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Gourmet Dinner Service

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4.0

★★★★★4/5
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Gourmet Dinner Service From $6.00

With everyone leading busy lives, not all of us have the luxury of cooking meals from scratch. Throw in a big family get together and the thought of cooking becomes overwhelming! That’s where Gourmet Dinner Service (GDS) comes in. Providing wholesome, delicious, chef-cooked meals to your front-door, GDS is the meal delivery service designed to give you time back, so you can focus on what matters most to you. Our expert Nutritionist Lauren has put GDS to the test to help you choose if the brand is right for you!

Reviewd by
Lauren Parchi

Written by

Lauren Parchi
Clinical Nutritionist

Lauren is a qualified clinical nutritionist (BHSc) who has a strong passion for making nutrition easy and accessible for everyone. Lauren uses evidence-based research to inform her content and always aims to distil the latest information, so it is simple and clear for consumers. Lauren also has a passion for plant-based health after adopting a plant-based diet a number of years ago. She uses her experience and knowledge in this area to educate others through recipes and evidence-based content. Lauren has a comprehensive understanding of clinical nutrition and aims to create content that educates and inspires others to make a positive difference to their health.

Edited by
Alex Hamlin

Written by

Alex Hamlin
Certified Nutritionist

Alex Joy Nutrition supports busy individuals with health goals, offering holistic nutrition guidance to reduce stress and foster balanced, healthy habits. Specialising in empowering high achievers, Alex emphasises a preventative and management-focused approach to health. As a clinical nutritionist, Alex provides individuals with tools and education for taking control of their health. She advocates for optimal nutrition as the cornerstone of wellness, employing a food-first approach complemented by holistic treatments. With evidence-based practices, Alex offers personalised guidance to help individuals reach their health goals, prioritising health at the forefront. In health content creation, Alex delivers concise, informative, and engaging material rooted in evidence-based practices, educating, inspiring and guiding others on their wellness journey.

Updated February 13, 2025
Fact checked Fully qualified and expert nutritionists have reviewed and checked this content to ensure it is as accurate as possible at the time of writing.

4.0

★★★★★4/5

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Gourmet Dinner Service Meal Delivery

The good:

  • Delicious meals
  • Preservative and additive free.
  • Highly convenient

The not so good:

  • Higher price point
  • Meals for 2 are small portions
  • Inconsistent labelling

What is Gourmet Dinner Service?

Started in 1994 by Janel Horton, GDS is a meal delivery service offering authentic, convenient meals for the whole family. GDS meals are made from scratch using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, no preservatives, additives, or genetically modified ingredients. The meals are cooked fresh and then snap-frozen to lock in all the nutrients and flavour, before they are delivered to you.

Their menu includes a diverse range of meals including Asian and Mediterranean flavours, along with your favourite classics. They cater to various dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, no added gluten and diabetic friendly. GDS also cater for NDIS and senior Home Care Package clients.

How does Gourmet Dinner Service Work?

The first thing to note about GDS, is that there are no lock-in contracts or plans. You can choose what you want, when you want. I really love this, as it gives you the ultimate control. Their menu is extensive, with over 100 options to choose from! There are meals for 1, 2, family sized meals, salads, side dishes, desserts, finger food, and a Christmas menu for seasonal entertaining. There is also a large meal box selection which includes boxes such as ‘new parents’, with meals for the first week after birth, along with a ‘holiday family favourites pack’ which includes 3 family meals. These meal boxes are something I haven’t seen before and are a fantastic offering! If you are short on time and know you have a holiday or big family event coming up, I would recommend checking out these meal boxes as a great time saving option. GDS also carry meals from their sister range Dietlicious which I have previously reviewed.

When selecting meals, you can filter the menu by dietary requirements such as low salt or vegetarian, or by meal type which includes fish, chicken, pork or lamb/beef. Whilst this filter isn’t extensive in terms of options, it is easy to use. Competitor, The Dinner Ladies, has more filter options including free from sesame, sulphites and eggs. If you or your family have one or more allergies or intolerances, I would recommend The Dinner Ladies over GDS. When filtering for vegetarian options, there was over 40 options which is an excellent selection! This is more than The Dinner Ladies offers, which currently has 24 vegetarian options. 

