A couple of months ago The Aviary opened in Dollar, taking the place of Bridge Street Kitchen. Since its opening, it has gained a sizable love from the community.
Located at the top of Bridge Street, its warm orange glow practically pulls you in.
The Aviary is open from 11am to 11pm, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The restaurant is covered with soft orange lights, candles, and a stunning painted art piece on the right wall.
The entire restaurant gives off a very cosy vibe, that immediately puts you at ease and makes you feel at home.
If the name wasn’t obvious enough, The Aviary is decorated with bird cages and branches hanging from the ceiling, making it unique from other restaurants in the area.
Speaking of the menu, there is a fantastic mix of pub food such as fish and chips, cheeseburgers and mac n’ cheese to restaurant staples such as thai green curry and asian pork belly. And that’s just the a la carte menu!
The breakfast/lunch menu also has a great spread, multiple types of toasted sourdough, toasties, and full breakfasts, also featuring a veggie option.
The menu at first seems daunting, but in reality, compared to many other restaurants, it’s fairly small.
The smaller menu allows all of the dishes to truly shine.
I’ve been to The Aviary multiple times since its opening and every time it gets better. The menu has shifted once since opening, each season adding and subtracting certain dishes.
The change of the menu helps to keep the experience fresh and fun every few months.
What I’ve eaten
The last time I went in, I ordered a Philly cheese steak and some of their hand-cut chips. The wait wasn’t long at all as it wasn’t very busy.
The Philly cheese steak was presented really well, bell peppers and caramelised onions added colour to the dish, and the hand-cut chips were served in a bowl.
Both dishes were fantastic, the steak was cooked to perfection and the veg added both colour and flavour to the dish. The chips were incredibly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Another highlight of The Aviary is its extensive cocktail menu. I’m a man who loves a good, well mixed cocktail and The Avery doesn’t disappoint.
I typically go for a Dark and Stormy and The Aviary always delivers. From bitter to sweet, the alcohol used is great.
The staff also make the experience even better, they are all friendly and approachable. Any questions or issues you may have they immediately come to help with a smile on their faces.
If you want a restaurant that’s full of friendly people, great drinks and incredible food that will have you wanting more. There is no better place than The Aviary.
Featured image credit: The Aviary/Facebook
Second year Film and journalism student
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