Like my fellow Zomato foodies, Adam and I were invited to try out the food at Lord Alfred last week. Situated along the corner of Petrie Terrace and Caxton Street near the Barracks, admittedly this is one side of town that I did not often frequent. Heading out to a long lunch as the working year winds down, we arrived at the restaurant at 12pm.
Was greeted by the friendly manager Matt, who showed us to our seat. The place was relaxed and spacious, Matt had the ideal mix of knowledge and light humour which really made our experience all the more special.
Food and drink menus were soon provided. I like how they offer both the menu as well as a quick background rundown of the establishment, always helps to have context to better appreciate the food.
Our drinks came soon after ordering.
I had an espresso martini and he a cosmo. Mine was rich and strong, his was crisp and refreshing. Both made perfect appetisers for our meal ahead.
Our shared entree was the chicken tenderloins marinated in buttermilk and house cayenne pepper mix. Whilst some may say that chicken tenders is a fairly basic dish, this was executed wonderfully. The batter was wonderfully thin, with a light spice to it whilst the chicken still retained its moisture. Always a crowd pleaser, this fried chicken was no different.
After our entree was complete, our mains came out quickly. I loved the beautiful spread.
Still recovering from yesterday's meals, Adam opted for a smaller steak, the 200gm Eye Fillet, medium rare with a side of Darling Downs Gravy. Although it appeared petite, it was roughly 5cm tall, making it a fairly thick cut. Having a bite myself, I found it to be wonderfully tender and flavoursome whilst reassuringly lean. The added gravy was light and wholesome, almost like a red wine jus. Kudos to the chef for being able to nail down medium rare so well. We were both impressed. 
Being more hungry than he, I had the 400gm rib on the bone, cooked rare with a side of peppercorn sauce. As with rib fillets, it had a much smoother, richer and fattier texture, which I (probably shouldn't have) indulged in. The portion was generous and the steak was also cooked to a wonderful rare which was tender throughout, highlighting the skill of the chef. I really enjoyed the creamy peppercorn sauce that accompanied it, especially the well balanced richness with peppery zing, making for one of the best rib fillets I've had for this year.
A side selection of mustards is always appreciated too. Our favourite was of course the wholegrain mustard.
Each of our steaks came with a complimentary side, which we had in the middle to share. I had a rocket salad and he Paris mash. My salad was crisp and refreshing, a healthy addition with the light vinegarette, which I really enjoyed. Being a big fan of potatoes (typical), he liked the smooth hearty mashed potatoes which soaked up the excess gravy and juices from his steak.
Never a meal without dessert, Adam chose the apple and rhubarb crumble, freshly poached rhubarb, apple wedges and spices in a butter shortbread pastry. I loved the well textured biscuit base which had soaked ample amounts of both apple and rhubarb. The vanilla ice cream also provided a cool contrast to the warm dessert. He really enjoyed it.
Espresso and Matcha were invited guests of The Lord Alfred, but as always, our opinions are solely our own.
Price Range: $30 - $50pp
Taste: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Service: 9/10
Environment: 8/10
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