Good family dinner. Nothing pretentious, nothing elaborate and nothing fancy yet everything you would want on a Monday evening. Furthermore, Monday night is trivia night at the Riversdale Hotel Bistro!
We were welcomed by a room of people ranging from young families to small groups of friends to elderly couples. Definitely a local hang out for the Aussies who's parents and grandparents grew up in the area. Anyway, on to the food.
The menu was extensive enough without being overwhelming. It featured interesting sounding entrées, key steaks, classic meat dishes, pastas and a wide range of desserts and wines.
We aren't big wine drinkers but the menu looked extensive enough to find something to take a liking to.
There were six of us; two ordered the lamb shank, while the rest us ordered the calamari entrée, chicken risotto, fish and chips and bacon and lamb. Everyone thought theirs was the best - always a good sign!
My lamb shank was quite delicious, although the sweet potato came out as sweet potato crisps instead of what I thought would be sweet potato (hot) chips. Other than that it was a generous sized portion and the mash was silky smooth. I give my meal a 7/10, so does my father who ordered the same thing. Visually, everything looked appetising and cooked with care and deliberation. The risotto was
huge.
Calamari
Dessert was the highlight. However, it was strange that everything on the dessert menu came with two of the same dessert on the plate. Great value but something you must keep in mind or you'll be stuffed to say the least by the end of it. I had a pavlova. It is a generous serving even if you have just one. it is the perfect way to end a heavy meal. Others on my table had the sticky date pudding, which they said was also fabulous (
not the best sticky date they'd ever had but nevertheless divine).
Pavlova
Sticky Date Pudding
Service was on the reserved side but every time we needed something there'd be someone there in a timely fashion. Only once did we have to go and fill up our water jugs ourselves. The waitresses were polite and friendly.
What about the trivia?"you might ask. We didn't take part but about half the bistro did and they seemed to be having a great time! The MC was engaging and encouraging.
Overall a relaxed night with more than decent food and a lively atmosphere. 6.5/10 from me.
Notes:
- seniors menu available
- not many vegetarian options
- kid friendly
