Last night's dinner adventure....

Yesterday afternoon, we had our final session with Rehana Shiekh, our fantastic relocation consultant. She took several of us, on a bus, to Wan Chai, to walk about Queen's Rd East, which is a shop lined with interesting furniture and homeware boutiques. We ended up at Pacific Place, another large multi-storey shopping centre. We thought we might go to a movie, but everything was booked out. You buy your movie tickets quite differently, here. The counter is a flat bench, with the staff standing behind it. When you choose your movie, they use a touch screen to bring up the theatre layout, showing which seats are available. You actually choose your seats when you book. Also, movies at the start of the day are nearly half price (around $6 a ticket) and after that they go up to normal Australian tickets. Every morning is Cheap Tuesday.

Learning that they were all full, except for the odd single seat, we started to look for something to eat. Every time we go out to forage for food, we end up in trouble, ie. at Mcdonalds, so I should have known it was a bad idea. It turned out well, as you will see. The restaurants in Pacific Place looked a bit formal and expensive for a needs of the moment, so we took off towards the bus, hoping we might find something suitable. Rachel was thirsty, Hugo was hungry, so we were on a mission. In the rain, of course.

It was near the bus stop that I saw the sign for a steak house. Imagining something like Lone Star, at home, I was immediately enthusiastic, and told David that I would really like some kind of steak sandwich with crusty toasted bread. The minute we stepped in the door, I had an inkling of what we were in for. Beautiful, dark, cherry wood. Everywhere. Several steps leading up to a desk, out from which stepped two staff dressed in black suits and bow ties. Uh oh. They welcomed us warmly and said yes, they could accommodate the four of us, without a booking, so in we went. And this is where I switch to the present tense... so you can imagine what it was like!

We follow the two of them down a atmospherically dimmed corridor. We sense what we have gotten into. I look at David. His eyes are very wide. We walk past little private booths set into the wall, where people are eating. Well dressed people. I'm in casual three quarter pants and Chucks, Rachel's in shorts, T-shirt and thongs, and Hugo and David have shorts, T-shirts and Chucks on. We look quite casual. The waiters don't bat an eyelid, and take us to a table in the main area, which we enter through glass doors. It is small, cosy and everything is the dark wood and white linen. We sit. They bring the menus.

I take a breath. The steaks are all around $100 AUD, and you buy the vegetables and other bits on top of that. I look at David. He whispers, "We could make a run for it." I can't do it. He suggests this again, but I can't. Perhaps if there had been a window open next to us, I might have dived out of it, but I can't get up and walk out..... I suggest that we order the less expensive things. The less expensive things...... I look for them, and look again.

So here is what we order. Hugo has a potato for dinner. Fortunately, he says he isn't very hungry, as apparently, they had Mcdonalds just before I met them for the bus orientation. Mind you - it's a find potato, large, in foil, with sour cream and herbs and cheese and bacon. A $10 potato. Rachel has a ceaser salad. About $20. It's a generous serve. David chooses the shrimp (prawns). There are about 20 small ones in a sauce, and it's about $40. One of us has to sacrifice and eat a steak, so I opt for the petite fillet - US Beef - some description I can't remember - it would fit in the palm of my hand and it costs $50. We share a salad - $10, some onion rings - can't remember how much - and the bread is free. The food is fantastic, actually. Really delicious. The steak is extremely tender ( it would want to be) and our waiter is incredibly attentive and friendly, without being annoying.

I realize before the meals come that I have made quite a mess of the bread. There are crumbs liberally spread all over the table. Suddenly, the waiter appears, with a small silver item with a handle. He then moves our glasses and sweeps the table with this small device. We sit, all amazed. The table restored to its pristine condition, we eat, feeling very spoiled. David says later that that little comb experience with the breadcrums was worth the bill.

We relax, tell ourselves this is our tax check splash, and really enjoy ourselves. At this point, I notice the dessert trolley. The waiter unfolds a stand at a table nearby, and places a large tray full of delights on it. This is actually how they serve everything. There are waiters everywhere carrying large trays high in the air - I expect them to start tap dancing at any moment. We looka t the desserts. They are huge. The waiter says that people usually share one. Good idea. Rachel chooses a cheese cake - that's right - not a slice. It's about 13 cm in diameter. She shares it with David. Hugo chooses a chocolate cake, same size, with chocolate sauce (warm) through it, and chocolate pieces on top, with a perfect scoop of ice cream on the top. He shares it with David. I choose the apple crumble. Same size - shortcrust crust, filled with cinnamony, buttery apples, with a mound of tiny pastry balls on top, all warm, with another perfect scoop of ice cream on top. I share it with David. The desserts cost about $13 each, so they are not too expensive, given that you share. With David, apparently.

The desserts appear, and this is where Hugo reveals a problem he's having. He has a very loose tooth, and he thinks it is going to interfere with his dessert consumption. We consider possible solutions. David offers his handkerchief. I beg him not to bring this out, even though he says it is hardly used. Hugo rejects the suggestion that he duck down and yank it out with his unused linen napkin. It looks boiled, to me. He opts for Dad's suggestion, and leans down, puts that handkerchief right into his mouth - forget the fact that we've been vigorously applying germ-gel every time we go anywhere or eat anything) and he yanks it out. He sits up and tucks into his pud. At this point, I start giggling. I'm not really a giggler, but I giggle until my eyes water.

After dessert, I ask Rachel to show me the bathroom, and we walk past the other elegant diners towards the bathroom. Suddenly, I hear a clacky sound, and look up to see a staffer trying to control a very large, live crayfish she has just pulled out of the fish tank, and placed on a metal tray. I whisper thanks that I didn't order one.

The bill comes, and we're still felling pretty rosy. I didn't mention that we only drank water. $50 worth, apparently. With the water, the bill is about $230. It could have been SO MUCH WORSE! The service was incredible, very warm and friendly, and we felt thoroughly spoiled.

Note to self - choose a restaurant from the guide before we go out next time!