Lox, Stock & Barrel Deli Diner - North Bondi NSW
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| Timing is all it takes to get a table - most popular inner Sydney cafes face this scenario. |
This deli diner is located not far from a junction between Glenayr Avenue and Curlewis Street - in a North Bondi village hub a few blocks away from the touristy strip that is Campbell Parade at Sydney's Bondi Beach. It had been a glorious day near the waters, with the usual crowds, decent surf and pretty colours of the ocean that way. We were looking for a feed, a late lunch. Saturdays can be full of activity in the Bondi Beach area, especially the Farmers Markets at the Bondi Public School grounds - and now all we wanted was to sit down for a meal.
Lox, Stock & Barrel has built its reputation on being a delicatessen and based on this philosophy, they are careful and focused on the organic ingredients they utilise and harness for their culinary creations. Capers, cream cheese, kale, pickled onions, dill creme and smoked salmon are pervasive in each menu offering. There are several options for vegetarians like Fattoush, a mix of spices, nuts, raw veg and herbs, all with a dressing of Tahini, olive oil and lemon. A lovely breakfast item is the Lock & Load, with smoked Lox, hash plus a lime and creme Fraiche dressing.
It definitely adds tot he lifestyle that is real and perceived in a suburb called Bondi.
The deli diner is also seen as reflecting a lifestyle from upper side New York with Jewish inspired briskets...
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| Salmon salad, just right for a summery afternoon. |
Even it was a Saturday arvo, we were quickly shown a table and a baby chair seat for Bubba Alyssa.
It was a communal table but I loved this opportunity to interact with other customers. The wooden tables led to a rustic feel. I savoured the atmosphere, as if I was in a family home, as the kitchen was abuzz with working staff and their counter a stone's throw from where we sat.
The lovely young lady attending to us and with a stand out dress knew how to deal effectively with young kids like Alyssa, putting her face down to the infant's level when speaking to Alyssa with a smile. The coffee was satisfying, a good pick me up for us as we had walked up from the beach. The kitchen supervisor was nice to make an exception to make a special fluffy and yummy omelette for Alyssa. Oh yes, there is also a dedicated kids menu.
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| The action and care inside the transparent kitchen - all hands on deck! |
Sandwiches play a big part in the day time menu. Pastrami, yes. I would also try the creme cheese bagels on a next visit. What about brioche scrolls? Thoughts are so tempting just to have them for breakfast or late afternoon tea here. Loaves to buy home include the ginger, honey and pear versions or those with orange, fig and walnuts.
You have several choices when eating in - poppy seeds and spices, plain, sesame , onion or wholemeal. After making a decision on this, you can combine them with Wagyu corned beef or avocado with rocket, tomato, onion, lemon and cucumber. Many first timers just succumb to the smoked Lox bagel, laden with capers, onion, rocket and cream cheese
The drinks menu provide a variety of Rabbit Hole organic teas and Rebel coffee blends. Its beach suburb location also makes it compulsory for LSB to serve cocktails and beers....
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| The grilled spiced Albacore Tuna on Panini, with cucumber, jalapenos, Miso dressed slaw, bean sprouts and onions. |
Apart from the above, an ancient grain Gronala and Bircher Muesli is of course available.....
For those preferring to check out LSB at night, two mains stand out - the corn fed brick chicken and the Cowra lamb ribs. There are also two main platters to ponder over - one with Aussie grown olives, three daily dips, pickled and fermented vegetables on sourdough with sides of bagel crisps - and another providing smoked trout, beetroot cured trout, egg salad, three dips, chopped liver and olives on your bread of choice with sides of bagel crisps as well.
Dinner dessert has two highlights - the coconut flavoured Panna Cotta and the twice baked chocolate and salted caramel Souffle, garnished by roasted hazelnuts and a Halva Semi Freddo.
For a quick drop by, do try the free range Holmbrae chicken, swirling with egg noodles and root vegetables.
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| The Moked Turkey Breast on toasted Challah - garnished with rocket, cucumber, Swiss, cranberry mustard and onions. |
Tables are placed tightly against one another in a relatively small outlet. Does it seem often having no place to sit down, especially on weekends and public holidays? I suggest take some time to explore the neighbouring shops, unless you are a local resident, in which case , a a takeaway is a good back up plan. Yes, there are only forty seats for meals.
LSB occupies a good location, feels like a village gathering and the ocean is tucked away down the road. I can say goodbye to the kitchen staff as we leave and they enjoy that. There is pavement seating but to me, nothing beats being inside on a really warm day.
So it can be American east coast, Aussie eastern suburbs and with a good culinary reputation based on traditional recipes and a modern outlook. Overall, the ambiance is care free, family friendly, hipster attractive and with an interesting larder variety.
Lox, Stock & Barrel is located at 140 Glenayr Avenue, a few roads inland from Bondi Beach's Campbell Parade.
Opening hours are from 7am to 330pm every day and from Wednesdays to Saturdays for dinner from 6pm to 1030pm.
Contact +61 2 9300 0368
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