Once you select your meals, it is very simple and quick to checkout and schedule your delivery. Depending on your postcode, the delivery fee varies. For my area, the delivery fee was $16.50. When ordering during the week, if you place your order by 5:00am, you will receive your order that day. Express delivery is available for $29.00, Monday – Friday if you order by 8:30am, whilst deliveries on Sunday costs $25.00. GDS delivery fees are more expensive than a lot of other services such as Hello Fresh which typically charge a flat rate of $10.00. However, if you are a last-minute type of person, GDS’s same day delivery is a great offering. In comparison, The Dinner Ladies don’t provide same day delivery however they do offer free delivery over $150 and a $15 delivery fee for orders under $150. 

GDS currently delivers to metro and regional areas across NSW, ACT, Victoria and Southeast Queensland.

How much does Gourmet Dinner Service cost?

Meal Type

Cost

Meals for 1

$7.50 – $16.50

Meals for 2

$16.00 – $46.00

Family

$5.50 – $113

Salads

$9.50 – $26.00

Side dishes

$1.50 – $18.00

Finger foods

$22.00 – $46.00

Meal boxes

$66.50 – $197.00

Entertaining

$8.00 – $129.00

Overall, the price point of GDS is higher than competitor The Dinner Ladies. The average cost for a meal for 1 with The Dinner Ladies is $15.00, whilst their meals for 2 range from $12.00 – $27.00. The Dinner Ladies family meals range from $15.00 – $42.00. However, GDS’s meal boxes appear to be good value for money due to the number of serves they provide. Buying ingredients to prepare a family lunch for 6-8 people adds up very quickly these days, so GDS’s ‘Family Get Together’ box for $124.00 (serves 8), is a cost-effective option when catering for large groups, working out to be $15.50 per person. 

My Gourmet Dinner Service Experience

Whilst the website is slightly dated, all the images of the meals look delicious and inspire thoughts of classic home cooked meals. Adding meals to your cart is a simple one click process.

I received a selection of meals and sides including:

  • Tuna Crepe (meal for 1)
  • Cauliflower Gratin (serves 2)
  • Pumpkin and Pecorino Tarts (12 pack)
  • Tomato and Goats Cheese Tarts (4 pack)
  • Sticky Date Pudding (serves 2)
  • Vege Lasagne with Pesto (meal for 2)
  • Eggplant Parmigiana (meal for 2)
  • Sweet Potato Mash (serves 2)

My box was well packed with a large ice brick to keep the meals cold. All the meals were frozen upon delivery and were clearly labelled so I knew exactly what I received. 

Along with the name of each meal, the labels contained clearly written information on macronutrients, total calories, heating instructions, an ingredient list, best by date and storage instructions. The ingredient list had all allergens written in capitals, so they were easy to identify. It is worth noting however that the Sticky Date Pudding, Sweet Potato Mash and Cauliflower Gratin did not have macronutrients or calories listed on their labels. Some more consistency in labelling would be great to improve transparency. The containers the meals are packaged in are made from renewable plant sources and are compostable, whilst the plastic lids for the containers are made from PET, which is a recyclable.

Whilst ingredient lists and macronutrients are provided on most labels, no nutritional information panels are displayed. To access this information, you need to head to GDS’s website, find your meal and click ‘nutrition per serve’. Understanding the nutritional breakdown of your meals allows you to make health-conscious choices. I would like to see a QR code system applied to the labels to make accessing this information easier as not everyone has time to search for this information. 

All of the best by dates for the meals were for the first half of 2025, however the Pumpkin Pecorino Tarts had a best by date of August 14th 2024. Having received my delivery on September 5th, I was disappointed to see that these were sent past their best by dates. As a result, I did not consume these. 

The process of heating all the meals was very simple. Most meals required an oven for heating however the Tuna Crepe and Sweet Potato Mash were heated in the microwave. The oven meals took 30 minutes or less once defrosted making them very time efficient. I liked that some of the meals had add on suggestions, for example the Sticky Date Pudding was recommended to be served with ice cream or double cream. I served mine with ice cream and it was absolutely delicious! Sticky Date Pudding is one of my all-time favourite desserts and this one tasted like it was homemade. 

