As a creative being with a naturally frantic disposition – hosting a dinner party is both my favourite pursuit, and my worst nightmare. The joy of applying my own creative modus operandi to the tablescape paired with a variety of delicious treats for my loved ones brings me unparalleled excitement, in theory. But when it comes to the day, all of my imaginative ideas collapse on itself. Oh, when to have the time to get all this done! Such big dreams, so little time!
But then an idea sparked within. What if I could combine the ease of cooking from something like a quality meal kit with the upscale presentation of a sophisticated soirée? That’s where QuiteLike comes in.
While, yes, hosting a dinner party with a meal kit felt a little like cheating the system, the thought of taking hours off my day – hours usually lost to grocery shopping – to then invest in the creativity of hosting felt like a dream worth testing. So, I gathered my dinnerware, called up my friends, and took a chance on a selection of pre-packaged recipes.
Here is how it went, and whether or not a QuiteLike meal delivery kit is actually worth it.
QUITELIKE REVIEW
- QuiteLike is based in Australia and uses fresh pre-portioned ingredients in its weekly meal kits
- The service operates as a subscription, offering up to 30 seasonal weekly recipes
- Our verdict: 9/10
The details
QuiteLike is an Australian-owned meal kit delivery service that sends pre-measured, fresh ingredients and easy recipe cards straight to your door. Each week, you can choose from around 30 different recipes with menus that rotate regularly, so there’s always something new to try.
Each kit comes with a selection of fresh veggies and proteins that are packed in chill bags, along with step-by-step instructions for each dish. You select how many meals you want per week and how many people you’re cooking for, and then they take it from there.
There’s also a lot of flexibility involved. You can easily adjust your plan, skip weeks or cancel anytime with no lock-in contracts.
Thinking of trying a meal kit? Order yours here:
Get up to $210 off your first 6 boxes with code 210GOURMET. T&Cs apply.
The setup
To set the scene, I ordered four QuiteLike meals for four people, which added up to 16 servings. It was absolutely more than enough to feed my group and leave room for seconds. I also chose a mix of family-friendly, quick recipes that promised to come together in around 20 minutes. Here is what I ordered:
- Saucy Garlic Chicken with Cannellini Beans and Mash (20-minutes)
- Fast Hot-Smoked Salmon, Chickpea and Couscous Salad (20-minutes)
- Honey Soy Chicken Skewers with Sesame Greens (30-minutes)
- Fast Beef Pilaf with Cucumber Salad (30-minutes)
The kit arrived on a Monday, neatly packed and chilled, which meant that I had a few days to prepare before my dinner party. To make sure everything stayed fresh, I froze the proteins straight away, and the vegetables went straight into the fridge.
And to have a completely rounded experience of the meal kits, I also ordered a selection of meals the following week to use as normal, with recipes ranging from Japanese-Style Burgers with Miso Sesame Slaw to Teriyaki Chicken Sushi Bowls – which (spoiler alert) have since been added as a permanent rotation in my weekly grocery list.
Results from our test
Hosting a dinner party with the QuiteLike meal kit was a lesson in letting go. All the leg work: from deciding what to eat, how many servings to buy and step-by-step processes was completely taken off my hands. Each recipe has just six steps – preparation included – making it really easy to follow.
The ingredients and instructions were clean, simple and straightforward, which allowed me to focus on the creative side of hosting. Everything arrived in a neat, chilled box early Monday morning, so there was plenty of time to organise proteins in the freezer and vegetables in the fridge. And luckily, the night flowed smoothly. The food landed beautifully, and guests were impressed. The Fast Beef Pilaf with Cucumber Salad was the crowd favourite of the night.
Freezer test
As the meal kit arrived Monday morning, and the festivities were on Saturday, I took this as an opportunity to freeze test the meat and see how they would hold up. Once thawed, the cuts still felt firm and fresh, and they cook almost exactly as they would straight from the box. There was no noticeable drop in flavour or texture.
Vegetable test
As expected the sturdier produce like the zucchini held up well in my fridge, though of course the leafy greens lost a little bit of their perkiness. Due to their fresh texture and moisture content, the food did generally keep up in my fridge, despite how long I left it.
For the following week, I prepared one meal a day. And of course, everything stayed fresh, and it was comforting to know that QuiteLike could work on my schedule.
Portion test
Each kit has generous portions, and both my partner and I were satisfied after each meal. While we’re usually a duo in our home, we ended up ordering extra servings in order to have leftovers for lunch. Each meal held up well in the fridge during the week. This strategy also made the overall servings cheaper ($12.25 per serve instead of $16 per serve).
Overall, is QuiteLike worth it?
While being rushed and slightly frantic is, admittedly, part of my hosting personality, this dinner party was a complete success – and the meal kits brought ease and calm into an otherwise high-stakes performance.
Whether you’ve planned a dinner party for more people than you bargained for, or your schedule leaves little room for dinner prep, a meal kit can quickly because an essential offering that should be taken advantage of. As for QuiteLike, no one is doing it like them.
The recipes are fun, approachable and varied, with enough choice to suit both weeknights and dinner guests. The food also comes fresh, meaning that freezing and fridge maintenance shouldn’t be an issue as you work your way through the week. Pre-portioned ingredients also means that there’s minimal waste. Whether or not you tell your guests that you used a meal kit, they’ll be impressed either way.
There’s also the added bonus of earning up to 10 Flybuys points for every dollar spent, meaning that family trip to Fiji edges a little closer to reality. All things considered, QuiteLike boasts quality and convenience to simplify your week.
Where to buy a QuiteLike meal kit
QuiteLike
Get up to $210 off your first 6 boxes with code 210GOURMET. T&Cs apply.
This offer signs you up to a flexible subscription. Skip, pause or cancel at any time 7 days prior to your next delivery. New customers only. One use per household. Delivery Fees are excluded from the discount offer. Expires 31/12/2026. Terms and conditions apply.
FAQ
QuiteLike offers a range of quick and balanced home-cooked meals for you and the whole family. Each box comes with a range of fresh vegetables and proteins for a well-balanced meal.
QuiteLike meal kit pricing depends on the number of people and meals you order, although new customers can get $210 off their first 6 boxes with code 210GOURMET. With this code, the price per serve for two people and two meals is now $10.40 per service, while it is $7.93 per serve for five meals. For five meals and four people, the cost is $5.98 per serve.
QuiteLike worked really well for me, but of course there are some disadvantages. Firstly, the kit is on the more costly side compared to its competitors, and it can feel more expensive than going to the grocery store – although it can save you a lot of time. There is also a limited variety of vegetarian options, with only three to five choices available from the 30 weekly recipes. Each ingredient is packed individually, as with most meal kits, meaning there is a lot of excess packaging in order to keep the food fresh and safe.
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