LOCAL RESTAURANTS: 13 JANUARY 2017

Signs are good for Soldiers on Riddell Bistro’s new look and extended  hours

The Molong RSL Club took a bit of a gamble when it decided to expand its hours and create a fresh menu under new head chef Tristan Cronin, who took over the club’s Soldiers on Riddell Bistro early this month after a couple of years at the helm of the Freemasons Hotel kitchen.

“I guess we really didn’t know how members and guests would respond to the extended hours and the new approach,” said the club’s President Jamie Jones.

"However, so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’re now open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Saturday and for a long lunch on Sundays, and the response has been gratifying.

“We served 80 diners the other night and there has been especially good reaction to the new bar menu.”

Among the lighter dishes are crumbed calamari, salad and fries ($12 members; $14 non-members), pumpkin-and-fetta salad ($7, $8) and crumbed camembert with cranberry sauce ($7, $8).

Burgers with fries range from $7.50 (non-members $9.50) to $11.50 (non-members $13.50).

Examples of main courses are 350g scotch fillet ($31.50, $34), grilled chicken breast ($15.50, $18) and mixed grill ($26, $28.50). All meals come with a choice of vegetables or salad; and a choice of potato, jacket potato, chips or fries.