Other meals I loved included the Eggplant Parmigiana – the eggplant was super tender and packed with flavour. The sides were also excellent, and the tomato and goats cheese tarts were a great snack to have on hand. The Tuna Crepes did not appeal to me at first, however they were a tasty meal – I can see why these would be popular with seniors. Overall, the quality of GDS meals and sides are excellent. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and their process of cooking fresh and freezing allows them to capture the flavours so you can enjoy the food at its best. 

The portion size of the Tuna Crepe was adequate however the meals for 2 were on the smaller side. As an active individual, one serving of the Eggplant Parmigiana and Vege Lasagne was not filling enough, even when paired with sides. If you are a highly active individual, I would recommend adding a secondary source of protein to your meal or choose a high fibre side to increase feelings of fullness. If you are less active, these portion sizes will be more suitable.

My Delivery
Sweet Potato Mash
Eggplant Parmigiana
Tuna Crepe

Gourmet Dinner Service Nutritionist Review

I am really impressed by the nutritional quality of GDS’s meals. The ingredient lists are short, contain real food ingredients and are indeed free from preservatives and additives which can often be found in other pre-prepared/frozen meals to increase their shelf life. 

According to the nutrition per serve information on their website, the meal with the highest amount of protein was the Eggplant Parmigiana with 47g of protein, closely followed by the Tuna Crepes with 46g of protein. Despite these being vegetarian meals, and the primary source of protein coming from dairy products as opposed to legumes or tofu, this is a great amount of protein, contributing to daily recommended intakes. 

The sources of carbohydrates in meals were a both refined and unrefined including white pasta and sweet potatoes. Whilst wholemeal pasta is preferred for its fibre content, there is nothing wrong with consuming white pasta every once and a while. It is no surprise that the Sticky date Pudding is not a healthy option, however, as a treat this dessert is well worth it! 

The predominant source of fat in the meals and sides I tried were from diary sources including butter, milk and cheese. These sources are higher in saturated fats which when consumed in large quantities can impact heart health. However, in small amounts, these sources can be enjoyed and provide a good source of calcium along with plenty of flavour. 

The meals for 2 were packed with vegetables which was a standout feature. The variety of vegetables is reflected in the quantity of fibre in each serve, with 10g in the Vege Lasagne and 14g in the Eggplant Parmigiana. Fibre is vital for a healthy gut, making these meals a great option for those who are looking to increase their fibre intake without sacrificing on flavour. 

The total sodium content of the Vege Lasagne was 1160mg and 1740mg in the Eggplant Parmigiana, whilst the sides and finger food had an average sodium content of 353mg. The sodium content of the main meals is higher than I would like to see, with these amounts making up over half of our total daily recommended intake (2,000mg). If you are trying to reduce your sodium intake, I would recommend choosing the low salt options GDS offers and avoid adding salt to your meals.

Final Thoughts

GDS is a high quality, convenient meal dinner service that offers delicious meals, sides and snacks, with options for everyone, for all occasions. Whilst there is an extensive menu, the price point is higher compared to similar provider The Dinner Ladies, and the portion sizes of their meals for 2 are on the smaller side.

Gourmet Dinner Service FAQs

Yes, GDS offers freshly made meals made with no preservatives, additives or genetically modified ingredients. They cater to a variety of dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian and low salt and diabetic friendly.

The average price point of their meals for 1 and 2 is higher than other providers such as The Dinner Ladies and their portion sizes for their meals for 2 are on the smaller side. However, their meal boxes offer good value for money due to the number of serves they provide.

Yes, The Dinner Ladies and Bondi Meal Prep both offer freshly made meals, delivered to your door. They both cater to a variety of dietary preferences, however GDS has a larger menu compared to The Dinner Ladies and Bondi Meal Prep. Whilst Bondi Meal Prep is a subscription-based provider, GDS and The Dinner Ladies have no lock in contracts.

Yes, due to the price point and convenience offered such as same day delivery, GDS can be considered a premium service.

Overall Rating

Gourmet Dinner Service Meal Delivery
Lauren Parchi
Packaging & Delivery
★★★★★ 5/5
Product Quality (taste/formula)
★★★★★ 4/5
Price
★★★★★ 3/5
Summary
GDS is a high quality, convenient meal delivery service that offers a variety of delicious meals, sides and snacks, with options for everyone and for all occasions.
4
★★★★★ 4/5

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