We went out for Dave’s birthday on Friday – just a simple plan, dinner and a movie. I had booked this steak restaurant in town, Cha Cha Char.

Good food, although the service was only 90% (but 90% is a heck of a lot better than some restaurants!!!). I expected better as they had “Winner, Best Steak Restaurant in Queensland” or similar plastered all over the restaurant.

We had a really nice Corn Roll with Beef Jus Dipping Sauce, Butter & Tomato Salsa on entry. Just yummy.

Apart from the bread, we skipped the entree – we figured with the amounts (small) we have been eating recently, a proper steak meal would fill us up and we didn’t need entree. (and there is always dessert for filling that unexpected little gap in the side of one’s tum)

I had Eye Fillet and Dave had Rib Eye Fillet on the bone, both were good.

We ordered a side order of wedges with chilly sauce, and I think we really needed it. There wasn’t quite enough on the plate. The potatoes could have been done more, though. (and I don’t like my taties cooked to death!)

We were going to skip dessert, but the Creme Brulee called to us, so we split one. OK, the mains were only adequate, but the dessert was to die for – a bit sad to go to a steak house and laud the desserts, though.

The plan was to (finally) go see Star Wars 3 after dinner in a fancy restaurant, but Dave was tired, so we went on home instead and had an early night. I can’t believe we had a child-free night and yet were home and in bed by 10! Ah well, Dave seemed to enjoy his birthday night out, and thats the main thing.

But we still have to see Star Wars… We’ve missed it in Gold Class – hopefully we won’t end up seeing it as a weekly rental from the Vid shop

I had Lemon Zested Chicken Risotto with English Spinach, Fennel and Fresh Parmiggiano and Dave ordered Aged Rib with Cider Red Onions, Whole Roasted Garlic, Grilled Pumpkin & Hay Potatoes. (I’m cheating by cutting and pasting from the website or I would never remember this accurately!) For entree, we split Fresh Bay Bugs & Seafood Ravioli with Cognac Bisque. Very yummy food. The wine was good, too – we had a glass of the 2003 Margaret River Vasse Felix with Entree and a bottle of 1999 Rosemount Orange Vineyard with the mains – just as well we were getting the train home, eh!

Never did get around to asking for the dessert menu… most unlike us. But British Food is like that – filling.

We had a good time, and were even home in time to put the kids to bed.

Oh, alright – I admit it! I think anything where I don’t have to wash up the dishes is good!
…

We could probably have been a little more exciting and gone and seen a movie as well, or something, but we can’t have everything. Still haven’t managed to see Star Wars 3 yet. All things with time – hopefully it will still be in Gold Class when we get to it!