FITZY’S LAKESIDE, South Lake

by JENNY D’ANGER:

I had reservations (not the booking sort) about dinner at Fitzy’s Lakeside, in the South Lake Tavern but hey, it was a family birthday, and it can’t all be fine dining all the time.

But from the minute the D’Anger duo walked in the atmosphere and welcome was as bright and warm as the decor and ambience.

Heading up a team of keen young waiters the man in charge made us feel we had wandered into the living room of a benevolent uncle.

Lucky for us we did have a booking as the restaurant was full—the locals have clearly cottoned on to the place—and the Friday just gone around 40 were turned away, he told us.

As we’d arrived with gifts he rumbled onto our special occasion and by dessert the solo guitarist/singer was embarrassing sister-in-law Sally with a great variation on Happy Birthday, much to the amusement of the rest of us.

Fitzy’s food is basic pub food but it’s done well, and we couldn’t fault the service.

The D’Angers went for fish and chips ($21.50). The fillet of fish was generous, firm but tender, tasty and the batter light and crisp, as were the chips and the salad.

Sally ordered an entree serve of garlic prawns ($15.50), which came in a creamy sauce and disappeared rapidly.

My meat-eating brother has a bit of a thing about mediaeval history and couldn’t go past the lamb shanks ($29.50), a massive serve of tender lamb on the bone that Henry VIII wouldn’t have scorned.

The youngest member of the gang Mitchell had the best of both worlds with the horn and prawn ($32.50).

He asked for and received his steak rare. Prawns and meat were tender and the serve so large he asked for a doggy-bag. No mean feat besting a young man’s appetite.

It must be true about a second “sweets” stomach because no-one said no to dessert.

The chocolate, apple and rhubarb and the sticky date puddings ($9) were standard pub fare but the honey bee ($9.50) was something new. Rich chocolate covered a delicious honey flavoured ice-cream, with an ice-cream bee sitting prettily on top.

Fine dining it may not be, but enjoyable family fare Fitzy’s certainly was.

Fitzy’s Lakeside | 9417 4811
758 Berrigan Drive, South Lake
Open 7 days for lunch and dinner