Lido Cafe & Bar, Belconnen ACT

Lido Cafe & Bar

Food: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5

Since my days as a Uni student, Lido still exists as the one cafe in the Belconnen Mall that has stood the test of time. It claims to be an Italian Restaurant, but my judgement consists of modern Australiancuisine with an Asian influence. What more could I ask for....?

Food establishments have come and gone over the last decade or so, and Lido still remains as I remember it.

The mall itself has been through some changes and extensions recently, with the addition of a second Food Court on Level 2. Yet even with this temptation, Lido Cafe is the place to eat if you want great value for money and fantastic, fresh meals in a relaxed environment, away from the bustling food courts.

Specials Board...literally.

Digital menu display.

 Skinny cappucino in a mug  $3.90

Penne Cajun Chicken - Chicken strips, sundried tomato, capsicum and onion mixed in Cajun cream, topped with shallots and Parmesan cheese  $18.90

Cajun Calamari Salad - Calamari dusted in Cajun spices (it wasn't dusted...it was battered) through a garden salad with a drizzle of lemon-sweet chilli dressing  $17.90

Grilled Chicken Salad  - Grilled chicken pieces served on a garden salad with honey and seeded mustard dressing  $17.90

Service area.

 Notice the origami?

Culinary Comments: Best Of 2011

My fav's from 2011.....

1. Pulp Kitchen, Ainslie ACT

2. Pier One Bar & Grill, Merimbula NSW

3. Wheeler's Oyster Farm & Restaurant, Merimbula NSW



4. Turkish Halal Pide House, Yarralumla ACT

5. Cafe Evolve, Bega NSW

What were some of your favourite dining establishments during 2011?

Merimbula Lakeview Hotel, NSW: A Pictorial

Lakeview, Merimbula

http://www.merimbulalakeview.com.au/

Food: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5

A pictorial of my second visit.

Bread: Tom Yum butter topped with cheese  $5.50

For two small pieces of bread?!?! It was lucky that we had ordered to servings of bread as starters.

Garlic and Parsely Bread  $4.40.

Three pieces of bread, cheaper than the Tom Yum Butter bread. I don't understand it.....

Oyster Shot - cranberry juice, chambord and lime  $3.80

The oyster was plump, lucsious and fresh but unfortunately was overpowered by the cordial-like cranberry juice.

Great presentation though...

Spicy Curry Beef  $10 Lunch Special

We found out why it was on special.....for $10 you got lack of presentation and flavour. The excess oil was not a good look either.

Spicy Salt & Pepper Squid with Salad  $24.20

Definitely the dish of the day. Large portion of calamari and decent presentation.

Linguine with Roasted Tomato, Chilli, Garlic and Parmesan  $17.00

Well presented as a large serve, however lacked flavour.

 Linguine with Prawn, Goat's Cheese, Sage, Burnt Butter, Chilli and Shaved Parmesan $29.70

There was certainly a pattern forming...this dish also lacked in flavour, yet the prawns were nice and fresh.

The great view certainly adds to the atmosphere...



 

Cafe Evolve, Bega NSW (Second Visit)

Cafe Evolve

http://www.cafeevolve.com/

Food: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Service: 3/5

This establishment is probably the better cafe in Bega, offering the freshest food, a varied menu, and in my opinion, the best coffee in town. Since my last visit in October, the service and atmosphere has improved slightly - maybe due to the new large shopping complex having been opened around the corner recently?

(I have included four different photos of the coffee. I'm thinking about entering one of them in a photography competition, so it would be greatly appreciated if you could let me know which is your favorite by commenting on this blog entry).

 Breakfast Menu.

 A long cafe, not so wide.

 View onto the main street.

 Flat white (auto shot).

 Skinny flat white (gentle sepia).

 Skinny flat white (pinhole).

 Skinny flat white (grainy).

 Eggs Benedict with extra salmon and mushrooms.

 Fried Egg on Toast served with spinach and mushrooms.

Eggs Benedict - this was delicious, however if it could be improved if served on softer bread.