I admit ‘Mooseheads’ and ‘lunch’ is not a connection I would have made on my own. But after visiting ‘The Moose’ for a midday feed, they will be two words forever linked.

It’s safe to say everyone’s been to The Moose for a beer and to dance the night away at some stage. Hell, The Moose is a Canberra icon and institution! People come from far and wide to say they have visited The Moose.

It’s like the pilgrimage many young blokes go on to reach the Conargo Pub, have a beer and drive home proudly exhibiting the famous sticker on the back window. At The Moose however, it’s not a bumper sticker, but rather a shirt that says “I Got Loose At The Moose”. We’ve all bought one, haven’t we?

When I was challenged to try the best cut of red meat The Moose could offer I thought I was having my leg pulled. No one goes to The Moose while the sun is still out, the only time you see natural light from ‘The Moose’ is when you’re leaving at 5am. When I realised it wasn’t a joke, I got really pumped about sampling the best the Moose could offer. I wasn’t to be disappointed.

To break the monotony of football talk I’d been forced to endure over the past few outings, I invited the Brumbies Rugby Media Manager, Nick Smith, along for a refreshing Friday lunch. If you picture a brown snake on legs then you have a very accurate description of Nick.

After seeing his slight frame, sunken shoulders and scabbed-up, spaghetti legs every day for the last 12 months, I decided to put him on the path to recovery by giving him a serve of man’s true best friend, STEAK!

As we headed into The Moose at 12.30pm on a Friday afternoon, it didn’t take us long to reacquaint ourselves with the all-too-familiar, busy-yet-relaxed atmosphere.

The beauty of The Moose is that it appeals to everyone: there was the range of blue and white collar workers spread around all the tables having a long Friday lunch. In one corner there were a couple of well dressed female executives playing a game of pool while just metres away there was a couple of regulars sharing a beer at the bar before heading back to finish the week off.

After looking at The Moose’s extensive menu, I decided to try a cut of A-grade sirloin steak with a hit of creamy mushroom sauce. My emaciated partner in crime knew he needed protein if he was to bulk up, so he opted for a hearty 400-gram T-Bone with pepper sauce. Just looking at him made me hungry!

If steak isn’t your usual lunch time feed, fear not, The Moose caters for everyone. The extensive menu ranges from your healthy salads and burgers to battered fish and pizzas. Rest assured you will find something to your liking.

If you are into steak, you’ll be amazed at the extensive list of sauces you can choose from to accompany your meal – there must have been 10 to 15 of them on the menu.

No sooner had we sat down on one of the couches than our food was being served up by the very friendly bar staff. Just by smelling what we were about to devour I could see Smitty looking healthier already.

Although The Moose was last on the list of steak houses to visit, it didn’t disappoint. Both steaks were expertly cooked and topped off with the most delicious sauce. As always, I asked for medium rare and was not let down – it was seared perfectly without being overcooked.

I wasn’t even five bites into my meal when I realised that Smitty devoured everything and was in the process of licking the plate clean. I had to restrain him before he busted a tooth biting the plate. I calmed him down by handing over some of my chips which seemed to help a little. Gee, the poor guy must have been hungry!

With a healthier looking Smitty in tow we departed the gracious company of our hosts at The Moose with the smiles of content men. The Moose had served up a great spread and a really good steak for a reasonable price. It surprised both of us with the quality of food and efficient service and I know I will definitely be returning to sample some of the other sauces on the menu!

Stay tuned for next week’s review, where Brumbies star, Nic Henderson, will hunt down another one of Canberra’s best steaks!