LAMBTON Park Hotel has a rich history in the suburb that dates back almost 140 years.
For the majority of its lifetime, the pub was known as the Exchange Hotel before it underwent a name change about 30 years ago.
Take a look around inside the venue and you'll still spot little glimpses into the hotel's past (the "EH" tile work on the floor is one of them).
These days, the name celebrates its position across the road from Lambton Park. The pub's outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to soak up the view of the park, enjoy a beer and play a game of pool.
The hotel underwent renovations a few years ago, with the owners sprucing up the bar and dining areas, including a room known as the Parlour which is a funky spot with its pink neon signage and colourful tropical wall mural recently painted by local artist Clare McLennan.
Head chef Michael Pacey, who has worked in pub kitchens all over Newcastle, launches the hotel's new summer menu on Monday, offering pub favourites and modern Australian mains that are a step up from the standard pub feed.
"We want to offer upscale pub food, not just stick something on a plate. Our food looks nice on the plate, and more importantly, tastes great as well," Pacey says.
"We still do all the classics, but give them a bit of a tweak.
"The dish I would recommend is the crispy skin salmon which we serve with roasted herb chat potatoes, asparagus spears, almond flakes and chive butter sauce. The homemade cornbread is always popular, as well as the pork belly bites and three-cheese arancini."
The menu offers starters, burgers, pub classics, mains, burgers, a grill section, and desserts.
Don't overlook the salads on the menu either - they're filling, full of texture and flavour, and won't leave you reaching for leftover chips to fill up on.
Try the fried halloumi and caramelised walnut salad with rocket, poppy seeds, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Spanish onion, fried shallots and honey balsamic dressing ($20) or the Asian-style pork belly salad with rocket, spinach, crunchy vegetables, bean sprouts, noodles and soy dressing ($22).
There is a daily specials board near the bar - check it out before ordering.
Sunday is all about seafood, with an abundance of fresh seafood rotating on the specials board, including generous hot and cold platters filled with squid, fish, oysters, prawns and more.
Sunday's also the best day to head in with the kids, with free kids meals available all day with any main meal purchase.
The kitchen runs specials each day.
Vegan takeover is Mondays which is 100 per cent vegan with offerings such as burgers and salads. "There was a demand in the community for vegetarian and vegan dishes," Pacey says. "We rotate the menu each week."
On Tuesdays, chicken schnitzels are $15 and toppers $3 each.
Wednesday is steak night with $15 rumps served with chips, salad and sauce.
Burgers are all $15 on Thursdays (fried halloumi burger; buttermilk fried chicken burger; sticky spiced pork belly burger; cheeseburger; slow cooked brisket sambo). For a mid-week pub lunch, try one of the $15 meals available from Monday to Friday between noon and 3pm.
There is cocktail happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays with all cocktails on tap available for $10 between 7pm and 9pm, and live music every Saturday night.
The details
- 19a Morehead Street, Lambton. 4956 1376. lambtonparkhotel.com.au
- Food: Kitchen open seven days for lunch from 12pm, dinner from 6pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and from 5pm on Friday and Saturday. Kids meals all $11, including an ice cream.
- Tip: Grilled chicken breast topped with bacon, avocado, and creamy garlic sauce with sweet potato mash and broccolini ($29).
- Drinks: 19 beers on tap, including craft beers from 4 Pines, Balter, Young Henrys and Pirate Life. "Beer of the month" for $6 ($5 on Sundays). Growler refills available for takeaway. Espresso martinis and margaritas on tap.
