Sydney restaurants turn up the Christmas lunch costs

After several years in lockdown, Christmas diners are looking to dine out, or at least give the cooking utensils to others.

However, the need to diversify will come at a major cost, particularly in Sydney.

For instance, lunch at Epicurean in Barangaroo will cost $480 per person; it is $475 a head at Otto Restaurante.

Celebrity chef Matt Moran’s offering is far more reasonable, charging $185 for his Chiswick Christmas feast hamper.

“We’ve never done this before but it’s one of the positive things that came out of Covid, restaurants have learned how to think outside the box and get our food to people who wouldn’t usually come into the restaurant,” Chiswick head chef Taylor Cullen said.

“People are spending so much money at the supermarkets, but this hamper will cost about the same without the fussing around in the kitchen.”

The Chiswick hamper includes ham with Matt Moran’s signature glaze, smoked ocean trout, duck liver parfait and a selection of sides.

Cullen believes the hamper is value for money at a time when people and hospitality owners are battling rising costs and lack of supply.

“Our suppliers are struggling to get stuff from Europe so flour and pasta we can’t get, polenta I had to get from the supermarket because we couldn’t source it, and dairy as well with floods and petrol has gone right up.”

“People don’t have enough staff and aren’t producing as much, transport is crazy … it’s been absolute chaos, but we are managing and that’s why we are doing the hamper — any restaurant small to big has to do whatever we can. Having that trade from the hamper covers us over Christmas Day.”

Meanwhile Providoor will deliver your Christmas lunch: A Tavola’s pasta for two will set you back $158, while a Rockpool feast is $300.

“If you had to actually go out and buy a cookbook, get the recipe, buy all the ingredients, spend a day or two preparing it plus potential wastage … this is cheaper, plus the restaurants are doing all the work for you,” chef and Providoor founder Shane Delia said.

“Demand is huge, and our Christmas sales are through the roof, restaurants are finding it hard to keep up … so if you want anything for Christmas, book early.”

If you do want to dine out, there are still bargains to be found.

Fratelli Fresh has Christmas lunch for just $89.

Jonathan Jackson - 6-12-22