i never really know what to say about the child friendly aspect of a place - i suppose it depends upon the age of the child. for me, it would be inappropriate to take a child to a bar or a fine-dining restaurant. personally, i would only take kids under 10 to fast food chains with playgrounds. but that's just me. i mention this for speights because it s a bar, with bar patrons, but my numerous experiences here have never been impacted upon by children.
i try to have something different every time i go to speights and each time i enjoy the meal whatever it is. the calamari is particularly pleasing because you get so much, when so often as is the case with calamari is that you get hardly any for an outrageous price. i do find that the veges are a little too under-cooked for my liking when having the lamb shanks.
the service always very attentive and satisfying. i will keep going back time and time again. the jalapeno cheese balls, pork croquettes & garlic bread are simply divine - the portions big enough to share. most recently i had the bannockburn beef - a huge steak sitting atop truffle oil mashed potato with field mushrooms and bernaise over the top. you don't need an entree when you have this - it is very filling. it comes with salad which i feel is not needed - mine barely touched the plate. i would also recommend the lamb shanks, which i've had on many occasion. the place can be a bit loud but it doesn't matter - the decor and staff are awesome!
here's what the hubby thought:
"haven't been here for some time, and lacking imagination we came back last week as we wanted somewhere we knew and remembered to be ok. we were warmly greeted by the barman when walking in, and offered any table. no sooner had we sat and he was there with water and another welcome. beverages were ordered. efficient but not imposing. she ordered a deep-fried cheese ball entree and a 400g sirloin, the actual name of the dish escapes me. i ordered bread with garlic butter, pulled-pork croquettes and the drunken steak.
the bread arrived at the same time as the entrees, all were very good. the garlic butter was flavoured how it should be and very generous and half ended up on my steak. my croquettes were also very good and for $10 it was a generous portion, and word was the cheese balls were also well received.
steaks arrived, and these too were of a good standard. generous and well cooked. the veges i swapped a salad for weren't the most appealing but that is the only negative that comes to mind. prices are starting to get up there, and if i got vege like that again i would be asking questions, however these dishes still represented good value. no room for desserts unfortunately.
looking at other tables, the fish dish looked impressive and the burgers to-die-for. all in all a great experience, and we will certainly be back soon.
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