Take heart, indulge a little

 Cresta is very close to home so decided to start there, not wanting to drive too far in the continuing rain and resulting quagmire. After being turned away last week at DV8 decided to phone in advance – one advantage of a hotel is that at least there is a directory listing – and was told that they were not busy and we could just turn up.
Which we did around 7:30pm to find the restaurant indeed not very full and with what looked like only hotel guests dining. There were a few couples in the bar but we went straight into the restaurant. We were offered either the US$20 buffet or to choose from the small a la carte menu. Mains were roast chicken, steak, pork medallions or tilapia. Steak options were either fillet or T bone, and in the absence of rump my husband chose the fillet, medium rare with pepper sauce. (US$18) accompanied by roast potatoes.
It was indeed served medium rare and was adequate if not the best. Pepper sauce was not exciting – standard hotel gloop with peppercorns in it.  Buffet was substantial and included a pork stir-fry, chicken casserole and beef stew on the bone along with rice or sadza and vegetables. I chose roast chicken which I do find quite dry on the carvery but dressed it with a nice sweet chillie sauce from the salad buffet. Courgettes and carrots were well cooked but unfortunately the rape and peanut butter, one of my favourite side dishes, was way over salted for my taste.
On the up side, steaming, soft rolls, so hot the butter melted into them instantly were brought to the table and almost as instantly devoured!  The a la carte boasts very few starters -a couple of salads or soup of the day, in this case chicken soup also on the buffet.
I was hoping and even expecting something a bit more special – but it was fairly ordinary and maybe most people find the buffet option easier. Salads were fresh-grated carrots and raisins, lettuce, tomato and cucumber, sweet pumpkin, fried eggplants – and the dressings were good. A la carte dessert choices were uninspiring and the chocolate éclair my husband fancied was alas, not available that night.  We shared chocolate mousse from the sweet selection which also included little cakes, individual trifles, and fruit salad.
The restaurant décor is a bit shabby. I remember when Chatters first opened a couple of decades ago and I still love the bright jungle paintings on the walls. But not much seems to have happened since then. My chair was threadbare and in need of covering and it was a bit sad that neither espresso nor filter coffee machines were working. Our waiter Owen went out of his way to find real after dinner coffee when we turned down instant. Don’t know where he went but he returned with a brimming pot of hot coffee. We were impressed by the service which was professional and friendly.
The food didn’t live up to Chatter’s blurb offering gourmet food and fine imported wines. Drinks were expensive at US$4 a tot for whiskey and a minimum of US$18 for a bottle of wine but those are hotel prices.
I have no doubt the kitchen has the skill to rise to a special occasion but on the whole we had an ordinary dining experience but welcoming service made it  a pleasant evening out.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com