diceslider

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  4     

I've been several times to the Eveleigh Markets on a Saturday morning and encountered stalls of food and lots of bustle, but on a Thursday night the proposition of dining at the Carraigeworks entering into a vast empty industrial space reminds me of a 'Mad Max' film set.

We peek through the windows and see a glamour inside, a couple of other patrons ask if this is John and Peter Canteen and point our fingers forth. It's such a strange place for a restaurant. I remind my partner this was once a pop-up restaurant and now here to stay, and we entered in to a warm welcome.

I can't help but think that Stanley Kubrick designed the setting for this venue, it's all white, wildly open but with outdoor gas heaters minding your back on the outskirts. In the kinda banquettes we sat awaiting menus and even though this was a quieter night, the service was instantly attentive, mildly wanky but worth your time and theirs.

I hated looking at their menu online as it was all in Italian and begged a half hour of Googling to find out more info, but thankfully in the realms of the Canteen it was in English. The wine list here is an adventure; it's mostly from Italy and for the majority, was blends and styles we'd never heard of. This was a problem for our waiter, as efficient and stylish as he was, he didn't convince us of trying to compare it to styles we knew of. In any case, we started with a Prosecco and a mild white. Then went for a Griglonolino which was aromatic but nice enough, not as heavy as the usual Aussie reds but worth a shout.

But the food. We started with the meat antipasti entree (which isn't on their online menu to view, so many of those options aren't there which is a surprise as is much as disappointment; I really wanted to try the Asparagus with Cheese and Pepper), and also not on the online menu, the Tagliatelle with Braised Rabbit. The Rabbit was awesome, so unctuous and scoffable, but the meat plate was fairly average, mainly as it was a scant few meats thrown on a plate with some house made grissini. Serviceable but plain.

The wine was going down a treat as the Pork Belly and Veal Shin arrived. The Pork Belly, which is fairly hard to fu*k up was cracklingly brilliant but the Witlof side was atrocious. Maybe I'm not a fan of witlof (or raddichio) but it was limp, steamed or maybe grilled but when served with a lovely chunk of pork belly, dry, was to me lazy.

The veal shin was so tender, but all the juices just didn't seem to burst with any flavour.

It's a wayward yet glamorous event dining here. You know you are in the inner inner suburbs of Sydney yet feel so far away. It still feels like a semi pop up restaurant however with a $200 price tag for our two hours here on a Thursday night seemed a slight stretch too far. I read on a previous review that the chef likes only three fluid strokes to bring his food to a plate, I think for these prices (given the venue wins for visuals) he or she could do a little more.

I loved the service, it was unobtrusively wanky and we even asked the waiter to go ask the chef how he cooks his pork belly, which he responded within the minute.

A nice excursion, we walked home, but wondered if tonight was worth maybe about 60% of what we paid. Good luck to John and Peter Canteen, a valiant effort.

Apr 14, 2012

5.3 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  4     

How oh so lucky Titanium Bar are listed here as a bar and not a restaurant. Whilst over in Surfers for a weekend away, we wanted to see the first AFL game on a Saturday night and after a few Google searches for sports bars, this place came up again and again. So here we are.

A Titans game was just finishing which emptied up the bar for us to see the game on one of the smaller screens in the main area. Look for just drinks, shits and giggles this place is fine. But whilst we watched the game, a staff member started getting disco lights at the ready, switching their LED changing colours on, at 7pm. Continually standing in front of the one sole plasma we were watching whilst he played around with what I can only assume was their virtual DJ.

But it doesn't matter, the beers were comparatively cheap and at half time we ordered a couple of chicken schnitzels w/chips and salad. Now we witnessed so many other patrons order food from the next room (classed as their restaurant) so it's fair to say it's more than a bar. After paying $40 for food, given a buzzer we collected some 15 minutes later two plates of fairly disgusting food.

The pre-bought, probably food services style frozen schnitzels were so deep fried, my knife nearly smashed the crockery it was served on trying to cut through the outer edges. The chicken on the inside was disappointingly thin, the chips anaemic and the salad offered pre-cut tomato suitable for nothing more than turning into sauce or preferably the bin.

