Pickled Poet 368-370 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul, New South Wales 2515

"Of all the small, niche places to eat in Thirroul, (of which there are many), this place is one of my new favourites! It's a little on the pricey side, but the portions are quite generously sized, and if you're feeling particularly peckish, you won't regret getting a side of fresh foccacia with salt and melted butter to add to your taste. Devine. I absolutely demolished the creamy artichoke pasta, and the elderflower mocktail is delightfully fresh and summery. Their deli sandwiches with a side of pickles and crisps are also delicious and very filling. They do provide at least one gluten-free option on the menu. (Most items cannot be gf substituted, though. Many of the items also contain dairy). One interesting thing to note: they don't do their own coffee or tea. But they will fetch you one from the Cafe next door for an extra 50c, or you can run in there yourself and grab a takeaway cup while you're waiting for your meal. They also have a selection of artisanal hot sauces, chocolates, and yes, pickles on display that you can purchase. I particularly enjoy their range of dark chocolate. Staff are friendly and very well-versed about the specifics of their seasonal menu. Five stars for this lovely little place! Accessibility notes: They have a single step at the entrance, approximately 3-4cm high. The door is single pane only. And the corridor at the back to the outdoor seating area is somewhat narrow. (A standard manual wheelchair and less bulky power wheelchairs would fit through, I imagine). There is an accessible bathroom with a ramp and grab rails at the back of the outdoor area."

"We are very lucky to have Pickled Poet in Thirroul. They always the best fresh food full of homemade deliciousness, and a great wine list. Also dog friendly. I wish I could lunch here everyday."

"This is a gentle restaurant offering a variety of pickled foods, try the eggplant and wonderful sardines. A strange combination but it works. Cured salmon is soft and creamy. A three because The salt levels are high, especially on the hummus with lavish ‘bark’. They also include three wonderful cheeses among the pickles. It’d be better if they separated these with the dried apple and muscatels."