Observer Hotel, The The Rocks, Sydney

User Reviews of The Observer Hotel, The Rocks

Displaying: 1 - 10 of 24 reviews

4.8 Average

Food 5 Drinks 5 Ambience 2 Service 6 Value 6

The location and interior designs shout homely pub, and the drinks aren't overly bad. But the clientele can get pretty rowdy on a weekend night.

Oct 24, 2011

kololee
'http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=659146797'
202

5.4 Average

Food 5 Drinks 7 Ambience 5 Service 7 Value 3

The food was way overpriced and the kitchen staff is a little too pushy to sell his steaks.

Jun 25, 2011

moakley
'Aids'
3

10 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Drinks 10 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 10

Discovered this place on a lost weekend, down from the coast. The food was excellent and plentiful. The staff made sure my husband and i were looked after all afternoon. The young girl behind the bar was really great. Funny and pleasant. Oh yeah and they have live music. I will be back.

May 17, 2011

Absolutely Sweet Marie
1

6 Average

Food 7 Drinks 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 2

We stumbled on the Observer by mistake, we were hungry so thought we would give their food a go. They serve simple meals, anyone expecting restaurant quality will be disappointed. We had the chicken caesar salad, burger and fish and chips. Nice but nothing extraordinary. However, we were very disappointed with the prices charged. I realise this is a tourist spot but they should be mindful that locals visit the Rocks too and will avoid places like these if the prices do not reflect what is served (both food and drink).

Feb 22, 2011

ivy34
14

2.5 Not Recommended

Food 2 Ambience 4 Service 3 Value 1

I had lunch here with friends on a Wednesday. I have gone for a drink here previously and I like the courtyard area. I first had a look at their menu online as I wanted to make sure they did steaks, as that is what most wanted. They mention 2 steaks for $20 which is reasonable. When we got there, the price was actually $27! I think that is rather expensive for pub food and not to mention very poor and cheeky that there is such a difference between what is on the website and what you are charged when you get there.

A couple of people had the steaks, which were cooked slightly more than requested. I had a steak sandwich, which was served on a hamburger bun… why? Another had a tandoori chicken salad that looked rather nice. I will go back for a drink but I won’t be eating here again.

Dec 09, 2010

Kels bells
46

9.4 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Drinks 9 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 9

Lots of character and charm. Good selection of beer and the food is great. I'll definitely be back.

Aug 03, 2010

Henry Porter
2

6.2 Average

Food 6 Drinks 6 Ambience 5 Service 8 Value 6

We found the Observer Hotel as it is right next to the Holiday Inn, where we are staying. Unfortunately, there's nothing here to compel us to return. The pub is quite a standard one, but in a very good location. Inside, it's dark and somewhat musty. There is not too much space and the spaces available aren't exactly welcoming, the old decor seems to make the pub a bit of a relic.

There is, however, a back beer garden which is nice enough, it's tucked away from the bustle of The Rocks and makes for a good, relaxed environment to sit down for some beers.

The beers available are pretty standard, there's a selection of Australian and European beers, with a good few variants of wine. Prices were a little steep for the dingy ambience, however, there is nothing special about the products on offer or the location to warrant $9 for a pint of local beer.

The service, however, was very friendly, the staff seemed to know everyone by name, but made us and all the other new customers feel very welcome. Watching Gavin, the manager, dance around and swap crude jokes as he poured Guinness was a highlight of sitting at the bar. The girls working for him were attentive and pleasant.

Unfortunately, the service wasn't enough to make us want to return as there is nothing else the Observer offers. There is a sense about the place that it probably has been this way for the last decade and will remain like so for at least another.

Jul 24, 2010

gowellaust
2

5.6 Average

Food 6 Drinks 6 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 6

You don't go to a pub expecting great ambience or special service, but the food here is pretty good. A tad steeper cost wise than your average pub meal, but the portion sizes are quite large. My partner and I enjoy sitting outside in the side lane. Good for a quick, easy meal if you're having a day out in the rocks.

Apr 05, 2010

foodiefiona
33

5.8 Average

Food 7 Drinks 7 Ambience 4 Service 4 Value 7

As good a pub as any. Although disappointed they were not cooking the specials last time I was in, the Thai Chicken Salad was really good. Not a pub you go for atmosphere but the service and food are of a satisfactory level.

Oct 07, 2008

bernie_eliza
6

5.4 Average

Food 7 Drinks 7 Ambience 2 Service 7 Value 4

Good pub but can be very rough. Have been here 3 or 4 times now, good to escape the crowd but always too many drunk people, drunks aren't kicked out early enough. Will not be returning.

Mar 03, 2008