THE MOST COMMON PUB MEALS IN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE, RANKED: IS YOUR FAVOURITE NO. 1?
If you have ever opened a pub menu and felt you could recite it with your eyes closed, there is now data to explain why, as a new ranking reveals the most common pub meals in Sydney and Melbourne.
Time Out analysed the menus of 150 pubs and clubs in each city as part of its annual look at the price of a chicken parmigiana.
The lists, published on Friday, November 6, confirm that the great Aussie counter meal is alive and well.
They also show that the two cities have rather different tastes.
Sydney's top pub meals
In Sydney, the humble chicken schnitzel takes the crown.
According to Time Out Sydney, the top 12 are:
No. 1: Chicken schnitzel
No. 2: Fish and chips
No. 3: Cheeseburger
No. 4: Chicken parmigiana
No. 5: Bangers and mash
No. 6: Steak, usually rump
No. 7: Caesar salad
No. 8: Chicken wings
No. 9: Salt and pepper calamari
No. 10: Steak sandwich
No. 11: Nachos
No. 12: Margherita pizza
Melbourne's list puts the parma first
Melbourne, perhaps unsurprisingly, is loyal to the parma.
Time Out Melbourne called it "the undisputed king of pub menus across Melbourne", and its list runs to 13 dishes:
No. 1: Chicken parmigiana
No. 2: Fish and chips
No. 3: Chicken schnitzel
No. 4: Cheeseburger
No. 5: Salt and pepper calamari
No. 6: Spaghetti or penne bolognese
No. 7: Caesar salad
No. 8: Steak sandwich
No. 9: Bangers and mash
No. 10: Nachos
No. 11: Chicken wings
No. 12: Margherita pizza
No. 13: Rump steak
What the two lists tell us
Fish and chips sits at number two in both cities, which makes it the closest thing Australia has to a pub meal everyone agrees on.
Bolognese makes Melbourne's top eight but does not appear on Sydney's list at all.
Sydney, meanwhile, rates bangers and mash and steak much higher than Melbourne does.
And the naming debate rages on, with Sydney largely ordering a parmi while Melbourne sticks with parma.
Whatever you call it, the crumbed chicken topped with sauce and melted cheese appears in both top four lists, so it is going nowhere.
How to enjoy pub meals without the regret
Pub classics are comfort food at its best, and there is no need to feel guilty about enjoying them.
If you eat out often, though, a few easy swaps can make a big difference to your plate and your wallet.
Ask whether you can swap some or all of the chips for salad or vegetables, as many kitchens are happy to oblige.
Order sauces and gravy on the side so you control how much goes on.
Share a big main and a side with a friend, especially with generous dishes such as nachos or a parma.
Look for grilled options, such as a rump steak or grilled fish, if you want something a little lighter than crumbed or battered dishes.
A Caesar salad sounds virtuous but often comes loaded with dressing, bacon and croutons, so ask for dressing on the side if that matters to you.
Check your local pub's website or social media before you go, because many run weekly specials on favourites such as schnitzel, parmi or steak night.
Family-friendly pubs often have smaller serves or kids' menus, which can also suit lighter appetites.
And if you are driving, plenty of pubs now offer a good range of alcohol-free beers and mocktails, so nobody misses out on a cold one with the meal.
The verdict
Whether you are Team Schnitzel or Team Parma, these rankings are a lovely reminder that the classic Aussie counter meal remains part of the fabric of our neighbourhoods.
So the next time friends ask where to catch up, your local and a plate of something golden and crunchy might be the perfect answer.
