lengths to attract customers. I'm quite passionate about food, but to me, food should be the main drawing card, not the waitresses.

 

[FIGJAM]

I've been to Cobbs on Rathdowne for a blokey farwell gig. Food was ordinary!

I have no problem with a restaurant guide putting in any restaurant that has what they believe to be noteworthy food.

Hell, if McDonalds made great food (Bizarro world) I'd have no problem with them being included, even though their primary goal is to "provide entertainment" (as told by Vice President of Maccas at a motivational shindig).

 

[McAlmanac]

The blokey lunch trade at that end of town would be pretty competitive., so obviously the girls get them through the door. But the superior food is what is going to get the repeat business. Obviously there's diffr'nt strokes for diffr'nt folks (refer previous avatar ) - Charcoal Hill on the Grill is offensive to some sections of the community. I wouldn't take a hot date to Vao Doi, but it was voted Best Vietnamese. But for a blokey power lunch, where you have to clinch the deal and want a superior meal to impress, Shamiana might just be the ticket.

 

[Bee]

I can't see any difference between a bar that employs scantily clad or topless waitresses, and a restaurant that has waitresses dressed in revealing clothing.
I don't know why people think it's okay for a bar, but not for a restaurant. Most top restaurants employ attractive waitresses or waiters. Albeit modestly attired! Whenever you go to a top restaurant the waiting staff are always attractive.

The Shamiana is a classy and luxurious establishment. I know for a fact that my partner has been there twice on business lunches and that doesn't bother me at all. It's used all the time to conduct business deals. There is nothing sleazy or low class about the place. It certainly doesn't try to hide the fact of what it is all about. And the food is superb.

 

[Pessimistic]

I haven't looked at GFG for a few years but according to them there are no restaurants east of warrigal rd.

There are Hundreds of good restaurants out there but I think snobbery keeps them from putting them in (either that or the reviewers always travel by tram)

 

[FIGJAM]

Originally posted by McAlmanac
Charcoal Hill on the Grill is offensive to some sections of the community.

What's offensive about Charchol Grill on the Hill, McAlmanac?

Aside from their juicy steaks and impressive wine list??

 

[Danny Chook Fan Club]

My secret shame: lived two streets away from CGOTH for two years, and never once went there.

Still, that means I've still got the first time to come!

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by Bee
Whenever you go to a top restaurant the waiting staff are always attractive.

I don't know if I'd agree with that. I'm an amateur food reviewer and I've been to most of the "top" restaurants in melbourne - ondine, flower drum, jacques reymond, circa, langton's, radii, ezard's at adelphi, et al. whilst there are some who have stunning waiting staff, most are just average looking people who nevertheless provide really outstanding service. and that's the thing with excellent service. they should be effective yet be so unobtrusive as to nearly be unnoticeable. not so with shamiana, as the waiting staff are the first thing that people notice, and even the reviewer concedes that the hostesses are not much chop as waitresses.

it would be an absolutely shame (and in fact discriminatory) to hire waitresses based on looks, as shamiana obviously has to. my experience with the above restaurants is that they do not hire on looks but rather on skill. best service I've ever received was at Est Est Est, now known as Ondine, in the city. average looking waitresses who really know their stuff.

 

[McAlmanac]

Originally posted by FIGJAM

What's offensive about Charchol Grill on the Hill, McAlmanac?

Aside from their juicy steaks and impressive wine list??

Forgot to mention "to vegos" . Personally, I appreciate a fantastic steak having lived for many years with a vegetarian. And I've also heard that the wine list is stupendous. A & V Lazar on Johnston Street is close to home for me - and it is BYO, definitely the place to bring out your gun red from home.

 

[Mooster7]

I've read quite a bit about Oz eateries on Bigfooty. I was surprised at first that the likes of KFC and McDonalds had spread to your fare land like a cancer. At the same time, it's your fault. If you eat, they will come.

One US restaurant franchise you definitely need is Hooters. That's all I've got to say about that. At any rate, if a guy takes a first date to Hooters or the place discussed in this thread, he is a complete moron. He is also going to spend the night alone staring at the ceiling wondering where his 'get some' strategy went wrong. Peace,

 

[Sydneyfan]

Hell, If I were a woman I'd probably work there!

Must visit next time I'm down Melbourne way, for the food of course!

 

[Sydneyfan]

Originally posted by Mooster7
He is also going to spend the night alone staring at the ceiling wondering where his 'get some' strategy went wrong.

Or staring at some hooters!

I know we did have a couple of hooters here in Sydney, in the west somewhere, dunno if they're still around though!

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by Mooster7
One US restaurant franchise you definitely need is Hooters.

doesn't sydney already have a Hooters restaurant? (or plan to open one?)

that's the thing: what if Hooters hires some cordon bleu chef in a bid to be included in the GFG to gain credibility? from the response I got from the GFG editor, they'd be obliged to include them. where do you draw the line?

 

[McAlmanac]

Originally posted by sussudio
that's the thing: what if Hooters hires some cordon bleu chef in a bid to be included in the GFG to gain credibility? from the response I got from the GFG editor, they'd be obliged to include them. where do you draw the line?

The food will garner the majority of the score. Bad service will lose the restaurant a point or two, but if the net result is a "14", say, then it will get included. A gourmand need not necessarily want to personally eat at every establishment in the Guide. Some Asian places have chaotic service (I've been bewildered at Kum Den, for example), but you finish up with marvellous food.

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by sussudio


not so with shamiana, as the waiting staff are the first thing that people notice, and even the reviewer concedes that the hostesses are not much chop as waitresses.

it would be an absolutely shame (and in fact discriminatory) to hire waitresses based on looks, as shamiana obviously has to. .

Exactly. But Shamiana don't try to hide the fact that their waitresses are all attractive and they are the main attraction. The restaurants main trade is business lunches. Of course it's discriminatory to hire staff on looks, but they are never going to admit to that being their practice.
Whilst the majority of their clientele is male, there are also a percentage of women diners there too. It wouldn't offend me in the least to dine there.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by Pessimistic
I haven't looked at GFG for a few years but according to them there are no restaurants east of warrigal rd

I live east of warrigal rd

there are a few in the GFG, mostly chinese though: fedeles (italian), Fu Long, New Royal Garden and all the chinese ones in Doncaster, i.e. purple sands, tai pan, plume, zen's.

I think it's commercialism, rather than snobbery, that is keeping some places out. did you remember that the guide used to have no ads from restaurants? now it's full of them

 

[Bee]

Originally posted by Mooster7
One US restaurant franchise you definitely need is Hooters. That's all I've got to say about that. At any rate, if a guy takes a first date to Hooters or the place discussed in this thread, he is a complete moron. He is also going to spend the night alone staring at the ceiling wondering where his 'get some' strategy went wrong. Peace,

Hmmm, from what I have heard about Hooters, it isn't exactly an up market place or a fine dining experience.