The Precinct at Alberton (Formerly The Port Club)

[bomberclifford]

I see that the Vardon Restaurant in the redeveloped Stag Hotel has recently closed after only opening in October last year. They have gone back to serving schnitzels and burgers. I know the Steakhouse at the Port Club wasn't as high brow but it does show that it is not easy to make a dollar if you are offering anything too fancy.

Adelaide seems to specialise in bland pubs doing bland food with the occasional bland fine dining experience.

The Vardon suffered because it tried to be upmarket, but failed dismally. The food was okay but not really worth the prices they charged and the service was appalling. Wait staff not knowing what meals were, not able to get meals delivered to the correct table at the same time, poorly structured menu, etc.

When your neighbours are Nola, Mothervine, Street, Orana, and Sosta, with Africola and Golden Boy just a minute's walk away, you need to do something extremely well, extremely cheap or extremely different.

It's a prime location and needs someone to do something interesting that works with the bar service of the pub. A killer dumpling bar would fit perfectly.

 

[Portology]

PAFC always innovating

Wait till you see the Wines list.

 

[Macca19]

A killer dumpling bar would fit perfectly.

Make it happen cap'n

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Is it really that difficult to put together a pub/burger menu that has generous serves with the food and service being decent quality ??

I mean seriously.

 

[raman]

Is it really that difficult to put together a pub/burger menu that has generous serves with the food and service being decent quality ??

I mean seriously.

Exactly. So the ambitious hipstery steakhouse model failed, that's understandable given the location, noble effort, cut it loose and let it go.

But why for the love of god can't they fall back on a modest, competent, reasonably priced pub menu?

 

[Doctor Feel]

Is it really that difficult to put together a pub/burger menu that has generous serves with the food and service being decent quality ??

I mean seriously.

When you are haemorrhaging money and holding onto a business for no reason other than "it's alberton" - no. Have to invest money for this, and we aren't. Totally understandable. I'd be keeping our powder dry for another venture.

 

[SgtSchulz]

I don't mind the Parmi I am probably biased being incapable of criticising.

The Lighthouse Wharf does amazing schnittys.

 

[SgtSchulz]

When you are haemorrhaging money and holding onto a business for no reason other than "it's alberton" - no. Have to invest money for this, and we aren't. Totally understandable. I'd be keeping our powder dry for another venture.

How is it losing money? Every time I go in there are people. Better than what can be said for most places in Adelaide.

 

[tribey]

Exactly. So the ambitious hipstery steakhouse model failed, that's understandable given the location, noble effort, cut it loose and let it go.

But why for the love of god can't they fall back on a modest, competent, reasonably priced pub menu?

Why did it fail though? Because a bunch of old khents with mashed potato lodged in their arteries couldn't understand that there was more to life than schnitties and meat pies?

I reckon I ate at the club 15+ times over the course of several months at the height of the 1870 Steakhouse theme and even managed to wangle non-believers into going, to solid reviews.

Now we're left with what, sub-par food that appeases the trogs? #pexit

 

[raman]

Why did it fail though? Because a bunch of old khents with mashed potato lodged in their arteries couldn't understand that there was more to life than schnitties and meat pies?

5014

 

[Doctor Feel]

How is it losing money? Every time I go in there are people. Better than what can be said for most places in Adelaide.

Have you seen the financial results? Barely break even - and that's after gutting the staff and quality of produce.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Why did it fail though? Because a bunch of old khents with mashed potato lodged in their arteries couldn't understand that there was more to life than schnitties and meat pies?

I reckon I ate at the club 15+ times over the course of several months at the height of the 1870 Steakhouse theme and even managed to wangle non-believers into going, to solid reviews.

Now we're left with what, sub-par food that appeases the trogs? #pexit

Yup. I took people there regularly and they all loved it. I went maybe once every couple of weeks - now I wont be going at all. I keep getting sucked in to the occassional meal but without a word of a lie, it's been worse and worse every time.

 

[DSL64]

I must be in the minority...
Went there a Sunday or 2 ago for my birthday lunch...