And do you know, it wasn't just our view of what was served, I saw plate after plate of insipid, bog standard food waltzing out of that kitchen to other diners who seem to me as accepting of such standard. I don't much expect worldly cuisine when paying $20 for a schnitzel with mushroom sauce (and chef, when mushroom sauce is prepared, it's not a gravy base with one heavy mushroom floating in it), I just want it prepared fresh. If I have this assumption wrong and it is fresh, then time for new kitchen staff.

This bar/kitchen has a good space, it's trying to be a few things and maybe that's the problem.

Mar 26, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  8     

At a loose end and previous visits to other Hogs Breath's have been disappointing (Adelaide and Port Douglas) we decided to venture into the basement of this venue in the nastiness of Cavill Mall.

Our main beef (no pun intended) is the much promoted prime rib, which for whatever reason seems to be out of stock on every visit. With fingers crossed we went to order.

I wouldn't normally review such a place, but the service for a blonde called Jess was so awesome, so complete, that she needed recognition. She was funny, genuine and was across everything a diner needed. We joked about the prime rib never being available but she rushed off to check. Slight adjustments to our order of the prime rib w/calamari was checked by Jess and came out perfect. The blackened rib was absolutely massive (even though cooked to well done, not medium as requested was saved by the steak being so tender).

We ordered a bottle of red which was dumped on our table with two glasses by a different waitress leaving the bottle unopened and not a word uttered from her, and we told Jess this later. Jess told us she normally works the bar and was just helping out on the floor for the night, but really, we watched her sell up anything to other diners and it was light entertainment while we dined.

We paid by credit card but tipped her directly. Out of the 70 or so reviews I've done nothing compares to the lively and engaging banter of this girl.

Aside from that the venue itself is like a basement fitted out substandard to other HBC's I've been to, the extra $2 serve of sauce is minuscule to pair with your food, but for two massive steaks and a bottle of wine under $100 is pretty good going when done well.

Now I just want a HBC for the same price without the franchise feel.

Mar 26, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

On a weekend away in Surfers after much investigation for great restaurants I'd stumbled across write-ups for this place time and time again. But a buffet? I'd always considered hotel buffets as trough-food but Bazaar did look to be different.

Walking into the foyer of QT we see the Stingray bar alive and kicking inviting us in, but we left it late and had to get upstairs for our 7:15 booking. The first impression was excellent, a maitre d' who walked us through the concept of chefs who interact with the patron, the different offerings and to ask the chefs to cook for you and they all will cook anything they can if possible.

The first waitress was also exceptional, congenial and genuinely welcoming after ordering a great South Aussie Momo Shiraz for under $40 (we had two). But the food is infinite. Not always top notch in quality, but far exceeding in comparison to even a buffet at say the Sheraton or the Hilton.

Starting with Asian of beef stir fry and a plate of steamed scallops cooked to order with soy and spring onion was brilliant, then the cold offers of seafood including the obligatory buffet prawns, grilled scallops served cold and oysters (I could bang on for ages), and then on to the mainstay of the hearty meats.

You could go sideways for the cold cuts of different salamis and the pizza bar, but we went straight in for a stew of braised beef cheeks (nice), the lamb shanks were meltingly tender alas no flavour, but when we looked at some sample plates of what we could order, the chef offered a 'sample plate' for two and to return in 10 minutes. What a plate, the pork belly squares with crispy crackling was my favourite food of the night (and I never eat crackling), the zucchini flower lovely, and really all the food prepared at the ready was amazing.

What is the most clever thing here is basically we were stuffed by then, and I took the tip from a blogger to leave at least 10 minutes between courses so you can run the marathon better, is the dessert. No bain-marie of heavy puddings, every dessert was in miniature, so you could easily sample everything. Way too many to list, but even so, it'd be rude not to try most.

The service was brilliant (eg, waitress sees us with prawns and whisks out a hot lemon finger bowl and a big bowl to catch the discards) and this was a Friday night. I think I'm tripping over my tongue talking this place up. The venue itself seems busier and more interesting than what it is. There was even a station in the corner making designer mini ice creams that we didn't manage to get to.

Someone needs to get off and open up a branch in Sydney. Totally impressed.

Mar 26, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

From a shortlist that wasn't short, birthday celebrations for my partner brought us here. It's had plenty of good reviews with good reason. Admittedly it was a Wednesday night so probably a bit slower with just ten covers or so at 8pm. I had booked a week earlier with the tag it was for a birthday and the two girls on made it a great night.

