TOOTS fancied a night out at the flickers but she had to be fed first.

I said I'd treat her to a slap up meal and suggested she book a table for two at the restaurant of her choice.

No expense spared for the light of my life.

Before I had the chance to change my mind she had booked us into seafood place Gamba which she said was one of the best in the city.

I told her I'd pick her up in the suburbs at 6pm but timekeeping has never been Toots' strong suit so I drew up in the Buick at quarter past.

Fifteen minutes later she tottered out in high heels and warned me that we'd better get parked nearby because she wouldn't be able to walk far. Who buys shoes you can't walk in?

It was worth the wait - Toots looked a million dollars - so I nodded obediently and revved up the Buick in the direction of the city centre.

I found a parking lot near Gamba and The Moll looked pleased.

We walked into the restaurant and I cased the joint, which was quite busy for a week night.

The low ceilings, dim lights and murmured conversations made for a pleasant ambiance.

A waiter and a waitress were on duty and both were charming as we were shown to a table in the corner.

Her ladyship was quick to select the 'market menu' and was already choosing the dishes she thought I should have before I had taken off my trilby. There was no time for a scran scan.

Toots had been to Gamba once before and that appeared to make her an expert.

It was a cold night and I needed some warming soup so I went for something with a kick.

The Fish soup with crabmeat, stem ginger, and coriander ticked all the boxes and went down well with a side of soda bread.

Toots went for a beautifully presented prawn and brown shrimp cocktail with chilli jam.

"It tastes as good as it looks," she said, offering me a forkful.

Award-winning executive chef and owner Derek Marshall once worked at the famed Rogano.

He opened Gamba in 1998 and some argue the food has now surpassed his former employers' place.

Toots had already given the restaurant her seal of approval and I was already onside after tasting two of the starters.

The mains followed minutes later which suited The Moll who had said she was famished before we even arrived.

Her crisp fried Sea bream with prawn, red pepper, mango salad was placed on the table along with a side of hand-cut rooster chips and mayo dip.

Toots admitted her eyes are bigger than her belly before silence descended when she got started on the feast.

I then took my first taste of my choice: roast Shetland cod with smoked haddock, lentil, banana curry and fragrant rice.

It was nothing short of sensational - the perfectly cooked fish and sweet curry a special combination.

The Moll and I were full but with a three-course set menu it would be foolish to call for the cheque without at least trying a dessert.

Toots waited for me to choose and then opted for a different sweet so that she could try both.

She beamed as the waitress brought out soft chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, as well as the warm cherry and coconut bakewell with coconut ice cream.

The chocolate cake was light as a feather because the chef used egg white instead of flour, a decision endorsed by Toots who was keen to have a taste and leave room for some tart.

We took turns at trying each dessert until we polished off the lot.

I was clock watching because the movie was due to start in fifteen minutes and Toots' heels were bound to hold her up.

I paid the tab and took off with The Moll tottering behind.

We made it to the movies with a couple of minutes to spare and agreed that this joint was a Gamba that paid off.