As dining out goes, 4pm is a rather random time to eat, but the idea we'd be eating alone was clearly a silly one.
I'd heard good things about La Casa Restaurant and Bar, but perhaps wasn't quite prepared for just how popular it is.
One of a number of restaurants at the Astley Point development, at the side of the East Lancs Road, in Astley, Wigan, it opened towards the end of 2019 and has quickly become a favourite among locals and those further afield.
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And it's become quite a hit with celebs too, welcoming the likes of Usain Bolt, female footballers Stephanie Houghton, Ellen White and Tyldesley's Ella Toone, the England rugby team and more recently Love Island couples Molly Smith and Callum Jones, and Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague.
There's a bustling atmosphere as soon as we enter the place, with a large party finishing off their afternoon celebration and another on the way, but there's a choice of seating so we pick a booth near the front window.
From wherever you sit there's a clear view of the open kitchen - always a reassurance to have nothing hidden from view - and the chefs are pretty much non stop, despite the fact we're not yet into evening service.
Judging by the number of staff present, they're expecting it to get much busier very soon, with the manager walking around keeping a close eye on tables to ensure nothing is amiss.
There's no wait for menus and within minutes our drinks order is taken. I hadn't actually looked at the drinks menu when I decided to order a glass of prosecco, but had I seen the £7 charge beforehand I would have expected a larger glass than the 125ml one that arrived. I did get a strawberry with it, but still, that's less than half a can of Coke!
I know eating out is always more expensive, but when you'd typically spend that on a bottle of the stuff, it's a bitter pill to swallow - especially when a pint of beer costs £5.80. Not that that's a price worth celebrating either.
Yet swallow it I did, in about three sips, and I didn't get another.
Food wise and prices are what you'd typically expect from a higher end Italian restaurant.
The kids kept it simple with spaghetti bolognese, £13.90, and a perfectly cooked Margherita pizza, £11, demolishing the lot.
My Penne Della Casa, at £15.50, was as delicious as it looks - pasta tubes with fillet steak and goats cheese in a chilli, garlic tomato sauce, with a touch of cream.
The other half went bigger with steak - opting for the 8oz fillet which came with vegetables and roasted potatoes. It was a hefty £28.50, with an extra £1.50 for the peppercorn sauce, but his face as he was eating it told me it was worth every penny.
It's the same face we pulled once the desserts had arrived. At £7.50 a pop, we got just two to share between us - the creme brulee and the Lotus Biscoff cheesecake. It's not easy sharing desserts when they're this good.
The restaurant itself is light and airy and if the lively atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon is anything to go by, I imagine by Saturday night it's bouncing.
In fact there was too much light at one point when the sun was glaring through the window into our eyes.
That didn't go unnoticed though and the poor waiter had to jump up at the side of the booths and shimmy along on his bottom to reach the various blind cords.
Those Love Island couples might be used to having a derriere or two in their face, but my daughter didn't know where to put herself as his buttock brushed past her head.
I know things are tight in the hospitality industry right now, but for goodness sake, get the man a stick.
At least that would be seven quid well spent!
