20200207 The Henley Beach Hotel & Coco Cacao DRINK: Coopers Dark Ale TURN: Chad

It was a gobsmackingly beautiful evening to be catching the X30 bus to Henley Beach. 

Con thought so, arriving at the Henley Beach Hotel on the bus before me.

I thought so too. 

And so did a young lady, who became the unsuspecting heroine of my witty anecdote for the evening. 

She hopped on the X30 in town, clearly unsure of herself. She asked the driver questions in a loud and distinctive non-local accent. She needed further assistance to operate the ticket machine. She sat down opposite me and started consulting a large, fold-out brochure that looks distinctly (to me with my glasses off) like a map. So I asked her if she needed any help with directions. Her response was a 5-minute rant. She objected to my patronising assumption that she needed help. She objected to my smiling at her. What’s more, she objected to my smile. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the evening. After a difficult week, it was just the sort of ridiculous encounter I needed to restore my sense of humour – and give me something amusing to share with the troops on arrival.

Chad, Elizabeth, Stephen and Con were already assembled when I arrived, in a sunny corner spot outside where they could enjoy the beachfront views. 

Mere words cannot express the significance of these tickets

The front bar has changed very little since my last visit 15+ years ago, and the happy hour drinks prices made a welcome change from town prices. 

 Back in the days of my frequent visits, the only other customers were old blokes, placing bets and keeping up their fluid intake, so it was a shock to see the place brimming with all sorts of people. 

I ordered my favourite local beer, a Coopers Dark Ale, which was honoured as the Drink of the Week.I was so proud that I drank three of them (not all at once).  

The dining room had a bit of an RSL Club atmosphere. Luckily Chad had booked a table, because it was packed full of people. One of the first things we noticed, with sinking hearts (and stomachs), was the very long queue of people waiting to order. 

We found our table and joined the line as quickly as possible (with Elizabeth minding the table). Fortunately there was a bread station alongside the queue, so it was possible for hangry queuers to grab an emergency bread roll to sustain themselves for the duration of the campaign.  

Most of us ordered the Seafood Duo or Seafood Trio. 

CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?

Elizabeth ordered pasta with prawns, which looked delicious (I would definitely order that I went there again). 

Unfortunately I did not do anything sensible like take notes of our specific ratings, but I think we were generally in the 6-7 range. We might have rated the food more highly if the atmosphere had been less bright and busy, and more conducive to digestion. 

After dinner, Con, Chad and I walked along the beachfront to meet Elizabeth and Richard at Coco Cacao, near Henley Square. It was a beautiful evening for walking, although I regretted the choice of slippery shoes.   

The cake and chocolate selection looked sumptuous. Chad ordered a curious drink called (from memory) a Dirty Chai. The magic 'dirty' ingredient is a shot of espresso coffee. 

CAN YOU TELL WHICH DRINK IS THE DIRTY CHAI? (There will be prizes!)

 

By this stage in the evening, I was well past my prime. I have a dim sort of recollection that Con ordered banana bread. I didn't order anything as my feet were sore and I was too lazy to get up (the seats were very comfortable). But there is another dessert unaccounted for so it's time for another game. This time:

CAN YOU GUESS WHO ORDERED THIS DELICIOUS CAKE?
 

We said farewell to Stephen and Elizabeth and walked back to Chad's car via Henley Square, which was busy with youngsters beginning their evening, just as we were ending ours. I'm guessing that everyone felt as contented as I did, after such a pleasant evening and bit of sea air. 

I can't wait to join in the next Friday night adventure. 

P.S. I reckon formatting this post took longer than the evening itself!