88 Steak House, Fairfield Hotel, Fairfield

It's a rainy Thursday night in a suburban hotel in Sydney's south west.  The Fairfield Hotel is relatively empty but for a table of middle aged Vietnamese.

One couple is singing karaoke, it's a love song, melodramatic in typical Vietnamese style.  My Vietnamese is not good enough to fully comprehend.  But I sense the raw, barely controlled emotion.  When he hits the high notes his voice gets louder as if to mask his feelings, she responds with a kind, feminine, considered croon.

Another couple are swaying slowly, close to each other, but their minds are somewhere else.  While others watch on... like the Pacific Islander barman with a greying beard.  He's bemused but he too, senses something tonight.

Even the pre-recorded karaoke track seem to ooze pathos tonight.

Milano Restaurant, Italian, Lansvale

Steak nights at suburban hotel restaurants can be a hit an miss affair.  When we ventured to Milano Restaurant in the Lansvale Hotel and Resort, on the Hume Highway, I wasn't sure what to expect.

I knew they had a renovation not that long ago, but stepping in, I was struck by the quality of the fit out in the restaurant.  Subtle lighting, crisp white linen...it was very impressive.  As was the friendly and efficient service.

It was 8pm on Thursday night, but the place was packed for the $15 steak/pasta/pizza night.  We had to book!  And it was packed with Vietnamese clientele, a touch amusing given the high Italian atomosphere!

My medium rare pepper steak was thick, juicy, tasty and indeed medium rare.  Loved the extra pepper sauce you get to dip your thick cut chips in.  Only negative was the long wait for food, kinda understandable given the full house.

The whole experience was really quite pleasant, this Sydney food blogger was left with a positive impression, although you need to take into account the slow food service.


Milano Italian Restaurant
161 Hume Highway, Lansvale
9727 5255