Rump and Ribs (Townsville and Rockhampton) 12/2018

This franchise restaurant has about half a dozen venues, almost all in Queensland. Almost by accident I tried two of them on two successive days, the first in Rockhampton and the second, apparently the most successful one, in Townsville. They have some variations but work to a pretty good formula.They both offer inside and outside dining.

 

They both have bars 

and minimal decoration.

I had a half side of lamb ribs at Rockhampton. It was late in the evening and I suspect they gave me a bit extra because they were closing soon. Anyway it was a handsome serve and I loved every bit of it. 

Tender, succulent and sweet it was as promised with a choice of potatoes - mash, wedges or roast with herbs, a little coleslaw and a creamy sauce.
At Townsville I had the beef ribs. A much smaller serve

They were also tender and tasty. The accoutrements were a bit fancier here. I was offered a plastic bib,

a branded serviette,

and slightly more attractive table settings.

They do have a full menu. 

Score: 14/20

Woodhouse (Bendigo) 06/2018

Shown to a corner table near the central fire place this smoky and dim venue 

reminded me of The Pyjama Game "I know a dark secluded place, a place where no one knows your face" Of course it is not really that dark,

and not at all like a speakeasy.

but they have a wood fired grill that creates the atmosphere. It's a no frills sort of place.

The place is most noted for wood fired pizzas and steak, although they do have other dishes. They also offer 'Express Lunches' two or three course meals at set prices.
I had no hesitation in ordering the Sher family wagyu grade 9 steak tartare with cornichon, quail egg yolk and shaved manjimuk black truffle. 

It sat on bresaola and had some puffed wagyu tendon chips on top of it. If you can stand raw meat and more or less raw egg yolk this is an excellent dish. Full of flavour, gently spiced it was as good a dish as it could possibly be. 
There was a choice of air dried steaks, I'd passed them in their cabinet, 

as I came into the restaurant.
Top choice for me was the 600 day grain fed 280gm grade 8 waghu scotch fillet. ($62) served with Hasselback potato.
Cooked as requested,

It was meltingly tender, rich with fat through the muscle fibres and  with all the character and taste of top quality waghu. It came with a well made red wine jus, though I could have had a butter sauce, and a choice of mustards or a herb dressing. This snap does not do it justice.

I HAVE NEVER EATEN A BETTER STEAK THAN THIS. 

For dessert I had the wood roasted Harcourt Pink Lady apple, dulce de leche, cinnamon palmier, nutty crumble, caramel glass.

A pleasant finish to a fantastic meal.

 Score:17 /20

La Luna (Nth Carlton) 04 2018

* Click on pic's to enlarge them.
It's almost ten years since we last came here but it has been on our mind to come back time and again. That's because we enjoyed it so much. See: https://1001dinners.blogspot.com.au/search?q=La+Luna 
It's different now. The meat room has been moved and the restaurant has been enlarged but it retains the sort of basic Bistro character. Plain bare wood tables, simple settings and not very comfortable chairs. 

Glassware is marked with this sort of cosmic symbol.

You still have to ask for it if you want bread and butter, no change there.

The menu is bigger. Set out as Small Goods, like prosciutto or salami, all about $15, Small dishes like house smoked salmon, crispy pig's ears or spinach and feta filo pastry pie all around $21, Main plates like fish, confit duck leg from $28 to $43 with slow cooked lamb shoulder $89, for two. There's a chef's feast for the table (Chef's choice) $107 pp. Then there are the Beef cuts $$41 to $58 the usual sides $9.5, Sweet treats about $17 and a mezza plate of desserts $32 and cheeses from $11 to $16.5/ 30 gm depending on how many you choose.
We got through a variety of dishes.
Freshly shucked oysters, champagne vinaigrette, $4 each

House smoked salmon, beetroot, horseradish cream.

Bull-Boar sausages, aoli, herbs.

Adrian Richardson, chef, meat and sausage officiando and TV host of Secret Meat Business, the proprietor of La luna has made his recipe for this spicy sausage available on the internet. Unfortunately I found the sausage rather dry and dull.
On to the mains.
Fish, rock flathead 

was delicate, sweet, moist unexpected in a meat specialty restaurant.

Scotch Fillet, spinach, mushroom,& roast garlic butter, (grass fed marble score 4) was cooked perfectly to my taste.

 A super dish.
Rib Eye, confit carrot, bearnaise sauce

was another perfectly cooked excellent dish. Unfortunately the jus was very reduced, heavy and salty.
 Fillet Mignon

came with the same jus and carrot.
The slow cooked lamb shoulder doesn't look as good as it should here. 

It's a substantial serve. 
Crushed potato with garlic and lemon (Kipfler) 

were great, as were the house fries.

Vanilla pannacotta, poached rhubarb, strawberries was pleasant

 but the vanilla bean creme brulee

was outstanding.
This is not a sophisticated venue but more a relaxed style bistro marked by really excellent meat cooked simply and really well. Service is friendly and not obtrusive. Fully licenced you can have BYO with $25 corkage.
We'll be back! 
Score: 15.5/20

The Prime Rib (Philadelphia) 01/2017

It looks glossier than it used to with shiny black 'plastic' covered seating, white tablecloths, black serviettes. It presents as a sort of sophisticated glitz.
 
Supposedly among Philadelphia's very best steak restaurants The main change to the menu was nothing to do with the food, which seemed unchanged from what it was when we were here about 6 years ago. It was the prices. A 12 oz rib eye steak, bone on, is currently $62 A Bernaise sauce sir? Add $4. A side of mashed potato $10. Wine from $10 upwards. A jumbo crab cake appetiser, not very jumbo either, $20 or two for $39! With taxes and tips it's hard to have dinner for less than A$100 / person and that's being quite modest.
Never mind the price the food is important.
We started with soup. A lobster bisque ($14) proved very disappointing seriously lacking taste. 

French onion soup was better with a good cheese topping but not especially tasty. It's all about the preparation of the onions which were good without being excellent.

They claim to have the best jumbo crab cake around. Perhaps they do. There was plenty of crab and it was quite a delicate flavour but at $20 a pop it was not over impressive.

The ultimate test for a steakhouse has to be the steak. Sandra ordered the Filet Mignon ($39 I think) cooked blue. It was perfect. Tender, a decent size, totally beyond criticism.

Served with a little chard and horse radish we added a side of mashed potato ($10) which was smooth and creamy.
Score:13.75 /20