20 replies to this topic

[Bob Fugger]

I was chatting to a neighbouring restaurateur friend about this place and we are both speechless as to how whomever ends up in this space keeps getting it consistently wrong.  I love hotpot too, but you're surrounded by offices (mostly public servants and some tech) who are looking to get in and out in under 45 minutes or call in for a quick takeaway.  Hotpot is not the model for this.  Perhaps a block up or down on Government or Wharf Streets, where you get a tonne of walkup traffic.  By all means, do hotpot at night: but pump out some rice and noodle bowls for lunch at between $9-12 to keep the lights on and the staff paid.  If that was the model, I'd probably eat there at least twice per week.

 

It was the same with Café Layla - sure, their Lamb Shawarma was delicious - but not $15 delicious.  And it's the same across the way at Gozen.  You've got lunch bentos ranging from $15-17.  The quality looks really good, but for $10l50 plus tax tip, I get a massive bento from Koto just around the corner on the 500 blk of Fort Street that is good quality and amazing value for money.