The food selection caters for most if not all, and the starters of calamari were tender little rings with rocket and plenty of them, so good they didn't need the aioli to dip in. Also lush was the zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, glad that they left a fair chunk of zucchini on the eat too.

For mains the duck confit was scoffed to the bone on some lovely mash, and the merguez sausages was a garlicky affair. The merguez was served with a strange mix of chimichurri and a salsa with roast potatoes. Each bit on their own was great albeit not marrying together.

The wine list was definitely affordable, the SA shiraz went down well. Just on that, I loved the attention the wait staff gave keeping our bottle off the table and bringing it over to top up just as you were down to your last sip. I can't speak highly enough for the service, infact one of them tried to offer us dessert and when we said we were stuffed, she grinned that it was a shame as she would've popped a birthday candle in one to serve.

So instead she left us with a couple of Ferraro Rocher's. I would agree with a previous review that the only thing against Pyrama is the aspect and sit from certain angles, but Harris street isn't the most scenic part of town and they do what they can.

Overall, two courses for $40 plus a bottle of $35 wine was a steal for the quality and service. It's BYO too but at these prices why wouldn't you just order from their selection.

I wish more restaurants gave you the 2 for $40 or 3 for $52 kinda option. Through the night it was obvious locals frequent this place often and are known by name. Fully great night.

Feb 09, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  4     

I've been several times to the Eveleigh Markets on a Saturday morning and encountered stalls of food and lots of bustle, but on a Thursday night the proposition of dining at the Carraigeworks entering into a vast empty industrial space reminds me of a 'Mad Max' film set.

We peek through the windows and see a glamour inside, a couple of other patrons ask if this is John and Peter Canteen and point our fingers forth. It's such a strange place for a restaurant. I remind my partner this was once a pop-up restaurant and now here to stay, and we entered in to a warm welcome.

I can't help but think that Stanley Kubrick designed the setting for this venue, it's all white, wildly open but with outdoor gas heaters minding your back on the outskirts. In the kinda banquettes we sat awaiting menus and even though this was a quieter night, the service was instantly attentive, mildly wanky but worth your time and theirs.

I hated looking at their menu online as it was all in Italian and begged a half hour of Googling to find out more info, but thankfully in the realms of the Canteen it was in English. The wine list here is an adventure; it's mostly from Italy and for the majority, was blends and styles we'd never heard of. This was a problem for our waiter, as efficient and stylish as he was, he didn't convince us of trying to compare it to styles we knew of. In any case, we started with a Prosecco and a mild white. Then went for a Griglonolino which was aromatic but nice enough, not as heavy as the usual Aussie reds but worth a shout.

But the food. We started with the meat antipasti entree (which isn't on their online menu to view, so many of those options aren't there which is a surprise as is much as disappointment; I really wanted to try the Asparagus with Cheese and Pepper), and also not on the online menu, the Tagliatelle with Braised Rabbit. The Rabbit was awesome, so unctuous and scoffable, but the meat plate was fairly average, mainly as it was a scant few meats thrown on a plate with some house made grissini. Serviceable but plain.

The wine was going down a treat as the Pork Belly and Veal Shin arrived. The Pork Belly, which is fairly hard to fu*k up was cracklingly brilliant but the Witlof side was atrocious. Maybe I'm not a fan of witlof (or raddichio) but it was limp, steamed or maybe grilled but when served with a lovely chunk of pork belly, dry, was to me lazy.

The veal shin was so tender, but all the juices just didn't seem to burst with any flavour.

It's a wayward yet glamorous event dining here. You know you are in the inner inner suburbs of Sydney yet feel so far away. It still feels like a semi pop up restaurant however with a $200 price tag for our two hours here on a Thursday night seemed a slight stretch too far. I read on a previous review that the chef likes only three fluid strokes to bring his food to a plate, I think for these prices (given the venue wins for visuals) he or she could do a little more.

I loved the service, it was unobtrusively wanky and we even asked the waiter to go ask the chef how he cooks his pork belly, which he responded within the minute.

A nice excursion, we walked home, but wondered if tonight was worth maybe about 60% of what we paid. Good luck to John and Peter Canteen, a valiant effort.

Apr 14, 2012

5.3 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  4     

How oh so lucky Titanium Bar are listed here as a bar and not a restaurant. Whilst over in Surfers for a weekend away, we wanted to see the first AFL game on a Saturday night and after a few Google searches for sports bars, this place came up again and again. So here we are.

