THE LOCAL LODGE IN LANE COVE

http://www.lodgetapas.com.au/

A LOCAL'S PLACE TO DINE IN THE HEART OF THE COVE

As a kid on Friday nights our parents would take us up to the "Plaza" and order take-away fish and chips while we ran riot mingling with other kids from other schools, screeching Lorikeets settling down for the night, the smells of the chips.... It was a fun time (there is something about dawn and dusk that makes kids go mental).. there was a certain freedom. The weekend was here! That was Lane Cove to me in a nutshell... Children having the time of their lives and takeaway.

Fast forward to today... yep, still kids running wild and having the time of their lives. The Fish and Chip shop is now a popular Chicken Shop and the lorikeets still cause a racket at dusk.

Now, I sit in a nice restaurant and survey the scene. I sit with my best friend from over 20 years... who's children now go to my old primary school and have run riot all over the plaza on many an occasion. Tonight however, we are child free :)

I am a local of Lane Cove, I grew up here and have seen it transform over the years. It's expensive to live on the Lower North Shore now and living here is in demand with direct links to the city, beautiful views and Leafy streets. We have it all, a great pub, a local pool, 2 main supermarkets and a Thomas Dux....so it was only a matter of time when restaurants and cafes in the area would step it up a notch.

The Lodge is one of these. I worked at the cafe opposite for a least a year when The Lodge opened and I thought... "Woah... expensive prices!!!".... "They will never be successful! No one will pay that much..."  "It's a little bit Lower North Shore Snob!".....Turns out I was wrong. It's all relative and it isn't too expensive because it is good food and great service. You always get a smile from the staff there.

I had the below dishes, we had nice wine, good conversation and the food was delicious. Again, ambience is key and it's nice to have somewhere to go and dine in the Plaza that is up with current trends. Tapas is all the rage these days... sharing small tasty morsels whilst downing wine. It's a casual place and the Plaza sounds swirl around you as The Lodge is very open with outdoor seating and in. The music is funky (Chillout sessions anyone?) and the de-core cool and trendy. I dine here at lunch sometimes and order a great Gluten Free pizza you wouldn't even know is gluten free.

The best thing about it is I didn't have to get a bus or taxi there or cross the bridge and I know it's food is consistent and good each time I dine. It's a good local keeping Lane Cove in the game. Keeping up with trends.

Croquettes with Potato, Onion, Leek & Red Capsicum Served with Chilli Mayo

Grilled Stuffed Whole Baby Calamari with Chorizo,Fetta, Garlic, Breadcrumbs & Lemon Zest Braised In Red Wine & Tomato Sugo