An evening of superlatives
“We have a very successful Sunday brunch and wanted to try something else on an equally grand scale that our patrons would enjoy just as much,” explained Terra Nova All Suite Hotel managing director Michelle Hussey, Wednesday evening in between putting the finishing touches to the über extravagant seafood bar.
Maintaining the family’s tradition of excellence (the Husseys are known for pulling out all the stops) Terra Nova’s unveiling of its first Steaks and Seafood Wednesdays was in fact an evening of superlatives for the many patrons who booked tables, and more than lived up to the week-long ‘made to sit up and take note’ advertising campaign.
Even if you were totally oblivious to the fact that high-end restaurant design is all about the search for glamorous ‘wows’, you would have figured it out the moment you happened upon the ample bar with bartenders mixing, blending, shaking and pouring signature cocktails, like the Terra Nova Legend, a precise blend of Appleton special, amaretto pineapple, orange juice and over-proof rum and served in a pineapple by the ever-so-charming and attentive David Wellington- that much attention had gone into every detail.
Design pro Ardelle dalla Costa, with that uncanny knack for detail, smartly enhanced the already magical poolside by juxtaposing coral against the aqua blue pool to create a veritable tropical setting. This was enhanced further when she draped whimsical white canopies that easily became idyllic romantic private dining areas all under a perfect sky spotted ever so extravagantly on this particular evening.
Maitre d’ Richie Samuels suggested soup and yes the carrot and ginger soup and crayfish jumbo are, we glean from fellow diners, both winners, but some of us are eager to test the sushi bar and in particular the jerked marlin roll (be warned that it packs as big a kick as the wasabi) as well as the fresh oyster. The salad bar with its made-on-the-spot Caesar salad delays us further and we pop more than a few ever-so-sweet grape tomatoes.
What’s blissful about this evening is the feel of being in a tropical oasis. The dining experience, thankfully, matches it all so it’s a leisurely affair. The mellow notes of the Hardy chardonnay finds favour with both the honey-mustard tenderloin rolled in walnut, the petit fillet topped with grilled shrimp as well as the grilled butterfly lobster tail.
Eschew all thoughts of calorie counting on a Wednesday for we have not even made an impact on the amazing array of delights that also include: grilled jerked shrimp, mussels and clam in a white wine sauce, seafood kebab (salmon, fish and shrimp), stuffed tilapia, king crab legs and garlic chilli shrimp.
And let’s not forget the importance of saving space for the sweet treats: key lime pie, tropical meringue pie and lemon meringue pie and an ice cream station that forces you into depression every time you try to resist the urge to lift yet another spoonful.
TableTalk Terra Nova All Suite Hotel
Steaks & Seafood Wednesdays
(Make reservations by calling 926 2211 for 4 persons or more).
It’s a great spot to people watch, so wear something chic.
Best table: Table #17 (or any under the canopy for
that matter)
Cost: $2,956 per person (excluding beverage) but inclusive of all taxes)