It was Mr NQN’s weekend. It was something that I thought we ought to do as every other weekend seems to revolve around my activities. Being Mr NQN’s weekend we went shopping for pants for him-he’s a fusspot with those and as he is rather disorganised, the dinner plans never did eventuate. When he expressed a preference to eating near home, we called Lebanon and Beyond in nearby Randwick only to find that it was of course fully booked this Saturday evening. Not a huge shock so it was Spanish Omelette at home in front of the tv on a Saturday night. A nice change but a touch dull. Although we got to watch lots of episodes of Modern Family and The InBetweeners which we both love.

Like all good spouses, I think he sensed my boredom so we decided to try for Lebanon and Beyond the next evening. I booked earlier that day and lucky we did for as we turn up, a woman with a party of friends is eager for a table but as it’s fully booked she is politely let down. Undeterred she promises to be back in an hour for a table (and she is).

Housed in an art deco building it has a certain retro feel to it. Service is friendly and we are allowed to have one vegetarian banquet and one regular chef’s banquet, each with four courses including dessert. Most banquets these days are over $30 so we’re pleasantly surprised to see a banquet for $28 and a vegetarian one for $25. They give us a plate with spiced peanuts, salty green olives and pickles and I particularly like the peanuts and the pickles together. Mr NQN gets his homemade lemonade which is a flat lemonade with the distinct flavour of fragrant orange blossom-it’s a bit more orange blossom than lemon though.

Orange blossom lemonade

Peeking through we see that the kitchen is small and I pass through to use the ladies room where it seems I’ve entered a different world. The bathroom is seems is shared with a private hotel and inside the bathroom looks to be like a hospital bathroom with a shower. One wonders whether there is any overlap with the hotel residents and restaurant patrons.

Hommous

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I know, you always think of girly things when you think of the Victoria Room and I’m pretty sure that you haven’t really thought to take your dad there. But I can perhaps change your mind when I tell you what they are up to for Father’s Day?

The Father’s Day Ploughman’s Lunch at the Victoria Room takes place from 12pm on Sunday, 5th September. It includes prizes for Best Mo, Best Comb-over and Loudest Tie so get your dad dressed up in his finest and loudest tie or get his moustache spruced up. I don’t know if I should encourage comb overs though!

It’s not all tea and tipples, it’s a manly feast that includes traditional roast beef, breads, cheeses, savoury scones, frittata, pork terrine along with a selection of desserts. For dads that enjoy a tipple, Single and Double Malt whiskey tastings will be on offer throughout the afternoon as well as other surprises. The lunch costs $50 per adult and $27.50 per child (and the prices include the 10% Sunday surcharge).

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