Surf Side Inn

Spent last night at the Surfside Inn in Queensland (right across from Queensland beach). We got a good deal by subscribing to their last minute deals newsletter. We got a room, a three course meal, continental breakfast (which didn't make it down to but looked good), a bottle of champagne (Tott's brut, not so good but included and cold), and a room with a large corner tub and queen bed.

The room was really nice as was the tub. The bed left a little to be desired but wasn't any worse than the bed I had before my current one. The meal was phenomenal... very tasty. Considering the value of the meal, sparkling wine, and so on, we pretty much stayed for free. I'd consider going back for the food.

Our meals:

• Apps - I had a bowl of mussels steamed in beer and garlic, she had a ceaser salad. Both were very tasty and generous. The mussel broth was wonderful when sopped up with the crusty rolls that accompanied our dinner.
• Mains - I had a pasta (fettucini with a roasted vegetable cream sauce and some chicken tossed in). The pasta wasn't anything special but it was well made, cooked properly, and seasoned perfectly. Best of all it arrived at the perfect temperature (I have frequently had cold pastas served to me). She had a striploin with a nice red wine reduction sauce, roasted potatoes, and veggies. The steak was cooked perfectly as ordered and the sauce was really well done. Nice reduction, I think finished with a bit of butter (maybe? I didn't eat more than a sliver to taste). I am not a big steak fan unless we are talking rib eye but it was tasty.
• Dessert - I had a really tasty bread pudding presented nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and she had cranberry crumble with more delicious ice cream. Both were as good enough to make us ooh and ahh a couple times. :)
• We had a glass of house red as well.
• Everything but the wine was included in our package. The menu we chose from is the same offered in the dining room.

I wouldn't spend too many nights in a row here because we found the bed a little uncomfortable but in general it was an excellent stay and the area is really picturesque.

We slept in and missed the continental breakfast but ate a full breakfast at The Trellis Cafe, just down the road. I loved it all (they use this amazing whole grain bread for the toast and french toast) except my scrambled were made with water (I think) instead of cream. I was a breakfast cook in hotels for a while at different times and having made a million scrambled eggs, I think they are best on their own, finished with a dab of butter, a little salt, and white pepper. When you use water I find it makes the eggs light and fluffy but also bland tasting. To each his own, though. I know many people like them this way and it is a little healthier, I suppose.