Is $287 Too Much for Lunch?
A woman in Sydney, Australia paid $287 for lunch with a friend. Her name is Jules Park. She is 42 years old. She shared a photo of her bill on social media.
Jules and her friend went to a restaurant for a "girlie lunch." They did not order any main dishes. They ordered two small plates, four snacks, two sides, and six fresh oysters. They also had two mocktails, one glass of wine, and dessert.
Jules was shocked by the bill. She posted the receipt online and said the cost of living in Sydney is too high. She expected people to agree with her.
But most people online said the bill was not expensive. Many people said "That's actually very good" and "You ordered the entire menu, what did you expect?" Only a few people agreed that $287 was too much.
The receipt shows expensive items. Wood fired prawns cost $34. Jamon, chilli paste and garlic toast cost $38. Oysters and wine are expensive foods in Australia.
One person online said "You order luxury, you pay for luxury." Another person said "Everything is so expensive these days, you shouldn't be surprised."
Many restaurants in Australia are closing. One in ten food businesses closed in the past year. Rising costs and fewer customers are big problems for restaurants.
Young Australians still eat out a lot. 40% of Gen Z people spend too much money on restaurant food. But older people eat out less because of high prices.
📚 Vocabulary
📝 Activities
1. True or False?
TRUE / FALSE
TRUE / FALSE
TRUE / FALSE
TRUE / FALSE
TRUE / FALSE
TRUE / FALSE
2. Fill in the blanks
- Jules paid _______ for lunch with her friend.
- She shared a photo of her _______ on social media.
- They did not order any _______ dishes.
- They ordered six fresh _______.
- Most people online said the bill was not _______.
- One in _______ restaurants closed last year.
3. Answer the questions
- How much did Jules pay for lunch?
- What did she call this lunch with her friend?
- Did they order main dishes?
- What expensive seafood did they order?
- What did most people say about the bill?
- How many restaurants closed last year?
- Which age group eats out the most?
4. Discussion Questions
- How much do you usually spend on lunch with friends?
- Do you share photos of your food or bills online?
- What is the most expensive meal you ever had?
- Do you think Jules should be surprised by the bill?
- Do young people in your country eat out a lot?
- Is it expensive to eat oysters in your country?
- What foods are considered "luxury" where you live?
5. Vocabulary Practice
Use these words in sentences:
- shocked - _________________
- luxury - _________________
- receipt - _________________
- oysters - _________________
- mocktails - _________________
📋 Answer Key
True/False: a) TRUE b) FALSE c) FALSE d) TRUE e) TRUE f) TRUE
Fill in blanks: 1) $287 2) receipt 3) main 4) oysters 5) expensive 6) ten
This article is adapted from Australian news sources for A1 level English learners. Information is simplified for educational purposes.