I booked Hippo creek two weeks (!) in advance since that seems to be what is needed to ensure a table. I was impressed with their SMS system which confirms, a day before that you will be coming, evidently to ensure they will keep their tables filled for the night. I don't think I have ever succeeded in a walkup table at Hippo creek, they have always looked very busy or only had a few tables left.
We were seated upstairs in the better-lit portion, menus were brought out quickly. I was feeling awful that night so didn't want to go for anything too adventurous, and settled on a fillet steak with mushroom sauce. We waited quite a bit after choosing before the waiters came around to take our order but they seemed sincere when apologising for the delay.
I wasn't able to eat much so the serve size came out quite well. The chips needed to be a bit crisper, and needed a bit more salt. The salad was very vinegar heavy, and I noticed a very soft (possibly old) tomato slice in mine. The purple onion was overgenerous. I predict most people don't eat the salad and felt a sudden stab of guilt for the person who must prepare these, only to have most return uneaten. I think something more exciting could have been done with the salad instead of it feeling like a rushed/forced side. Perhaps have a salad bar, in a similar style to Adelphi where guests can go and choose their own sides and breads from a selection. This will reduce the waste and we won't have to go with what is set, but will have guests moving around more which could be an issue with a fairly tightly-packed restaurant. Those stairs are very busy as waiters have to carry food up them (a little lift would surely help them out). Alternatively, remove the salad and make the dish a little cheaper, and have salads separately.
The steak was a very good cut, and cooked quite well. It's difficult with fillet steak (as a thick cut) to make it even and I did experience some unnevenness in cooking. I asked for medium and found some areas I would have considered rare and the inside actually felt a bit cool (that could be related to the time I got to it though). The mushroom sauce was good, with whole (small) mushrooms in it for a nice surprise now and then. The sauce could have been a bit warmer.
I probably could have had a look at desserts but I didn't want to risk it, I was still quite sick that night.
The meal was a bit on the expensive side, but the entertainment card helped. I couldn't quite justify the listed price but the discount of the card brought it to something more reasonable. I have to temper my judgement a bit since my sense of taste was limited that night. I probably wouldn't go without the entertainment card. I have been happier at our favourite, Adelphi and recently at Char Char with steakhouses. I have eaten better there before, so I am going to award four stars. Next time, the Botswana Beef!
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