Another birthday, black pudding hotdogs, and 2:1 steak
The birthday first. Since I seem to be on a birthday roll lately.
Ti Kouka celebrated their 3rd birthday on Friday just gone (well done guys). Even though I couldn’t make lunch with free bubbles, I did manage to grab delicious carrot cake for afternoon tea (purely for celebratory purposes you understand), and confirm their new venture should be opening this week – The Leeds Street Bakery and Red Rabbit Roastery in the Hannahs Building beside Goldings Free Dive Bar. This venture is more about collecting on the run, but I don’t doubt for a minute the continued quality product we’ve come to know and love TK for (and I suspect you just might be able to have tasty treats with your beer next time you’re at Goldings….).
And then in one of those quirk’s of fate, who turned up as the restaurant of the week at the City Market yesterday – none other than Crazy Horse the Steakhouse. Only the same place we’d just booked for the first time in ages in relation to a who-does-good-steak-around-town conversation (and yes you do need to book for the Monday 2:1 steak deal, its packed as a packed thing!).
So, black pudding hotdog for breakfast as a warm up to the steak event? Why not indeed. With crispy shallots and sauerkraut. And yep, as tasty as it was interesting.
And the steak. In the 2:1 deal you can choose different steaks and the cheapest will be credited, so if you’ve never had wagyu and always had a hankering to try one, this is the place to do it.
Beware the sides are all extras and with drinks and so on, one can still spend more than imagined but getting one of those steaks free is a pretty tasty compensation. We actually had fillet and sirloin and both were very pleasant and cooked exactly as promised (but with a bit of gristle through the sirloin I have to say) and all sides, service, ambience and presentation (marrow in a bone anyone?) very good. And some interesting sides like asparagus with poached egg, coleslaw with peanuts, large chunky wedgy potato skins, maple glazed yams with toasted pecans (in season), gnocchi Parisienne, brussel sprouts with confit chestnuts and lardons….
$89 for a couple of good steaks, three sides and two drinks left us well sated and pretty satisfied.
So now I have Portlander and CHS in my mind for good city steaks, but I suspect there are others…?
And white we’re on the 2:1 front, a couple of other fun places that spring to mind if cooking just isn’t doing it for you:
- Chow Tory – 2:1 Monday mains (no bookings)
- The Library – 2:1 Tuesday desserts (no bookings)
- Boat Cafe – 2:1 Wednesday mains (bookings recommended)
- Bettys Function House – 2:1 Thursday cocktails (and great nibbles)
So there’s half the week covered, happy to hear of others….
I went to Crazy Horse for my birthday, and thoroughly enjoyed it (though I don’t think the wagyu would have been worth $90 without the 2-for-1) BUT I was really turned off the place as the manager was really curt with us when we were paying our bill, and he didn’t say thanks or goodnight as we left – and we’d just spent over $500 (and we weren’t drunk or loud or discourteous or anything, as far as I’m concerned). That left a pretty sour taste.
That’s disappointing isn’t it. Service is SOOO much a part of successful hospitality (for the business and the customer). Did you give them that feedback? I used to work in hospo and was always really keen to hear what we were doing right, wrong or otherwise so we could constantly improve. Even an email later if you don’t feel up to it in person is helpful. Happy dining!