Slay for the 5 o'clock cocktail! the trouble I had to go to find somewhere to drink and eat at 5pm in Lane Cove on the way home from work. Here at Shorties Bar & Dining, after the strike outs elsewhere, it was 3rd time lucky.
Shorties is the perfect place to relax. From the moment you enter the Longueville Road bar you are welcomed and made to feel at home in the relaxed atmosphere of warm wood and wine bottles. Choose from high or low tables. And who doesn't love a booth. Nothing is challenging, everything is easy, from the prompt friendly service to the intimate setting, through a tight cocktail list that hits the right notes. Shorties delivers the true definition of neighbourhood.
North shore locals would know co-owner Phil Jensen from Crows Nest Small Bar and SBK (SmallBar Kitchen). There's nothing quite like putting you trust in an experienced local who you know will look after you.
Cocktails are a great place to start at Shorties. House cocktails show understanding of the craft with restraint while being modern and most enjoyable. For gin lovers we recommend the Santiago ($21) Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, Chambord, lime, and, Calypso ($19) with rhubarb and passionfruit liqueurs for tequila drinkers. Added to that, Australian and international wines by the glass and bottle from a well-chosen list are deliciously well priced. Beers and ciders, with a long list of tinnies, fill any gaps.
There are enough choices in the seasonal food at Shorties to compliment libations or to make the venue a dinner date night outing in itself. We noticed that without intention we chose all vegetarian dishes which are tasty and prettily plated, though like home on the conservative north shore not in any way confronting. We enjoyed Chargrilled eggplant, potato, buttermilk onions, beetroot puree, parsley oil ($16) from the Smalls menu as an entree, and house made Wild mushroom gnocchi, truffle, spinach, citrus, toasted hazelnuts ($32) from the Bigs. While there are plenty of vegetarian and fish options, meat only makes an appearance on those big plates. It is a really lovely thoughtful menu for the local area.
On a Sunday, Shorties offers roast with all the trimmings from 2pm, and live music from 4pm.
