Canberra needs good bars. Thankfully we have Shorty’s.
Situated in the heart of the city’s most exciting dining precinct, Shorty’s is the perfect place to drop in no matter what your mood. Not just a great place for a well-earned beer or glass of wine, Shorty’s is just what you need for a quick and delicious lunch or to settle in for the evening for dinner and drinks with friends.
Sitting out on the balcony under a clear, blue Canberra sky is a great place to both take in the delights of the Shorty’s menu while still feeling a part of the ebb-and-flow of Canberrans as they walk on by. Armed with a couple of selections from the excellent drinks list, OutInCanberra worked through a couple of the delicious options available.
To put it simply, the burgers are awesome. A lot of places try to overdo the American classic, but Shorty’s recognises that all you really need is quality and freshness. On the Shorty’s Beef Burger, it’s the simple combination of a brilliant beef patty with fresh lettuce and tomato and a zingy tomato relish that sits so easily within the soft, sweet brioche. Oh, and a slice of whiskey-cured bacon doesn’t go astray, either!
The Chicken Burger takes the same principles – and a lot of the same ingredients, but adds a slice of cheese and swaps relish for chipotle mayo. The chicken is fried in the classic southern style which adds a brilliant ‘crunch’ as well as a depth of flavour not found in grilled chicken breast.
Both burgers are served with crinkle-cut chips and aioli. According to the wait-staff, the seasoning on the chips is something of a secret recipe, but we certainly detected a distinct hit of paprika that provides an earthy spice.
It wouldn’t be a proper bar without a Chicken ‘Schnitter’ and, at Shorty’s, the version of the counter-meal favourite is served with a pepper sauce, fresh salad and those oh-so-delicious chips. For those looking for a gentler flavour you can choose the mushroom sauce instead.
For dessert, the Golden Gaytime is a take on Chinese fried ice-cream which brings forth all the flavours of the childhood classic. You can’t help but smile when the plate lands on the table – complete as it is with a paddle-pop stick. Honeycomb and caramel is served on the side to complete the picture, but not for long. The whole arrangement disappeared from our plate in a matter of minutes.
There are plenty of specials as well, such as the $15.00 Schnitzel or Parmigiana on Tuesdays. Served with a house beer, wine or soft drink, they have been a massive hit. Who are we to argue with success? It makes for an easy and cheap mid-week meal.
These are the bar classics that remind us of road trips and summer holidays, however Shorty’s menu offers plenty more including a fantastic range of salads, a 400g T-Bone and even some Thai-style BBQ Chicken. More than enough to keep everyone happy when you dash in for a meal during lunch-break.
