Strawberry Fare

As an unapologetic follower of food, fashion and the great fantasies of life,(I discovered the fountain of Youth years ago) it is with palpable delight that I herald the arrival of each new restaurant on the scene. Furthermore, let it be known that I am ever so happily roused from my normally sluggish state at the prospect of visiting reincarnations of restaurants closed after the earthquakes. New venues, new people(sometimes), new menu(often) but invariably a retention of the fundamental essence of what made the original good...or not so good. The core of training and expertise, culinary philosophy and style so often shines through in the rebirth.
And so it was that I found myself entertaining a beautiful woman one weekday lunchtime in the grand upstairs chamber with its high, steep, sloping ceilings, expansive vista across bustling Bealey Avenue to the vast and verdant Hagley Park beyond.
Service throughout our lunch was friendly, casual and perfectly fine for the occasion. Whilst the sexagenarians at a neighbouring table were enjoying a bottle of Moet we satisfied ourselves with, as surprised as you may be, glasses of chilled tap water, a deliberate and unmitigated expression of confidence in the state of this city’s water supply!
Notwithstanding anything alluded to above, Strawberry Fare when in Peterborough St had a reputation of mere mediocrity but, as they say, one lives in hope. Here in Bealey Ave I was impressed that the King prawns hailed from India ( a great seafaring and seafood country) , the dish itself being titled Prawns Gremalata. The ciabatta bread was crisp, lightly toasted and eminently edible, the grilled prawns a delicious excursion into Indian Ocean crustacean heaven, with the squeezed lemon juice, parsley and garlic additives giving a resoundingly memorable voice to a flavoursome medley. The fresh, moist salad washed through my oesophagus with gentle, caring aplomb, leaving me pleasantly surprised, comfortably satisfied and for an overall main course investment of under $22, completely convinced that a return visit should be made.
As long as you keep your expectations at a reasonable, sensible level you won’t be disappointed.