Australasia

Darwin
Mindil Beach Market
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Reviewed: 1999

After a hard days conferencing in Darwin, a gang of us head for the Mindil Beach Market. This
market is a well established Darwin institution. Open every Thursday night - for sunset - it still
seems to attract just as many local families as tourists.

Anyhow, with eskies in hand we weaved through a very relaxed and friendly crowd. The aim is to
find a good position to view the spectacular sunset. Despite a large proportion of Darwin's
population being present, it's not too difficult to find space for the gang on the sand between the
beach and the market.

The sun goes down fairly quickly, in typical tropical style. It is toasted on its way by hundreds of
raised stubbies (short bottle of beer). But this really is just social drinking, there was not a drunk to
be seen.

With the sun gone, the focus swings 180 degrees from the beach to the market. First, the food
stalls. Oh, the food stalls! Mindil Beach Market is the gastronomic representation of Australia's
multicultural society. Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, traditional Australian (croc burgers, anyone!),
not to mention bratwurst sausages, and fish and chips!

After trying - and failing - to eat a selection from every stall, we then started wandering through the
rest of the market. Craft stalls, clothes, knick knacks, etc. I end up talking to a guy running a baby
clothes stall - turns out he's from Melbourne too (not a big surprise in Darwin, most people are
from elsewhere). Turns out we virtually know each other, via friends of friends.

RATING:
Friendliness Factor:    5
Food & Drink:           5
Hygiene:                     4
Connectivity:               4
Ambience:                   5
Kids Allowed              6

SteveM.

MELBOURNE:

The Standard Hotel
293 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Reviewed - 9 July 2000

The Standard Hotel nestles just off the hurley and burley of Brunswick
Street - one of Melbourne's premier dining and entertaining strips - in
a relatively quiet residential area.

We were there on a Sunday afternoon, and the bar and lounge were
comfortably populated with predominantly local residents. The mood was
relaxing rather than the frantic pace set at some of the bars on
Brunswick Street.

As we sat drinking, numerous neighbours, friends and friends of friends
walked by, said hello or could be heard chatting in the bar.

The atmosphere in The Standard is friendly, in a gently accepting way
rather than overtly welcoming. Friendliness Factor comes in at 5
points.

The Standard does decent and well priced meals. It also has a good
range of drinks, including Guinness on tap. Food & Drink Factor 5
points.

Nothing to complain about regarding hygiene. Hygiene Factor 4 points.

The connectivity of The Standard lends itself to being introduced to a
friend of a friend (of a friend), rather than striking up conversations
with strangers. Definitely not a pick-up joint - but a good place to be
invited to other places that might be. Connectivity Factor 5 points.

The hotel is warm and snug in winter, and in dry weather there is a beer
garden out the back It used to have regular gigs by live bands, but not
so much these days. The bar has a TV continually showing Australian
football, but the sound is turned down. A lot of the memorabilia on the
walls relates to the local football team - Fitzroy - which was merged
out of existence in recent years. Ambience Factor 6 points.

The tables in the lounge are too closely spaced to comfortably seat
fidgeting young children. However, the outside beer garden has room for
the little blighters to run, with the added benefit of a goldfish pond
for them to fall in. Kids-Allowed Factor 5 points.
RATING:
Score for Friendliness: 5
Score for Food & Drink :    5
Score for Hygiene factor :     4
Score for Connecting factor :   5
Score for Ambience factor : 6
Score for Kids Allowed factor : 5
Cheers!
Steve

Update: 18th July 2000

The Standard does still have music.
Wed nights at least!
ps watch out for pre-historic alt rockers from oz!

Other good Fitzroy spots include: Napier Hotel, Napier St, for great athmosphere, particulary the front Bar!
+ Nite Cat Night Club, Johnston St for groovy live jazzy music.
Ed.

Melbourne:

SAIGON PALACE - Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant
803 Glenhuntly Road, South Caulfield, Victoria Australia
Review dated 5 July 2000

The Saigon Palace is a lone escapee to the 'burbs, from the Victoria
Parade school of tasty and cheap Vietnamese dining. its nondescript
location - squeezed between a local supermarket and a hairdresser - is
in keeping with its key focus on quick no-frills food and service.
Staff are generally young and welcoming, so Friendliness Factor is 4.
Food is tasty rather than special, but the value comes with the bill.
Saigon Palace does not sell liquor. Food & Drink Factor is 4.
Just about anywhere you eat in Australia is going to be covered by local
health regulations, and this is no exception. Clean and tidy, with a
Hygiene Rating of 4.
There wasn't much "connecting" going on when I was there, unless you
count me connecting with the Vietnamese coleslaw. Generally, clientele
seem to be families or middle-aged couples, so don't be expecting'
romance here! Connecting Factor 2.
Furnishing is plain. Commercial radio top 40 is barely audible over the
consistent traffic hum. Ambience Factor 3.
We had two kids when we went. After they had smeered their food all
over the table and stamped it into the carpet, then they ran screaming
through the legs of the other customers.all the while, the staff were
smiling, patiently cleaning up and playing games with them.Got to give
a Kids-Allowed Factor of 5

RATING:
Score for Friendliness: 4
Score for Food & Drink : 5
Score for Hygiene factor : 4
Score for Connecting factor : 1
Score for Ambience factor : 3
Score for Kids Allowed factor : 5

Melbourne Australia

Name: bernard McCabe

Email: bmcabe@yahoo.co.uk

Review / Comments:

Union Club Hotel, Fitzroy ,Melbourne Australia

Great food. Horrible manager, hates kids.
Overview : skip it try somewhere else!

Friendliness: 1
Food & Drink: 6
Hygiene: 5
Connecting Factor: 3
Ambience: 4
Kids Allowed: 1

Reviews - Australasia