Sticky bourbon barbecue pork ribs served with a side of cajun spiced chunky chips, topped coleslaw with onion rings. Photo by Andrew Finch

Slow-cooked lamb shanks in a rich tomato sauce with asparagus spears and char-grilled eggplant on a bed of garlic mash. Photo by Andrew Finch

Cajun-spiced, crispy skinned Atlantic salmon filllet drizzled with citrus hollandaise sauce served with broccolini, carrots and duck-fat roasted potatoes dressed in garlic butter. Photo by Andrew Finch

Pig and Fig Salad…seared, shaved prosciutto with figs, candied walnuts, baked ricotta and pomegranate seeds with a citrus and honey dressing. Photo by Andrew Finch

THE Barker Street scene at the Griffith shops is full of foodie options – fine dining (including Rubicon Restaurant which has always been a fave, although I haven’t been there in yonks), a few cheap and cheerful, and the Gryphons Caffe Bar.

Gryphons is large inside, with a big bar at the front, timber floors and large, north-facing windows at the back, overlooking a decent-sized sundeck and a park – an inviting place during the warmer weather.

It’s no surprise that Gryphons is a hot spot for locals, who can meander down for a bite to eat or a drink or two.

Gryphons has a range of burgers ($20 each), including a fish and veggie option. It also offers a decent range of pizzas, which I’ve heard are pretty tasty (regular and large, from $17 to $25).

The line-up includes a Sunday roast, with lamb, kumara and potato chunks, green peas and mint sauce and jus. Not sure how that works, especially on non-Sundays, but those who love a roast would no doubt see this as a top pick.

We were a group of seven dining at dinner during the week. The steaks on the grill are accompanied by the choice of sauce or mustard ($30 for a 200g eye fillet and $36 for a 350g Scotch fillet). Two of our party dug into the fillets and loved every bite. The meat was tender and the dish a little decadent with beer-battered chips.

Two of us opted for the lamb shanks in a rich tomato sauce and were impressed that Gryphons offers one shank ($23) or two ($28). It’s a smart move and attractive for those who can’t handle (or aren’t in the mood for) two mammoth shanks. The lamb fell off the bone. The asparagus spears didn’t look terribly perky on the plate and my bed of garlic mash wasn’t hot. Still, the flavours were there.

The Atlantic salmon ($28) was tender, but not the medium rare ordered. It was cajun spiced with a citrus hollandaise sauce drizzled on top and came with veggies and garlic butter. It wasn’t a bad dish, but certainly wasn’t memorable.

At Gryphons drinks and food are ordered at the bar. There are 12 domestic and international beers on tap and there’s a nifty wine dispenser offering a glass of premium wine without the need to order a bottle. The places buzzes after work and has a jovial atmosphere. The staff are keen to please.

Gryphons Caffe Bar, Griffith shops. Call 6260 8848. Open seven days, breakfast through dinner.