Cassia Sambuca

I have been to the original sambacas on the fish quay and in Whitley Bay plenty of times in the past. For both their cheap lunch menu and for an evening meal I have always been impressed with the food they can offer at such low prices.
Granted the atmosphere is a tad loud with the waiting staff singing happy birthday at odd intervals however the food has always been spot on. I have never been into the Cassia restaurant so having arrived on a rainy Saturday evening I couldn’t wait for some comforting and filling food. Unfortunately I was setting myself up for a big disappointment.
First I opted for the deep fried calamari which was the biggest mistake of the meal. It arrived prompt as usual and with a side of rubber I feel. As I was hungry I dived for the thinly sliced squid and that was half palatable. When the waiter turned up to take our plates away he asked what was wrong with my half eaten plate and suggested it was because I had let it go cold and thats what would make the texture inedible… (need I add nothing was taken off our bill)
Swiftly moving onto the main and I mean swiftly as it arrived seconds later… I mean there is fast and there is too fast? I had the fillet steak with peppercorn sauce and handout chips. The chips and peppercorn sauce where bang on. The steak was perfectly cooked (medium-​rare) however didn’t look hugely appetising as it looked like it was covered in fat it was a bizarre cut of beef I think.
Given what we paid with wine and soft drinks you wouldn’t think I had a leg to stand on being so picky… but this place really has gone down in my expectations! Such a shame Sambuca — get your head back in the game!