20% Of Aussie Restaurants Accept Diners If Customers Limit Stay 90-120 Minutes

A growing number of restaurants in Australia are limiting the time that patrons could dine in their establishments to just 90 to 120 minutes. The restaurants would only accept the diners if they are to vacating their table after a specified time.

The Age reports that of the 20 per cent of Aussie restaurants with a time limit, half have a 90-minute period for the patrons to eat and pay their bills, while 35 per cent have a longer two-hour period.

There are also other changes in the dining environment, according to dimmi.com.au, an online reservation Web site, with diners entering restaurants much earlier than the traditional 7:30 pm, more frequently and at a shorter time frame.

David Mackintosh, co-owner of the Pei Modern at the commercial business district, advises patrons who love to stay longer to make a later booking after the "rush" hour and then stay until midnight.

Erez Gordon of Bishop Sessa at Surrey Hills in Sydney said the limited time is part of facing the reality in the hospitality business, explaining, "The restaurants that have sittings are, for the most part, doing so because demand exceeds supply ... and if that is the case, then of course you are justified in calling the shots."

However, Gordon warned, "If you become too stringent in the shots you call, you run the risk of disenfranchising customers."

But blogs and review forums report how the policy has angered a number of diners who have complained that in some establishments, diners whose time are almost over are not given the dessert menu. Others noted the restaurants exclude from their time frame the slow or sub-par service.

April Addle, operations manager of the Portello Rosso tapas eatery in Melbourne, said the establishment only applies the set-time dining policy on busy nights, usually on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

However, some dining establishments such as the Hartsyard in Sydney permit guests to stay longer, especially on special occasions such as a birthday celebration.

Stevan Permutico, chief executive of Dimmi, disclosed the 7-10 pm bookings dropped 17 per cent over the past few years, while for the same period, 5-7 pm bookings grew 30 per cent.

He explained, "There is definitely a trend across Australia towards earlier eating. Families are eating the pizza-style meal out more frequently, the corporates are finishing work and hearing straight to dinner while solo diners have also increased dramatically."

Meanwhile, the latest dining industry report by IBISWorld, said that there is an increase in Asian food brands owned by Australians as more consumers dine out and viewing eating out as a cultural experience.

That explains the rise in popularity of restaurants that serve authentic Asian-style dishes such as Workinabox, whose menus are also considered healthier options.

More news about food trends in 2014 in this video.

YouTube/Buzz60