Shady Palms

Shady Palms is an oasis of cool found at the south end of Stones Corner – a rustic character filled bar and cafe in an old weatherboard shop complete with paper lantern festooned laneway and back garden courtyard.

Inside the ambience is century old Queenslander meets western saloon, with VJ walls and ceiling, fringed bordello lamps, stained glass frosted windows, potted palms, deer heads and furniture that mixes industrial and country colonial.

Local legends Bec and Mal of ex-Lady Marmalade fame are the parents of this venture, which takes the southern US flavour of their flagship menu and plunges into the depths of the south and over the border.

Breakfast is served until midday and ranges from the delicious and light like fresh fruit with cereal pannacotta to something midway – Lady M salted cod croquettes with chorizo, smashed peas and mushroom sauce and the substantial such as crispy maple bacon with fried egg, cornbread, tomato, roasted mushrooms and paprika sour cream.

The lunch and dinner menu takes over from midday until late and comprises a host of small dishes designed to share – must-try signature sliders such as pulled pork with kimchi mayo or buttermilk chicken with creamy coleslaw on house brioche buns; salads such as the San Fran of smoked chicken, carrot, tomato with green goddess dressing; or tacos (pulled pork, soft shell crab or beef) with chimi churri, blackbean and corn salsa along with singletons like southern fried chicken with chipotle mayo or beef empanadas.

From the bar expect a decent range of craft beers and boutique wines and luscious mixers like the house specialty the small jug of Pimms for one.

Need to know: Punters can drift between the large barn like open-fronted space out front, a smaller summer house style bar out back, the courtyard or Shady Lane (for smokers) down the side. Drinks and food are ordered from the bars or counters in either space.

There is also lush back yard out back perfect for summer nights and Sunday sessions.

The menu may have changed since our visit.