The Strand
While I’m on holiday, I’m taking the opportunity to clear out the posts sitting in my draft folder. This is a scheduled post – I’ll be back soon. 🙂
Sometimes I get a bit worried about restaurants with a good view. You know the kind I’m talking about: they boast gorgeous views, but serve mediocre food.
When my in-laws Annette and Terry were visiting earlier this year, they booked us a farewell lunch at The Strand in Williamstown, based on a recommendation from one of their friends. The restaurant covers two floors and we were seated on the bottom floor – I’m not sure if they regularly open the top floor or if it’s only a function room. Downstairs at least it’s fairly informal – wooden chairs, bare wooden tables, blackboards on the walls showing specials, and small vases with flowers on each table.
There was a charge for bread, however it came out as a freshly baked loaf with dukkah and olive oil ($5). Mhmm warm bread. It smelt amazing every time someone had bread brought to their table.
For entree, I had the lobster bisque with prawn beignet ($17) – a bowl of lobster flavoured soup, served with a fried battered prawn. The soup was good and packed with flavour, though the prawn did get a bit soggy sitting there in the liquid.
Annette had the battered zucchini flowers filled with goats cheese and olives, salsa fresca and 25 year old balsamic ($17.50).
Alastair and Terry both had the salt and chilli pepper calamari with cherry tomato, avocado, feta, roquette and white wine dressing ($19.50). The calamari was apparently very good – lightly battered and not at all chewy.
For mains, Terry and I both choose the linguini seafood marinara with garlic, chilli, tomato and extra virgin olive oil ($35). I don’t eat pasta often, so when I do, I want it to be good. And fortunately, it was. Al dente, flavoursome, with a small amount of chilli and plenty of seafood. Yum.
Alastair had my second option – the porcini mushroom risotto with spinach, Reggiana parmesan and white truffle oil ($33) . It looked good and he said he enjoyed it.
Annette had one of the specials on that day – delicious look lamb with mashed potatoes. She was very impressed with her meal.
We didn’t have dessert and instead wandered off for a coffee by the sea. It was a good day.
I was pleasantly surprised by the food at The Strand. It’s nice to know that a view doesn’t always mean bad food.
By the way, if you’re feeling flush, they offer a seafood platter for $220…. (gulp!)
View Off the spork in a larger map
The Strand
1 The Strand
Williamstown
Phone: 03 9397 7474
Web: thestrandrestaurant.com.au
Trish
September 21, 2012 @ 4:57 am
isn’t it nice when seafood is dipped in platinum? (I mean, why else would they charge $220.00)
T x
Nic@diningwithastud
September 21, 2012 @ 9:29 am
I dont know if we’re too spilt these days but I feel like charging for a bread plate is a little cheeky!
Iron Chef Shellie
September 23, 2012 @ 5:30 pm
GULP indeed! Better be a damn good seafood platter for that cost.
Food looks great here, and if there’s a good view, sounds like the perfect place for a nice sunny lunch 🙂