Restaurant at Five Dock Bowling club surprises locals by charging $35 for schnitzel and chips
Skinny Tony’s at Five Dock Bowling Club charges $35 for schnitzel and chips. Want salad too? That’s extra. But the owners say the price reflects food not subsidised by poker machines.
Confidential
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A newly-opened restaurant at Five Dock Bowling Club has surprised locals with the price of its schnitzel and chips.
While a neighbouring RSL offers the classic club meal of half chicken schnitzel, slaw and chips for $14 at lunch, Skinny Tony’s at Five Dock Bowling Club serves up a chicken schnitzel with parmesan cheese and parsley for $28.90.
Want chips with that? Add an extra $6.90, bringing the total cost of the pub favourite to $35.80.
Add a side salad or mash and it will cost an extra $8.90.
Then a 10 per cent surcharge is added to this cost on weekends and public holidays.
The restaurant opened its doors on February 14, and some locals who’ve visited were surprised at the cost.
One local, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the price point made it difficult for locals to dine out regularly.
“The meals were tasty, and very generous portions, however for the price you pay you would expect that. It’s a pity the prices are very expensive because as locals we would go at least once a week. Based on the cost for a family of four, it would be once a month at best,” they said.
“With skyrocketing costs of living this is one expense we would need to minimise to special occasions.
“And there are plenty of clubs around that provide greater value for money.”
The price point isn’t doing anything to dampen the restaurant’s popularity, which has been popular since it opened and booked out on the weekend.
Skinny Tony’s owner Pierre Moio, said the reason some have been surprised by the price is because they expect bowling club food, where as the venue is not a registered club.
‘WE ARE A PRIVATE RESTAURANT’
“The only thought behind keeping the building name as Five Dock Bowling Club was as a reference for people to know its location and whereabouts, as the site first opened in 1933, not to denote the offering,” he said.
“We are not a registered club. We don’t have poker machines, we are not subsidised by gambling. We are a private restaurant.”
“There are enough places offering $15 meals nearby. We made a conscious choice to be different and maybe that attracts a new market.”
Moio said the venue is for families and foodies, and has brought in Italian chef Giuseppe Santoro, to run the kitchen.
Santoro is the president of the Italian Pizza Makers Federation and in 2022 was awarded the Pizza Awards in Calabria.
The new restaurant is part of an extensive refurbishment of the site, which has been closed for four years.
The Five Dock Bowling Club was the former Tigers Five Dock, operated by Balmain Leagues Club.
Moio said he would consider a name change to abolish any affiliation or confusion with being a registered club.
“We want to create a place for the community that will still be here in 20 years time,” said Moio.
The next stage of development for the club will be to open The Bistro.
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