Chester's Restaurant

Bf and I had a lovely date at the Swan Valley. We spent the morning playing Supa-golf at Oasis Park (such a challenge with hills and golf balls rolling down hills!). It was rather exhausting and the sun warming up didn't help with the heat and exhausation. So after the game of "golf" and trying wines at Lamont winery (the wines there wasn't really great!) we ventured to Chester's Restaurant for lunch.

Chester's Restaurant is located within the Heafod Glen Winery. The restaurant is steeped in history and was originally a fruit drying shed, then stable quarters for local riding academy, (may explain the tin roof and exposed Marri wood pillars). Rather lovely setting really.

 

We made a booking a head of time and when we got there the outdoor area was rather packed and busy (it was after all a lovely spring day), but we were seated inside, which suited us fine, considering we were out in the sun all morning playing "golf". 

After much deliberation, we decided we share an entree, get a main each and perhaps if the desserts look good have it at Chester's, or if not, go and get ice cream at Oggies!

We started of the meal with a lovely Mushroom soup special. It was creamy with the lovely taste and aroma of mushrooms (it really did smell yummy, especially for our rumbling tummies!). Although I wish they provided us with bread on the side and they didn't have such itchy hands, as I felt as though they tipped too much salt into it (bf disagreed and didn't think it was too salty).

 

For the mains, Bf ordered the pork with crackling mashed potatoes and glazed pear (the pear looked rather unappetitizing and didn't tie in with the dish even if they were going for that pork and pear/apple thing). The crackling was pretty good was well salted and crackled throughout, although they removed it from the pork meat and the pork itself had this massive 1cm of fat encased around it, which I was not impressed about (bf didn't mind), but I seriously think if you are going to remove the crackling from the meat, trim the fat!

We also had a side of potatoe gratin to share. It sounded rather pleasing like it was going to be cheesy and creamy. Instead what came out was this perfectly browned top, but like they say don't judge a book by it's cover, because the potatoe gratin was sour and vinegary. It wasn't what we expected at all. In fact, I really couldn't stomach much of it.

I on the other hand, had the duo of beef. There was there steak fillet - perfectly cooked on top of this lovely potato terrine with the jus (which was a little on the sour side, again you can taste the vinegar! obviously didn't cook that off!) and braised beef cheek tenderly slow cooked on a bed of sweet beetroot. I quiet enjoyed this dish really wished there was more of it.

Chester's Restaurant is a nice place to try at in the Swan Valley and I must say I appreciated that it was on the Entertainment Card. 25% off was rather nice. I wasn't blown away by the food, a few hits and misses but enjoyable and pleasant nonetheless. The ambience is rather relaxed, to the point that I could probably laze around at the place. The service was friendly enough and they asked us how our meals were, which was nice, and topping up our glasses.

I might however wait until the next year when I get a new Entertainment Card to come back again.