You know you’re in a true steakhouse when the knives that come standard with the place settings look like something out of a Rambo movie. Chaplin’s does have impressive knifeware indeed, but I can’t say that I was all that impressed with the rest of it.

That’s not to say that it isn’t a friendly and inviting place. It was indeed pleasant, with a large open-plan dining area and excellent views toward the Sandton City skyscrapers. The décor is a little odd though, and looks a bit like a hodgepodge of items left over from the 70s: the walls are covered in a sort of suede-like red fuzzy material, there are a couple of stray paper lanterns, beige plastic chairs, and random black-and-white tiling in one of the corners. A few framed photos of Charlie Chaplin adorn one wall, and the words “good food” are spelled out in cork on another. The dining area is two-tiered, with a slightly raised outer perimeter, and a vertical column that awkwardly bisects the middle of the room.

The menu naturally runs toward beef: there are various cuts of wet aged beef, such as rump, sirloin and ribeye, in various sizes and with a choice of 6 or 7 sauces. Then there are the grill selections, such as free range baby chicken, calamari, Atlantic salmon, ribs, and ostrich. There’s an eclectic range of starters such as chicken livers, mussels, and duck spring rolls, and the dessert selection is rather extensive, including tiramisu, creme brûlée (standard and berry versions), and a layered puff pastry with fresh berries and cream.

I decided to go against the grain and order beef korma, which was not the usual thing to do at a steakhouse. I should have trusted my instincts, because I ended up with a dish that was much closer to spicy beef stew than actual curry. It was tasty and tender, but definitely not korma. My companion got a burger that was cooked medium rare as requested, but it hardly had any flavor to it. Luckily the mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and onions helped to make up for the lack of taste. The side of onion rings was tiny and barely warm.

All in, it’s not a bad place, and if you don’t like the food there’s always the huge wine, beer and liquor selection to console yourself with. I could see myself coming here with a large group or for a special occasion such as a birthday party. You can also buy meat from the butchery to take away and cook at home.