DH took me out for dinner last night and we thought we'd try the new restaurant down at Harbour Quay, The Starboard Grill. The decor leaves much to be desired. High ceilings with a purple beam that runs diagonally across the room. Stark, cold light fixtures and either drab, grey or green walls. I couldn't really discern which colour they were. It's only saving grace was the beautiful etched glass half wall of a West Coast scene; whale, trees, mountains. DH had already had a lunch there and told me the food was good but our dinners were not. The place was busy but not overly so. There were four or five empty tables when we arrived. We were shown to a table and given menus. I chose the steak because most of the items involved seafood, which I don't care for. When our food arrived I found a mountain of rice surrounded by a 3" X 3" X 2" chunk of medium-rare meat (I had ordered medium-well), mushroom gravy and an assortment of vegetables. All of it was tepid to borderline cold. I tried to eat fast but even the steak knife was having trouble cutting through that brick of meat. The outer part was OK but the bloody pink centre was like chewing on soggy cardboard. DH's meal was also on the chilled side and although he ordered potatoes he too ended up with a mountain of rice neatly centred on his plate; no spuds. DH enjoyed his dessert of lemon cheesecake and I tucked into a yummy peanut butter/caramel/chocolate concoction that was way too much and too rich for me. I spent a horrendous night trying vainly to sleep with a tummy ache I prefer to blame on that overly rich dessert. We finished our meal with coffee that was good but strong. I should have just had a burger. I can always tell if it's a good place to eat or not by the burgers. The waitress was lovely and she did come by to ask if everything was to our liking. I, as usual, told her yes. Nobody is taking my food back to the kitchen to be spat in. I don't understand it. The chef is supposed to be very experienced and has worked in the kitchens of some fancy, schmancy dining establishments. Maybe he was at home, sick the night we were there. I told DH I need to try this place again. We will have lunch there sometime soon and I will have a burger.
To top it off we were driving home when the earthquake happened and didn't feel a thing. I didn't even know there had been a 7.7 shaker until I got on the computer this morning.