A Titans game was just finishing which emptied up the bar for us to see the game on one of the smaller screens in the main area. Look for just drinks, shits and giggles this place is fine. But whilst we watched the game, a staff member started getting disco lights at the ready, switching their LED changing colours on, at 7pm. Continually standing in front of the one sole plasma we were watching whilst he played around with what I can only assume was their virtual DJ.

But it doesn't matter, the beers were comparatively cheap and at half time we ordered a couple of chicken schnitzels w/chips and salad. Now we witnessed so many other patrons order food from the next room (classed as their restaurant) so it's fair to say it's more than a bar. After paying $40 for food, given a buzzer we collected some 15 minutes later two plates of fairly disgusting food.

The pre-bought, probably food services style frozen schnitzels were so deep fried, my knife nearly smashed the crockery it was served on trying to cut through the outer edges. The chicken on the inside was disappointingly thin, the chips anaemic and the salad offered pre-cut tomato suitable for nothing more than turning into sauce or preferably the bin.

And do you know, it wasn't just our view of what was served, I saw plate after plate of insipid, bog standard food waltzing out of that kitchen to other diners who seem to me as accepting of such standard. I don't much expect worldly cuisine when paying $20 for a schnitzel with mushroom sauce (and chef, when mushroom sauce is prepared, it's not a gravy base with one heavy mushroom floating in it), I just want it prepared fresh. If I have this assumption wrong and it is fresh, then time for new kitchen staff.

This bar/kitchen has a good space, it's trying to be a few things and maybe that's the problem.

Mar 26, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  8     

At a loose end and previous visits to other Hogs Breath's have been disappointing (Adelaide and Port Douglas) we decided to venture into the basement of this venue in the nastiness of Cavill Mall.

Our main beef (no pun intended) is the much promoted prime rib, which for whatever reason seems to be out of stock on every visit. With fingers crossed we went to order.

I wouldn't normally review such a place, but the service for a blonde called Jess was so awesome, so complete, that she needed recognition. She was funny, genuine and was across everything a diner needed. We joked about the prime rib never being available but she rushed off to check. Slight adjustments to our order of the prime rib w/calamari was checked by Jess and came out perfect. The blackened rib was absolutely massive (even though cooked to well done, not medium as requested was saved by the steak being so tender).

We ordered a bottle of red which was dumped on our table with two glasses by a different waitress leaving the bottle unopened and not a word uttered from her, and we told Jess this later. Jess told us she normally works the bar and was just helping out on the floor for the night, but really, we watched her sell up anything to other diners and it was light entertainment while we dined.

We paid by credit card but tipped her directly. Out of the 70 or so reviews I've done nothing compares to the lively and engaging banter of this girl.

Aside from that the venue itself is like a basement fitted out substandard to other HBC's I've been to, the extra $2 serve of sauce is minuscule to pair with your food, but for two massive steaks and a bottle of wine under $100 is pretty good going when done well.

Now I just want a HBC for the same price without the franchise feel.

Mar 26, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

On a weekend away in Surfers after much investigation for great restaurants I'd stumbled across write-ups for this place time and time again. But a buffet? I'd always considered hotel buffets as trough-food but Bazaar did look to be different.

Walking into the foyer of QT we see the Stingray bar alive and kicking inviting us in, but we left it late and had to get upstairs for our 7:15 booking. The first impression was excellent, a maitre d' who walked us through the concept of chefs who interact with the patron, the different offerings and to ask the chefs to cook for you and they all will cook anything they can if possible.

The first waitress was also exceptional, congenial and genuinely welcoming after ordering a great South Aussie Momo Shiraz for under $40 (we had two). But the food is infinite. Not always top notch in quality, but far exceeding in comparison to even a buffet at say the Sheraton or the Hilton.

Starting with Asian of beef stir fry and a plate of steamed scallops cooked to order with soy and spring onion was brilliant, then the cold offers of seafood including the obligatory buffet prawns, grilled scallops served cold and oysters (I could bang on for ages), and then on to the mainstay of the hearty meats.

