Where to Find a Banquet Menu Under $100 for Every Occasion
Whether you're celebrating a win at work or heading out for date night, these set menus will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
Where to Find a Banquet Menu Under $100 for Every Occasion
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Whether you're celebrating a win at work or heading out for date night, these set menus will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
When you've got something big to celebrate, an extravagant dinner out is the default solution — and for good reason, too. Getting the gang together for a night of good food, good booze and good vibes is one of the best ways to splash that hard-earned cash. But, we have to acknowledge the minefield of awkward moments that needs to be navigated when organising a dinner, from balancing social calendars to conflicting budgets. The latter is where the magic of banquet menus come in — everyone knows exactly what they're paying for so they can kick back, relax and focus on stuffing themselves with delicious food.
Together with Melbourne's ridesharing app DiDi, we've hunted down five of the best banquet menus in Melbourne. Whether you're celebrating a big win at work or taking your partner on a romantic date night, any of these set menus are bound to hit the mark. Oh, and every single one is under $100 a head — talk about bang for your buck. Plus, in more good news, DiDi is also focused on keeping things affordable so, after you've rolled out of the restaurant full and happy, your ride home is equally stress-free on the 'ol hip pocket.
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When it’s time to gather all your friends for the ultimate chinwag, Fancy Hank’s is one of Melbourne’s top destinations. Specialising in slow-cooked American barbecue, it makes the most of high-quality Gippsland meat, smoking it for up to 22 hours. If you want to sample all of the Fancy Hank’s greatness, its three increasingly awesome two-course banquet menus are tough to beat. The Pitmaster menu ($59 per person) kicks off with Louisiana boudin, barbecued wings and devilled eggs before you receive the main course of 14-hour smoked Rangers Valley brisket and 12-hour smoked Tasmanian pulled pork. The Meatmaster menu ($69 per person) piles on smoked sausage links and extra snacks, while the headline Ribmaster menu ($99 per person) adds a huge serving of smoky ribs and even more sides to enjoy.
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Melbourne is home to a few top-notch Mexican joints, but Mamasita is super popular for a reason. If you’re ringing in another trip around the sun, booking in for a banquet here is a good choice as the feast simply goes on and on. For $49 per person, Mamasita’s basic Feed Me banquet starts with classics such as chargrilled corn and pork cochinita tacos before a shared family-style main and a light dessert to finish. The Staff Favourites menu ($65 per person) takes things up a level, adding chicken tinga tostaditas and ceviche of lime-cured market fish, while the Celebration menu offers fried fish tacos and a host of other Mexican favourites, including mezcal margaritas and Portuguese sweet wine, for $78 per person. If all that still isn’t enough, consider adding the paired cocktail menu ($50 each) or the premium mezcal set ($75 each) to liven up the party.
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For a family dinner that’s classy without going overboard, Jamu is the way to go. Situated just off Bridge Road — and around the corner from its much-loved sister cafe A Thousand Blessings — Jamu produces incredible Malaysian-inspired dishes with an Australian twist. Start with kingfish ceviche, cheeseburger spring rolls and a tasty selection of bao and dumplings, then move onto larger sharing options like pork hock with tamarind caramel sauce and Thai sweet and sour charred octopus. The Feed Me banquet is available for a reasonable $58 per person and takes a journey through the chef’s favourite dishes.
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So, you’ve smashed through all those KPIs — and, now, you and the team are looking for a way to celebrate. The best reward for hard work comes in the form of a visit to legendary pizzeria 400 Gradi for bottomless margherita pizza and drinks. We’ve crunched the numbers and figured out that it’s not hard to get outstanding value from this deal — for two hours, you can consume all the pizza, wine and beer you can manage for just $45 each. If you’re after something a little stronger, a bunch of cocktails — including Aperol spritzes — are also included in the price.
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Founded by influential Melbourne-born chef Ashley Davis, Copper Pot Seddon is the culmination of all the delicious food he uncovered in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe. Seeking to capture the absolute best cuisine from across the continent, this gastronomic adventure is your chance to sit down for a fancy meal that won’t break the bank but will have you and your loved one wistfully reminiscing that amazing European trip — or planning one for the near future. Once a month, that European-style feast can be in the form of a classic Sunday roast. For $50 per person, the restaurant dishes up a hearty four-course lunch with a particular protein theme — this month, it’s beef and, in August, it’ll be venison. Lunch may not immediately scream ‘romance’, but add a bottle of red and the cosy atmosphere of Copper Pott Seddon’s dining room, and you’re onto a winner.
Switch to DiDi and save heaps of cash that you’d rather spend on the fun stuff — like tucking into huge feasts with your best pals. To start riding, download the app here and use the code CONCRETE to score up to $50 in vouchers.
