A true local with a solid following, Gryphons Caffe Bar has held a prime possie on the dining scene at Griffith shops since 2012, writes dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON.
Gryphons Caffe Bar has a beautiful corner position beside Griffith’s Blaxland Park and plenty of outdoor tables, surrounded by greenery.
Although not our first visit, we headed that way on the recommendation of a foodie friend who frequents Gryphons to enjoy a glass of vino and plates from the menu’s bar and snack section.
Our lunch began with a bang. The Peking roast duck pancakes were fabulous, with the meat tender and the shallots and cucumber textural (three for $20). They featured just the right amount of tangy hoisin sauce.
Also from the bar and snack plates section, came amazingly tasty Asian prawn tacos (three for $21). The rice paper taco shells were crispy, the prawns spicy and perfectly grilled, and the bang bang sauce a statement in its own right. To be honest, I could have munched on them all afternoon.
Two of us ordered mains from the Chef’s Specials.
My friend ordered the winning dish of the day, with the generously sized, grilled John Dory fillet lovely and moist ($38). The fish was topped with a lemon butter sauce and vibrant caper herb salad. It was placed on top of roasted Kipfler potatoes, broccolini with a nice bite, and heirloom carrots. All around, the dish was well executed.
Sadly, my grilled lamb souvlaki was a letdown ($32). The marinade on the lamb was a hit, but only some pieces of skewered meat were beautifully pink and tender.
The Greek salad was perky and then there were the chips… I put my hand on my heart and admit I didn’t pay enough attention to the description “tossed with crumbled feta, lemon and oregano” (a Greek take on poutine). The chips were soggy, the dried oregano overpowering and I just left most of the dish alone.
Our last main was a large chicken schnitzel, crunchy on the outside with panko crumbs. The breast fillet was relatively juicy and the gravy decent enough. It arrived with the promised side salad, which was overloaded with thick slices of red onion. Although the menu didn’t specify, the chips were flavoured.
Gryphons Caffe and Bar offers an extensive menu that includes pizzas, burgers, items from the grill, salads as mains, kids meals and breakfast.
The wine list is solid and reasonably priced. Our Marc Brédif Vouvray Classic from France (2023) was $62.
Tips from our visit? It would be a nice touch if Gryphons cleaned up the dead plants alongside the outdoor tables. Staff also need to clear tables more efficiently so diners aren’t uncomfortably surrounded by messy plates.
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