Summer House, Fairfield

HAPPY BIIIIIRTHDAAAYY TOOOOO MEEEEEEE :)

Monday was my 21st birthday, and because it's fallen on such an awkward day, I'm having a birth-week celebration instead. Over the weekend my Daddy Dearest came up from Albury, then on Monday my marvelous work friends decorated my desk and bought me a mud cake from Michel's Pattisserie, which was surprisingly not half bad:

Then that night after work, Stephen and I picked up my mum and my brother and went to Summer House, another lovely restaurant in the beautiful Fairfield RSL. My mother is a woman of simple taste, and my brother will eat ANYTHING, so I felt that the Modern Australian, casual dining atmosphere of this restaurant would suit us perfectly.

We were the first ones in the restaurant, but our host showed us to our table with impeccable manner, and told us that they were having a mid-week special which offered three courses for $28. What I was after wasn't offered on the specials menu, and it was my birthday, so I opted out, but my dining companians went for the bargain.

Garlic Bread - $6.50 & Cheese and Chive Bread - $7.00

We started with some bread: the garlic bread, a classic, was well executed and tasty, with the garlic evident but not overwhelming, and the cheese and chive bread was redolent with sharp, rich cheese and freshened with tasty chives.

Salt and Pepper Calimari  - Part of the Specials Menu (normally $15.50)

The calimari dish was quite substantial for an entree, with my brother already starting to feel full after finishing it. Large chunks of squid were battered and deep fried to perfection, and served with a spicy house-made chilli sauce. I would have preferred smaller pieces of calimari, but that's just nitpicking.

Crushed Cherry Tomato and Ricotta Bruschetta - Part of the Specials Menu (normally $8.50)

My mum went for the bruschetta. It was made with all fresh ingredients, and made with creamy ricotta instead of the regular feta, but otherwise it was a fairly simple starter.

Angus Rump Fillet with Green Peppercorn Sauce - Part of the Specials Menu (normally $27.90)

Stephen ordered this medium, and it was cooked perfectly. The moist, tender beef was smothered in a punchy green peppercorn sauce, and accompanied by kipfler potatoes and seasonal vegetables tossed in butter. Stephen felt that there was a little too much sauce, and I'm inclined to agree, but each element of this dish was cooked well.

Herb and Lemon Crusted Chicken - Part of the Specials Menu (normally $22.00)

Both my mum and brother chose this dish, one with vegetables and one with salad. Both were served with kipfler potatoes. The chicken itself was deliciously moist, and the simple, classic flavours of lemon and herbs went really well with the dish, but we found the way the chicken was crumbed a bit odd - it fell off really easily, and soon all the crumbing was left on the plate, making a bit of a mess.

Fish & Chips 'Old Style' - $23.50

I ordered this because I was curious as to what 'Old Style' actually was. My fish and chips were served in a paper cone, like you might get in a corner store, but my host shook them out onto a plate before I could take a photo. I still thought it was a nice touch. The fish, beer battered flathead, was so crisp on the outside and perfectly flaky on the inside. The handcut chips were also wonderfully crisp, and I have a feeling they were at least twice-cooked. Honourable mention for the tartare sauce, it was amazing!

Creme Brulee - Part of the Specials Menu (normally $11.90)

The creme brulee left us talking and wondering how the HELL they got it so light, because it was seriously smooth, glossy and light as a feather! The glassy, toffee shell was thin and oh-so crisp, and the custard was lightly flavoured with vanilla seeds.

I found this presentation to be so lovely! I only casually mentioned that it was my birthday as they asked if we were celebrating anything (I'm also really impressed that they spelled my name correctly, I didn't spell it over the phone when I booked!).

Panacotta with Orange Granita - $11.90

The panacotta somehow achieved a balance between thick and light, was beautifully creamy and smooth, and lightly flavoured with vanilla. The orange granita melted slowly on the tongue and imparted its flavour to the panacotta.

Earl Grey - $4.00

We finished our meal with tea, then paid our bill. We found the $28 specials to be really good value, and we left absolutely stuffed. I'm glad I chose to come here for my birthday, and other than some small, very minor things, I could find fault with nothing at this restaurant.

Summer House

Fairfield RSL
14 Anzac Pde
Fairfield, NSW
2165

Phone: 9727 9718

www.fairfieldrsl.com.au

Comments

[Gaby]

Happy birthday! Glad to hear you had a wonderful birthday dining experience :)

[chocolatesuze]

happy birthday!

[Mary]

I hope you had a wonderful birthday. The food looks wonderful and it sounds like everyone has done their best to see you have a happy 21st. Hugs and birthday blessings...Mary

[Akika]

Happy birthday!! The food looked great! I wish I was 21 still :( the years just keep counting down...

[muppy]

happy birthday, looked like a lovely dinner, good food, good company :)

[InTolerantChef]

Happy Bithday indeed!
I'm glad you had such a nice dinner, and wasn't your dessert surprise gorgeous! I think the calamari was a bit odd too, but as long as it tasted good I guess.

[chopinandmysaucepan]

Happy birthday Jasmyne, are you 21 or 31 as one of the cards say 31? :)

[Chanel]

Happy Birthday! I love a chocolate written message, how sweet of them :)

[Jasmyne Tea]

Lol Chopinandmysaucepan, my friends are idiots.

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone!