At-table ordering service me&u has provided data on what Australians were eating and drinking at venues across the country this summer.
The figures reveal that Australians headed to venues in droves during the sunny season, with more than two million me&u orders made in January alone. When compared to the summer of 2021/2022, food spend increased by 81 per cent, while beverages were up 45 per cent.
The busiest day for sales was 21 January. Unsurprisingly, Saturdays remained the biggest hospitality day of the week, closely followed by Sundays as Australians let the good times roll all weekend.
Moreover, me&u data identified the busiest periods of each day of the week for venues:
- Monday – 1pm
- Tuesday – 6pm
- Wednesday – 6pm
- Thursday – 6pm
- Friday – 6pm
- Saturday – 1pm
- Sunday – 12pm
Cocktails dominated me&u orders over the summer, with the most popular drinks orders being: Espresso Martini, Aperol Spritz, Margarita, Mojito and Corona beer.
And Aussies were turning to the pub classics with their meal choices, as the top four food items were: chicken parmigiana, chicken schnitzel, chips, and margherita pizza. Traditional stalwart, fish and chips, fell out of the top five, replaced by garlic bread.
Waterside venues did particularly well during the hot season, as Australians sought to soak in the view and keep cool, with Opera Bar in Circular Quay acranking as the top venue this summer. Felons Brewing Co, part of the Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) complex next to the Brisbane River, came in at number two, followed by fellow HSW resident Fish & Chips.
Victoria’s seaside Portsea Hotel ranked in fourth, while another HSW venue, Felons Barrell Hall, rounded out the top five.
See a full list of venues below.
Me&u’s top 10 venues over summer:
1. Opera Bar
2. Felons Brewing Co
3. Fish & Chips (Howard Smith Wharves)
4. Portsea Hotel
5. Felons Barrell Hall
6. Breakfast Creek Hotel
7. El Camino – Surfers Paradise
8. Little Creatures Great Hall & Brewhouse
9. Mr Percival’s
10. El Camino – The Rocks
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