For our special anniversary dinner last night, we finally got to try out Glebe Point Diner after hearing about it for so long. (It was awarded a hat in this year’s Good Food Guide.) I had tried to get a table for our wedding anniversary last November, but I left it too long and they were booked out. This time I wisely called a couple weeks ahead. We got there half an hour early (since it was raining and we took a cab instead of walking) but they were still able to seat us. The place was busy and the service was harried but pleasant. The menu/wine list was just a single photocopied A4 sheet (since evidently it changes often depending on what’s in season). I had crab and chestnut soup as a starter, while the Snook had bluefin tartare. Both were excellent. The soup was creamy and moreish and warming, while the tuna had big juicy chunks that zinged with finger lime. There was a bit of a wait for our mains, but they were worth it. I had crispy duck with Brussels sprouts, fig, and barley, while the Snook had Scotch fillet steak with mushrooms and asparagus. We also ordered some veg (“Roman beans”) to share between us. (The portions were more generous that I’d expected though, so I think you could easily forgo the sides.) My Brussels sprouts were hiding under the duck, and they were the best sprouts I’ve ever had in my life. Soooooo good. The only annoyance I had was that we had to wait forever to get our bill (and ask twice!), but I think that was because the host was busy ordering taxis for people going home in the rain. Forgivable. The cost (less than $70 each) was actually pretty good considering we each had two decent sized courses, half a side, a beer, and a glass of wine. I’d definitely recommend it… if you can get a table!

Note: They do have a couple seats at the bar, which I turned down when they were offered last November. I’ve changed my mind on them though. It looks like a worthwhile option if you’re trying to get in on short notice.

I’d say our reaction to the Victoria Room was mixed. I like the idea of it far more than the execution. My first impression of the place was that it was very dark (just as Grab Your Fork noted), and together with the eclectic decor it really created a unique atmosphere. Unfortunately the place was absolutely HEAVING with people, 95% of whom seemed to be women at either Hen’s Nights or Baby Showers. (I’m not kidding. I could only see three guys in the whole place who weren’t working behind the bar.) It was quite noisy, and the tables really were crammed in together closely. We opted for the “Royal” Tea, which meant we started with a glass of champagne. Our tea and nibblies came not long after. The food was all very good, though you certainly don’t get very much! We did have to ask for milk to put in our tea though, which really is a shocking oversight in a place like that. Snookums was most disappointed in the place settings: it was just plain white stoneware, like something you’d get at IKEA. He thought he was taking me somewhere a bit more special. Still, I had my first cucumber sandwich and my first pot of Earl Grey, and I’m glad I did. We stumbled back out into the sunlight feeling that we’d had an “elegant sufficiency,” but that the whole experience was sorely lacking in romance and tradition.