Box on Collins Street - Birthday Dinner

It's my birthday today! I'm 24. I keep forgetting how old I am, I don't know whether to blame baby brain or my old age now.

I celebrated early and went out to dinner on Friday with The Husband and Geefa.

I always walk past Box on Collins and make a mental note to myself that I really must try it, after all, I do love seafood pretty much more than life itself.

I made a booking a few days in advance and didn't eat much lunch in preparation of the feasting that I was to undertake, however my stomach just cannot fit as much food in as it used to. Damn you third trimester.

I wore this dress from Target - non maternity thank you very much. The one online is a different print though.

Also my stock standard Witchery Sandals and Sussan necklace.

Geefa arrived first and was seated at the front of the restaurant near the front door, with me following and then The Husband bringing up the rear when he worked out where we were since I forgot to tell him. 

Geefa made a comment that they acted like they had to 'find' us a table when he first got there. 
Considering that they only had about 4 other tables dining at the time, I found this weird but then found out first hand that their service is quite iffy. 

Saganaki cheese pan fried with fresh lemon $12

This is freaking delicious. I usually don't like Saganaki because it is always too rubbery for my liking but this was perfection, despite looking like fish. 

Why does it look fish, why?

Marinated pickled octopus $14.50

Can't say that I tried this, but I noticed that the fellas didn't finish it off which usually tells me something, unless they were both being polite and didn't want to seem like gutsys but we are family so I doubt that. 

Trio of dips home- made served with warm pita bread $15 + $5 for more pita

I don't know why but I just love pita and this pita was no exception. 

It was dripping in oil (I do love me some oil) and the dips were pretty good also.

I could eat pita and dips all day every day. 

Definitely not enough pita bread for 2 grown men and one hungry pregnant lady though so we ordered more and it was more than enough, about 4 times the amount originally given.

Scallops lightly floured, pan fried with a garlic aioli dipping sauce $48

I don't know if this was good or not but Geefa did mention being impressed by the large mass of scallops and polished it all off so they must have been quite nice.

Coconut king prawns crumbed in shredded coconut with a mango and plum dipping sauces $38

Whilst this was nice, it wasn't anything great. It wasn't a meal that would make me want to return.

All of the crumbing came off as I cut into the prawns and it was almost a too dry but this may have been because I asked that they made sure the prawns were cooked through. 

The sauces were nice, and the rice was cooked perfectly. I don't know why the rice being cooked perfectly stuck in my mind but maybe I was looking for a positive. 

King prawns pan fried with cracked black pepper, garlic, lemon juice, spring onions and butter $38

The Husband says this was fine.

It was a pretty small serving compared to mine and Geefas though but perhaps ours were just decent sized servings in the first place. He was eyeing off my rice but the chips filled him up, until we got home at least and then he went and got more food whilst I lay in bed complaining that the third trimester has ruined my appetite and I cannot fit as much food in these days. 

Beer battered chips $9.50 (no photo but use your imagination)

Hate to say it folks but the chips were my favorite food of the night after the pita bread. 

The waitress made a few smartass remarks during the night, with one being "One is Red. One is White." which was accompanied by a raised eyebrow and eyeroll. She said this to The Husband when he was trying to decide between two wines. 

Okay lady, calm down, he still had the wine menu open and was reading it when you came over and demanded we order more drinks, despite the fellas still having beer to drink before their meals came so it should have been obvious that he was still deciding. Sheesh.

I asked the waitress what she could recommend on the menu as The Husband and I ended up wanted to order the same thing (but try to not do this obviously) and she just gave me a blank stare and answered "It's all good" with a shrug. Well, that was a big help - thanks a lot. 

Every now and then I found myself zoning out as the men talked about finance and work. I wonder if anyone else could tell that I was daydreaming. 

For some reason I was staring at this bucket of Coronas thinking how damn refreshing they would be and how I really wanted one. This is weird because I don't drink beer and I don't drink when pregnant. 

Some form of Citrus Tart

As we were ordering dessert she asked us to move our stuff off the table and she took off the table cloth, which was not at all dirty, leaving us with the underneath one and at Geefas quip "I didn't think we were that messy" she just flounced off. 

Way to make us feel like you were trying to get rid of us, at 9pm on a Friday night when you still have other patrons in.

Vanilla Pannacotta with Apple

This was really, really lovely. I just love pannacotta, all day every day.

The Husband and I shared this, pity!!

I didn't mean for this post to turn into such a whinge, what a Debby Downer I am. 

I don't like complaining about staff etc but sometimes it has to be mentioned, and it seems like I'm not the only one with these thoughts judging from the online reviews! 

Obviously I am not a real critic (ha, what a laugh) but I do like to eat and poor service doesn't make me happy. 

Regardless, my birthday dinner was lovely and I like going out to dinner with The Husband and Geefa!!

Pros: 

Nice central location

Easy to get a booking

Food brought out very quickly

Good Serving Sizes

Food was nice (see below)

Cons: 

Service

Food was not great 

Pricey for what it is, alcohol also pricey

Would I go back? I would not go out of my way to go back, there are plenty more fish in the sea (get it? seafood restaurant!) for me to try in the city. 

Have you been to Box on Collins Street? Your thoughts?