EAT: Etched into memory

There are certain occasions like anniversaries or 'special occasion' date nights which call for better-than-your-average brownie point efforts.  And Etch is the answer on all fronts.

This gem of a dining experience ticks all the boxes - reasonably priced, brilliant service and equally brilliant food. It's not often all 3 are offered in unison to create the holy trinity of rave restaurant reviews. Located on Bridge St in the InterContinental Hotel,  Etch is a beautiful combination of open plan dining with white walls, high ceilings, big arched windows, antique touches like teeny light bulbs and mannequins and framed artworks on floral patterened walls. It's modern without being clinical, romantic without being flowery.

The menu consists of local produce with a slight Spanish influence and the daily special is a winner especially if you arrive on Lobster Omelette day. It's modern, delicious food without being fussy, contrived or intimidating. Even their cutlery and crockery is cool. Like your best shirt, this works for the romantic date but equally for the work dinner or your mother-in-law's birthday.

Brownie Points P.A memo:   If you need any more convincing or you're the ostentatious, name-dropper type, you can just tell everyone it's also the latest venture from Justin North..you know, the guy who started Becasse. (But remember, full pockets never jingle. And they  never, ever facebook status where they've been, what they spent or what they ate.)