Sunday Steak night at the Boatshed (Regatta Hotel) an early father's day

We decided to take my father in law out for a night, an early Father's Day celebration. The man is of few words and simple tastes--steak and steak.

Over the years we've taken him to sample everything from $100+ offerings to $10 pub counter meals. This time we decided to venture out-- away from the south side of Brisbane and try somewhere he'd least expect--The Regatta Hotel. 

Let's see, my last memory of the Regatta was stumbling home along Sylvan Rd at 1am or there about towards my dinky unit at the other end of Sylvan Road collecting a few twigs, leaves and other debris along the way. 

Recently when we drove past we noticed how nice the Boatshed looked and hubby and I are total suckers for presentation. So we booked online and took Dad way out of his comfort zone (the border of which is somewhere in Robertson). 

First impressions are definitely impressive-- especially considering my past memories. High ceilings decorated by rowing boats (Boatshed, I get it), splashes of green and a sparkly view across the river definitely gets you in the mood for some casual, relaxed and good feeling fare. 

Boatshed--get it? 

What impresses more is the open kitchen with the flames from the grill and a clever touch to push the dry aged beef by displaying it. Something I've seen done at higher priced menus like Moo Moos. This place is definitely winning over places such as the Norman and Morrison Hotel so far.

Open kitchen and grill 

Showing off the produce 

Menu offerings were pretty standard and what you'd expect at a steak house. We ordered the oysters, fried bugtails and heirloom tomato salad to start with.

I was hoping the food would stack up to the presentation of the restaurant and it was well...surprising.

Firstly the oysters... they were fine, sweet, fresh ... but was it really necessary to serve them on what look like ground up urinal cakes? That blue.. just toilet blue and the fact it was in crystalline form (for the record i know its salt). Yikes. 

Oysters and urinal pellets

Rest of the entrees were just meh--bug tails were overcooked and the thick coat of batter didn't help. Could have been prawns for all we know. The little coloured bits to the side was the salad that was described on the menu, a more adequate name may have been 'garnish'. Don't bother with the char siu? sauce in the middle, that's a sin for me already--char siu is restricted to meat only, not seafood, plus it wasn't really char siu just coagulated soy sauce with sugar and possibly vinegar.

Fried Bug Tails

The heirloom tomato salad was well, everything the menu said it was provided the definition of salad is very loose. Lucky my mother in law wasn't there or she would have gone on about how this was definitely not a 'salad'. You can't really go wrong with this flavour combination--sweet juicy non acidic heirloom tomato offset by crumbly feta and a sweet balsamic glaze. Though if you have a plate at home and is capable of cutting tomatoes in half, I think you have a good chance replicating this at home.

Heirloom tomato 'salad'

Finally we get to the steak. All 3 plates arrived at the same time and looked delicious, however was awhile before I could eat mine as 2 staff couldn't figure out which was the Wagyu Eye of  Rump (ordered by me) and which was the Sirloin (ordered by Dad). In the end we just assumed they placed the right piece of meat on the right plate (based on what sides were there) . At least they had hubby's order down pat--I mean the bone on the meat was a dead give away its the OP Rib on the bone.

 Sirloin? 

OP Rib on the bone 

Assuming I was eating the Wagyu Eye of Rump the meat was not as highly marbled as I expect but still juicy and lots of meaty flavour--cooked well too, a nice medium rare. Delighted to find only 1 bit of sinew in there though Dad couldn't say the same for his--had a bit of tough time chewing. Hubby's signature OP had quite a bit of gristle close to the bone but the flavour was there once again. 

As hubby put it 'as long as they cook it right it should be good'-- both of us agreed that the meat was definitely of good quality for the most part. 

Medium Rare 

Great sauces (we tried the pepper and whisky and the mushroom) --definitely didn't seem like it was mixed from a bag of Gravox like some places (cough Caxton). Chips were a hit with hubby but the potato was well, a potato--Morrison's potato is still the favourite. The salsa.. I just ate around that, wouldn't have cared if it was there or not. 

The Boatshed definitely makes an impression as moderately priced steak place.  However the entrees lack lustre and the fare just doesn't seem as generous as other similar venues such as the Morrison. But.. At the end of the day though, isn't it all about that piece of meat?