It was OK without being fantastic.
No 'wow' factor, but I'd probably go back for another steak...

 

[SilenceOz]

It's about on par with the rest of the shitty dining in Adelaide.

 

[OneGreatClub]

How is it losing money? Every time I go in there are people. Better than what can be said for most places in Adelaide.

nah, it'd dead, apart from thurs nights and the occasional birthday lunch.

 

[simba_]

the way i see it, it's a footy club, like a pub you're supposed to hate yourself after eating

 

[OneGreatClub]

Time to get Holly's opinion?

 

[Steve Dore]

Time to get Holly's opinion?

Holly? We may as well ask Kryten.

 

[Boxx]

How is it losing money? Every time I go in there are people. Better than what can be said for most places in Adelaide.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Port Club is NOT losing money at all!!

It has in fact made a profit for the past five years and will be profitable in 2016 as well.

Considering the Port Club pump literally hundreds of thousands of dollars into the PAFC coffers which then bolsters the overall books is a testament to the Port Club and how well it really is going!

Doctor Feel To state that the PC is "barely breaking even" is so far from the truth - it's laughable!
Have you actually spoken to someone at the club to voice your concerns about its mismanagement? Probably not.

I take my family to the PC and the Prince regularly for meals and are more than happy to keep returning... Oh, and I am a fan of Diet Coke - and know that Zero hasn't been on tap there for a very long time as it never sold enough to keep it! FYI, I noticed the fridge had plenty of stock of Zero in bottles.

 

[Doctor Feel]

The simple fact of the matter is that the Port Club is NOT losing money at all!!

It has in fact made a profit for the past five years and will be profitable in 2016 as well.

Considering the Port Club pump literally hundreds of thousands of dollars into the PAFC coffers which then bolsters the overall books is a testament to the Port Club and how well it really is going!

Doctor Feel To state that the PC is "barely breaking even" is so far from the truth - it's laughable!
Have you actually spoken to someone at the club to voice your concerns about its mismanagement? Probably not.

I take my family to the PC and the Prince regularly for meals and are more than happy to keep returning... Oh, and I am a fan of Diet Coke - and know that Zero hasn't been on tap there for a very long time as it never sold enough to keep it! FYI, I noticed the fridge had plenty of stock of Zero in bottles.

...you clearly haven't read the financials or spoken to port club management. They have slashed absolutely everything there in order to stay above the water. "Making hundreds of thousands" lol. In cash flow maybe, but not in profit. Revenue does not equal profit. We are making enough to keep it running - just. The trend is downward, it's only a matter of time.

FYI - the last AGM included the financials of the port club, and they were rubbish.

 

[tribey]

...you clearly haven't read the financials or spoken to port club management. They have slashed absolutely everything there in order to stay above the water. "Making hundreds of thousands" lol. In cash flow maybe, but not in profit. Revenue does not equal profit. We are making enough to keep it running - just. The trend is downward, it's only a matter of time.

FYI - the last AGM included the financials of the port club, and they were rubbish.

The raw figures re, 2015 Licensed Venues:

Revenue $7,600,000
Expenses $6,900,000

But that would include everything including the 80 pokies machines, booze and whathaveyou.

The breakdown on kitchen wouldn't be flash, I'd imagine.

 

[manureid]

Didn't someone post in this thread once from the Port Club stating that financially it was struggling (hence Steakhouse gone etc)? I am too lazy to search.

 

[Portology]

5014

Shame the Burek Lounge isn't licensed. Fair feed for the carnivores there.

 

[Doctor Feel]

The raw figures re, 2015 Licensed Venues:

Revenue $7,600,000
Expenses $6,900,000

But that would include everything including the 80 pokies machines, booze and whathaveyou.

The breakdown on kitchen wouldn't be flash, I'd imagine.

The bistro is the concern - correct. The pokies are still making a killing as bad as it is.

 

[OneGreatClub]

The Bistro has zilch atmosphere, zilch. Ok the memorabilia around the perimeter but the dining area is staid and depressing. People (most) expect more. The new bar area is a definite improvement.