of Lane Cove
With the Autumn Harmony festival taking place in Lane Cove this month, TVO spoke with a range of cafes and restaurants around the Village to showcase the diversity of food and the cultural connections that local business owners have to countries from around the world. Written and compiled by Shannen McDonald.
focus their attention on their loyal customers, offering the best service, and of course the best coffee. Their gourmet food section offers fresh salads, wraps, sandwiches and baguettes. Whether it’s that first thing in the morning caffeine hit, or a last minute late lunch, Café Zivelli has Lane Cove locals sorted.
Birdwood Cafe A commitment to making the finest coffee in the area has made this laneway café a welcome addition to the food and coffee scene in Lane Cove. Opening its doors not even a year ago, Birdwood Café has quickly made its mark and although the fine scents of roasting coffee might be what draws you in, their brunch menu is sure to keep you hanging around. Menu items are inspired from France (Croque Monsieur); England (baked beans); Italy (4 way mushrooms); Israel (hummus and smashed pumpkin); Australia (smashed avocado); Brazil (acai bowl); United States (eggs benedict); their signature bircher muesli (Switzerland); and much more! Favourites from across the globe make up this diverse and multicultural menu, and Birdwood Cafe prides itself on delivering healthy food and great service with a big smile.
Café Zivelli Offering gourmet food, a satisfying brunch menu and exceptional coffee, it’s no wonder that Café Zivelli is a bustling hub, particularly in the mornings. Owned by husband and wife Marla and Steve, Café Zivelli has been a popular meeting spot for locals for the past 13 years. Situated just off the Lane Cove Market Square, this cafe isn’t worried about keeping up with any hipster trends that you might find elsewhere in Sydney. Instead they’ve opted to 8 I THE VILLAGE OBSERVER I NO. 271 I MARCH 2018
Curry Lane Curry Lane is the real deal when it comes to Northern Indian cuisine. Serving up authentic curries since 1996, this Lane Cove institution is now operated by Harsh Patel, along with his wife and daughter, who took over the restaurant from Harsh’s father. Curry Lane really does have a passion for creating and sharing all the flavours that make Northern Indian cuisine a true culture experience. Chef Kedra Bhatt has been with the business since the day it opened, and prepares everything on site, making sure not to use any premade ingredients. Their homemade curry has become one that people can’t live without. The restaurant has many regular customers and those that move away from the area, even as far as Newcastle, still make sure to stop by whenever they can. The Patel family value their regular customers, so much so that parts of their menu have remained at the same price for the last 15 years.
Encasa Encasa is a name that reflects how the owners want their customers to feel - at home! Bringing all the flavours of traditional Spanish cuisine to Lane Cove, Encasa’s passion is to make sure that everyone has the best and most authentic experience of Spanish culture. A place where you can bring your entire family, there is plenty on the menu to select from including popular Spanish dishes of paella, tapas and boccadillos, and you haven’t really eaten potatoes until you try their Patatas Bravas! Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Spanish dining experience without a Sangria or two, which you can sip while you enjoy the great atmosphere that is Encasa. An extensive selection of Spanish wines is also on offer. You can also take a little bit of everyday Spanish life home with you, with a selection of popular deli and pantry items.
Fourth Fish Fourth Fish opened its doors two years ago right in the heart of Lane Cove, with the aim of offering locals’ quality seafood that was great value for money. Owner Li wanted to create a place that was more than just a fish and chips takeaway shop, yet somewhere that was relaxed and welcoming to everyone. With a passion for sourcing the freshest of ingredients, the Fourth Fish makes eating healthily a very enjoyable experience. With seafood classics like beer battered fish and chips, there are also four new seafood creations offered each month to give diners plenty of reason to return time after time. The seaside inspired décor - featuring Li’s love for rustic antiques - along with the friendly local staff, makes this a great place to enjoy a bite.
