Stirling Steaks

It's been a rather long time since we last came here.

At least, a year.

Stirling Steaks is the sort of place that you go to when you're wanting a steak for a meal, nothing less, nothing more. 

They're a no-frills sort of place- this cafe/restaurant nestled in a shop house along East Coast Road- so don't come expecting cushioned seats, cloth napkins, carpeted floors or fine, fancy cutlery.

You'll get none of those. 

Instead you'll get charming metal chairs, wood-topped tables, paper napkins and one big sticker on the wall showing which part of the cattle is which so the inexperienced can refer.  

This place is popular with families, couples, and small groups out for a bit of chill time on the East Coast side. 

You don't have to dress up to walk through the doors. 

But you can if you want to. 

It's a very comfortable vibe. 

With reasonable service, reasonable offerings and affordable prices too. 

This evening we decided to just go straight for the steak- never mind the rest of the menu- and so ordered a regular-sized tenderloin done medium rare.

It didn't take too long to come. 

Along with a serving of side salad and nice, crispy fries (in a cute metal basket), there was a bit of very good sauce, plus a circle of butter which you could carve out bit by bit to eat with the beef. 

Some people like to have their steak with sauce. 

Others like to slather the butter all over their steak and let it melt into the crevices of the beef. 

I, however, like to slice off a bit, stick it on top of the steak piece  that I'm eating, and pop it whole.  

It's a good thing they're okay to give customers extra portions of butter. 

We needed two. 

Because my companion was finishing the first one very fast, and I wanted the round, smooth, melty melty feeling of herb butter to contrast the textures of my smoky-tasting, very tender, very flavorful tenderloin beef.

Not just that. 

I wanted to try having the butter with their fries. 

So we asked for another circle. 

Which- I'm happy to say- they gave.