Techno Dining

Remember what the word 'hospitality' means? Back in the old days it was the 'people' industry, where waiters, bellhops, bartenders and chefs play with the punters, attend to their needs and add that special touch we call service. Last night, a good friend of mine told me about this restaurant in Sydney which sparked some debate about society being altered toward avoiding human interaction. Where has hospitality gone and does it need a voice?

Japanese restaurant Wagaya uses touch screen menu ordering from within a private booth table. Diners simply scroll through the menu items at their leisure and select preferred morsels by tapping. No pens and paper, no dialogue. Order in silence. The beauty of this system is you can order as you go. Want more tempura shrimp? Easy, I'll just tap the screen and it'll come along shortly. The menu keeps a running tally of your bill and allows you to see what you've ordered (in case you forget) however you never need to talk to a soul. Eaten too much with three sips left in your Singapore Sling? Just order another cocktail now and by the time you're finished, a fresh one shall be arriving via mute waitress shortly.

Apparently the food is great and the system works. What I find interesting is that 'wagaya' translates to 'our home' which contradicts our western traditional ideal of welcoming visitors to your kitchen table and indulging them with generosity of food and company with hardy conversation and sharing laughs. Tap, tap, tap - your dinner is ready.

Verdict: I think I love it - but the food is what would get me across the line.

Wagaya. Level 1, 78 Harbour Street, Haymarket in Sydney.

Where Else...?

It's that tourism catch phrase... 'Where else but Queensland?' applied to the crystal clear waters of the far North, the sun and surf of the Gold Coast and the uptown beachcomber lifestyle of Noosa and surrounds that make that slogan pertinent to its claims... but where is Brisbane, the state's capital, in all this? It seems Brisbane doesn't have anything unique to offer the rest of Australia. Incorrect.

From literally the first step inside Cloudland, my eyes were widened, I didn't know where to look next and my breath was syncopated. This place will blow your mind. So it's a nightclub but the offer on art, design, architecture and detail in furnishing, beer selection and food is remarkable, and I have seen nothing like it in Australia. It's massive. There are four levels to the club that weave upwards overlooking a giant wall garden, complete with waterfall and covered in trees, creepers and vines. As you climb the stairs to each level, the far wall is a mural, below is the crowd from the entry (think the Can-Can scene in Moulin Rouge) and above there's an enormous retractable glass roof high in the sky that can open and close pending the Brisbane evening weather.

It's the place Melbourne would love to create if it had the space. And indeed Melbourne has done it - in parts. Whilst Cloudland is something of a spectacle and designer Nic Brunner's work is incredible, especially with transitions into and out of theme, it's not so original that you leave bragging (although I very nearly talked of nothing else, purely because I was so inspired that Brisbane was home to such a venue). Imagine Madam Brussels with Eurotrash above it, Long Room and Silk Road side by side, the beers of Cookie and Belgian Bier Cafe on tap and the buzz of Spice Market - all in one giant room. It's mad. The art works are nice but not unique, I did like the spontaneous suspended sculptures though as a sublime touch. But what this place does is brings it all together and offers a night out surrounded by creativity and choice, allowing punters to move around the different spaces within, forgetting about the traffic noises and drunk teenagers left outside.

Apparently it's open during the day also for lunch and arvo drinks which is also very cool and a new idea for the emerging 'super club' genre of venue.

It's worth checking it out and tell me 'where else' have you seen anything like it in Australia.

Verdict: Love, love, love (and in Brisbane!)

Cloudland. 641 Ann Steet, Fortitude Valley.

Tune in

I have always believed there to be two kinds of people: those who don't sing karaoke and those with brains. Whichever category you fall into, going to a karaoke bar is a right hoot. So what makes a good one? The song list is an integral part of the amateur soloist's decision because if you end up in the wrong place, you could end up singing something you only know four lines to, and that's because you heard it on a television commercial.

Also, should there be a stage, or should you hire a private booth? Do they allow drinks on the stage? Do they bring drinks to your booth? Recently, it has become even more popular, largely due to the weather i assume, for Melburnians to burrow underground or up high to some of the city's belter bars.

Here's my picks:
Chi Lounge - Little Bourke Street. Private booths with songs in multiple languages. They serve sake and charge minimum per head entry and then you just drink as much as you can (sort of, but you always leave happy)
Spice Market - next to the Hyatt on Russell. Moroccan-inspired lounge bar has a massive round harem room with a karaoke equipment and a great song list. The cocktail menu is a killer but there's plenty of cushions to ease the blow.
Charlton's - Coverlid Place. Recent discovery with all you could wish for... karaoke with great list, and a stage, and pool tables. Managed to murder only two songs with the assistance of much ale, yet did hear the best version of Babs' gem 'My Man' after some persuasion. And it was free which is not to be sneezed at.

There's many other spots though around town to tempt the vocal cords but a word of parting advice... when you've got a microphone - let it be your volume. Passion is everything when singing but so is pitch.

Double up

Recently I discovered the secret to week night dining simplicity is just to ‘double up’. Coupled with great Italian food and an outdoor continental atmosphere my group of friends’ desire was to have a meal and drink afterward without going overboard and walking more than one block in case it rains.

The Mess Hall, despite its name, dishes up more than military slops – in fact quite the opposite. Now normally locals would recommend Lygon for Italian grub yet having coffee(ed) at Mess Hall I thought the dinner menu deserved a guernsey. And we weren’t disappointed. My friend and I chose to share two pizzas – quattro formaggi and prosciutto with rocket. My other friends chose the slow cooked pork shoulder which evoked some food envy. But the Arancini (deep fried cheese balls – four of my favourite words) were to die for! The Mess Hall is cantina style serenity and has an excellent European varietals wine list, partial to reds: we were charmed. If you wander past a crowded Mess Hall, be not deterred, there’s another dining room upstairs – as is the Melbourne way.

Verdict: Love

But where’s the second in this dual affair? Our night cap was at Siglo, the little known rooftop courtyard bar above the Supper Club. Settling on four comfy patio chairs, overlooking the gardenia laid planter boxes, we ordered espresso martinis to further indulge and give a personal high five to our city. As the smallest droplets of rain fell upon us we retired to the grown up tables under the awning encircled with the air of cigars and the chatter of people with nothing to complain about. At this moment we realised how much we love.

Verdict: Love

Two ambient Melbourne spaces filled four hungry hearts on a humble Wednesday eve.

The Mess Hall is on Bourke Street, then amble up towards Parliament and take a left onto Spring to get to the Supper Club and upstairs to Siglo.

Happy hour

Melbourne CBD is not short of watering holes for Friday night knock off drinks, however some seem to provide more cheap drink options in a bar slash pub atmosphere than others. Wanting to avoid standing side-by-side with suits? Or somewhere the tourists don't flock to? Whilst it's no secret by any means, Society gets my vote. There's an outdoor smoking verandah slash alleyway (for all those rich people who can still afford a darb), multi level interior set up with side rooms (clad with arty wall paper) and bars that don't take forever for service. And the return of the dry bar - best solution for minimal space in standing rooms for those who need both hands to talk and somewhere to plonk the beer down.

Verdict: Love

Also try The Carlton Hotel (Bourke St), Workshop (A'Beckett St) and 3 Below (Swanston St)