he instructions on how to get to dinner were odd, yet intriguing.
Address explanation is, get to the corner of Campbell and Crown St, (where Bentley Bar is) and then there is a little lane way near this intersection (towards Oxford ST).
If the door is not open/ or a doorman is not there, there will be a mobile number on the door and you need to text the word on the door to the mobile number, and the doorman (hot jake!) will come grab you.
Turns out there is more than one alleyway near Campbell and Crown St, and lurking in them in the dark of night with a toddler in tow isn’t quite the most comforting thing to do. A man emerges from an unlit building, and we mutter “Jake” just to see if he looks our way. Turns out he does, and Hot Jake takes us inside the building.
So popular is this restaurant, is that it’s booked out into next year. There are no signs on the doors. You wouldn’t know it existed really, unless you heard it from someone else, or if you stumbled across the door in the dark alley.
There is a request that there be legs under the table by eight. So we’ve done just that. We’ve taken the gamble of bringing Lacey with us. It can go either way. We can have complete and utter disaster or she can be perfectly perfect. Thankfully she’s the latter.
The restaurant is called Table for 20, and it’s just like friends holding a dinner party at home. Except it’s not, and they’re not friends. A guy plays his guitar in the corner. The owner clinks his glass and says hello before we start, and everyone sit at two long tables {of 20}. There are no menus. You get what you’re given, and thankfully what we’re given is gooooooood.
The meals are brought to the table on platters and we serve ourselves. Truffle pasta for entree, beef with sides for main {oh my goodness, most delicious meal ever} and a cherry & custard tart arrives on the table in full {with sparklers and a birthday song for Big Sis}, and we place slices on plates and top with cream.
It feels so homely and comfortable {just how the owners intended}, so much so that I almost offer to clear the dishes and help in the kitchen. That’s how it feels.
The menu changes each night, so the dining experience is different each time.
It makes me want to host a dinner party. I mutter to Hubby as we walk back to the car in the dark with a tired Lacey in our arms, “If I had a restaurant, that’s exactly how I would do it.”
When was the last time you dined out? Was it a positive experience?
Love u. God ur efficient. U make my world sparkle sis. xx
Hubby and I have always dreamed of opening a restaurant exactly like that! Sounds sensational!
God, that restaurant sounds like such a different experience! I'd love to try somewhere like that.
The last time I dined out was on Tuesday night. I'm sure it was nowhere near as exciting as your dinner, but lots of fun all the same! It was pizza and red wine at a pub. Complete with pub trivia and 80's music videos playing on the plasma TV's. A positive experience, indeed. xx
wow, that sounds amazing!! Nothing like that out here, of course! The last time we went out for dinner was for our Anniversary in March – it wasnt great!! But it was still nice to be out together.
Great to hear that you had a good night, you're so right about how it can go either way with kids out with you… x
wow – so different, sounds fantastic!
dinner was at the local pub last night, lamb shanks, really good, and i actually did clear and scrape our plates in the kitchen and packed up our own doggy bag (not for us, the bones for the dog) – a little different to your experience though 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful place.
The last time was at westfield food court so unromantic & unpersonal.
wow, that place sounds amazing. The last time I went out for dinner was gold class at the movies on date night with my hubby and I love it!
What a lovely post!! 🙂 I would love to visit this restaurant one day!
I've been so looking forward to dining at Table for 20 one day. Thanks for giving us great insight into how it all works. I'm so there!!
Sounds brilliant Telle
Last time I was in a restaurant was for my SIL's 21st and they were brilliant with my food allergies which made it a wonderful SAFE evening
It sounds like a fab experience! How cool!
We went out one year ago on our anniversary. Can you even believe that? A whole year? That is just insane, right? : ( My husband works SO much. I barely see him. I miss him!
This restaurant concept sounds very cool! Glad you had fun!
What a fab experience. I must admit it's been a very long time since we went anywhere other than our local Thai or Indian place which are both good but not at all fancy but are instead paper napkin kinda places! 🙂 We will go out on our anniversary which is at the beginning of next month though which I'm looking forward to. I must admit that I am petrified at the thought of taking the Bebito out for dinner with us. He is a noisy fellow often and it scares me to have him out past his bed time. I'm a chicken I know! I'm so glad you had a good time 🙂