Date night made affordable with fancy club classics

This local club is setting the schnitzel stereotype aside, boasting an affordable fine dining menu as part of the annual Perfect Plate competition.

They’ve spent more than half their lives together and recently celebrated 13 years of marriage, but Huy Luu and husband Long Phan still make time for date nights - and it’s made easier with decently priced quality food at their local club.

The couple have been loyal diners at Burwood’s local club Coro88 since Covid.

“We had two young kids at the time and we wanted somewhere safe to eat,” Ms Luu said.

But it’s more than chicken schnitzels and bangers and mash at this club, with “unexpected” additions to the club classics, like entrees including yuzu-picked squid or desserts with miso-caramel popcorn - all for a reasonable price.

Huy Luu and husband Long Pham dining out at Coro 88 Burwood. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We were so impressed today with the dish that we got and the quality of ingredients that they use. And the price - it’s $10,” Ms Luu said.

“You could have a three course meal and it’s less than $50 and they would easily compete with some of the fine dining restaurants you see.

“You wouldn’t even know you’re at a club.”

The budget-friendly but high quality menu is something Coro88 prides itself on, restaurant CEO Andrew Taylor said.

“Club foods have always been looked down (on) a bit, a bit more of a quick and easy cheap meal to go to,” Mr Taylor said.

Coro 88 Burwood is offering a miso caramel desert for $10. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We’re trying to break that stereotype that club food has had for such a long time.”

It’s the restaurant’s fourth year participating in the Local Club Perfect Plate Awards - an annual statewide competition showcasing the quality and diversity of food clubs can offer.

“We’re proving that you don’t have to charge crazy prices for top quality food that looks and tastes incredible.”

Not only does the competition allow club chefs to be creative, it also lets diners experience something new.

“(Perfect Plate) brings in something we’ve never tried before and it gets the chefs to create something completely different to what we’re used to from clubs,” Ms Luu said.

Diners are encouraged to head to their favourite local club to buy, eat and rate the perfect plate dish for an affordable price.

Voting for the Perfect Plate competition ends on June 15, 2025.

Originally published as Date night made affordable with fancy club classics