SIXPENNY DINNERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5516, 19 September 1892, Page 4

SIXPENNY DINNERS.

(From the Age)

Probably not bne man m a hundred m Melbourne hoe the slightest idea of how well he can dine for sixpence. The British workman's mouth would water at details of tbe items composing tho breakfast, dinner or tea obtainable for their " tanner " by the working men of Melbourne. Tbe Falstafr Reßtaurant is a colossal edifice of four floors, with amain entrance hall of commanding dimensions ; and it is m tbia fine building that Mesars Morris ond White conduot thoir astonishing catering operations for the working classes, at a oharge of 6d per meal, m a style whioh must ba seen to be believed. On the ground floor ore two Bpacious lofty ond well ventilated dining balls, providing sitting accommodation for 600 people at one time. The visitor on entering eoes somo hundreds of bard toilers busily engaged m discussing their midday meal, eaoh occupying a chair at a table accommodating about eight persons, a clean white tablecloth, substantial cruet stand and maßsive white water jug adorning each separate table. From the kitcbeo, which ia a spacious apartment, m which a large number of smart, olean looking men are engaged, and m which there is a cooking range 16 feet long, there oan be turned out 4000 meals per day, and on the ground floor there is a large and lofty reading and smoking room. How such an institution con be worked at a profit ia a mystery to tho uninitiated visitor, but tbe proprietors say they are satisfied, and they are certainly to all appearance men wbo know aero than the hootmaker who, after declaring his boots to bo of euch good value that be lost 4id on every pair he sold, added that if it were not for the immense quantity he got through be could nevor make a do of it. As joint after joint ia taken from the range it disappears rapidly under the unceasing operations of the carvers, and the woll filled plates are handed through a large open window space to smart waitresses, who have a bu6y timo of it, especially between 12 and 1 o'clock. This mid-day sixpenny repast consists of gravy, vegetable or pea soup or mutton broth; roast beef, mutton or pork, cornod beef or Bteuk pic, with pofcntoos and cabbage or cauliflower j rice pudding, jam roll or plum pudding with sauce, and cither one or two oups of tea or coffee, with bread ad lib. For breakfast the menu consists of porridge and milk, followed by grilled steak, sausages, a couple of mutton chops and fried egg and bacon, bread and butter unlimited and tea or coffee as at dinner. Tea includes similar items to ths breakfast bill of fare, except tbe porridge. Tha mott extraordinary part of oil is the quantity and quility of the food supplied. Each meal is bountiful enough served to satisfy the. appet.ita of a hearty, hungry man, and, unlike the food m many chenp eating houses the appoaranco of tho viands haa on exhilarating effect upon the appetite. A " sixpenny feed " is, of course, no norolty m Melbourne or other great cities, but frequently the rep-ißt at tho prioo ia such that " s little of it goes a long wiy." The proprietors of tin Falsi aff have, however, evidently aimed at something higher and, so far as may be judged, they have succeeded m effecting o revolution io the feeding of the working ela.-ees as remarkable os that wilh which tho Australian caterors, Kpiors and Pond, years ago first astonished and delighted tho railway travelling British publio.