You could go sideways for the cold cuts of different salamis and the pizza bar, but we went straight in for a stew of braised beef cheeks (nice), the lamb shanks were meltingly tender alas no flavour, but when we looked at some sample plates of what we could order, the chef offered a 'sample plate' for two and to return in 10 minutes. What a plate, the pork belly squares with crispy crackling was my favourite food of the night (and I never eat crackling), the zucchini flower lovely, and really all the food prepared at the ready was amazing.

What is the most clever thing here is basically we were stuffed by then, and I took the tip from a blogger to leave at least 10 minutes between courses so you can run the marathon better, is the dessert. No bain-marie of heavy puddings, every dessert was in miniature, so you could easily sample everything. Way too many to list, but even so, it'd be rude not to try most.

The service was brilliant (eg, waitress sees us with prawns and whisks out a hot lemon finger bowl and a big bowl to catch the discards) and this was a Friday night. I think I'm tripping over my tongue talking this place up. The venue itself seems busier and more interesting than what it is. There was even a station in the corner making designer mini ice creams that we didn't manage to get to.

Someone needs to get off and open up a branch in Sydney. Totally impressed.

Mar 26, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  10     

From a shortlist that wasn't short, birthday celebrations for my partner brought us here. It's had plenty of good reviews with good reason. Admittedly it was a Wednesday night so probably a bit slower with just ten covers or so at 8pm. I had booked a week earlier with the tag it was for a birthday and the two girls on made it a great night.

The food selection caters for most if not all, and the starters of calamari were tender little rings with rocket and plenty of them, so good they didn't need the aioli to dip in. Also lush was the zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, glad that they left a fair chunk of zucchini on the eat too.

For mains the duck confit was scoffed to the bone on some lovely mash, and the merguez sausages was a garlicky affair. The merguez was served with a strange mix of chimichurri and a salsa with roast potatoes. Each bit on their own was great albeit not marrying together.

The wine list was definitely affordable, the SA shiraz went down well. Just on that, I loved the attention the wait staff gave keeping our bottle off the table and bringing it over to top up just as you were down to your last sip. I can't speak highly enough for the service, infact one of them tried to offer us dessert and when we said we were stuffed, she grinned that it was a shame as she would've popped a birthday candle in one to serve.

So instead she left us with a couple of Ferraro Rocher's. I would agree with a previous review that the only thing against Pyrama is the aspect and sit from certain angles, but Harris street isn't the most scenic part of town and they do what they can.

Overall, two courses for $40 plus a bottle of $35 wine was a steal for the quality and service. It's BYO too but at these prices why wouldn't you just order from their selection.

I wish more restaurants gave you the 2 for $40 or 3 for $52 kinda option. Through the night it was obvious locals frequent this place often and are known by name. Fully great night.

Feb 09, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

From the outside Essenza looks like an urban foodie treat, albeit a small dining experience in terms of size of the restaurant. It's in a great junction of Crown and Devonshire and the welcome was genuinely friendly. I instantly wished this restaurant was bigger in size. In time through the night, I found the noise level of this place was actually pretty good and I enjoyed the friendly vibe.

Our waitress sounded French and was serviceable, polite but no congeniality. Our wine came before our aperitif (which by the way was a spritzer of bubbles, orange liqueur and a 'twist of orange' which was bordering vile), and then on to the entree. They offer Stuzzichini, which is I guess Italian tapas, but we chose it as entree.

The pork sausage with olives and calamari was actually really moreish, but the sausage seemed innocuous and nothing different to the pork and fennel sausages you'd get in the supermarket. Arriving with kalamata olive, tomato passata and tiny calamari ringlets was unusual but overall it was a success. Something I'd like to try at home.

On the other side of the table was the Prosciutto and Sopressa Salami Plate with Crostini and although the salami was awesome, the crostini I'd eat bagfuls of, the prosciutto was fairly fatty and at room temp I'm not that much a lover of it.

Finally, the mains arrived and I grabbed the special of gnocchi in an arrabiata sauce with garlic, chilli, pancetta and friends, and he had the veal scallopini. The gnocchi was sooo good, but got boring as it cooled. The veal came on a roaring hot plate (bit too long on the plate warmer perhaps) and fairly minimalistic, just two lean pieces of veal, a few french beans and a slash of mash for nearly $30 helped any dreams of dieting.

For what it is the wine menu suits pretty much all, from those who only drink Australian wines to those who want to try an Italian slant. Sadly no Montepulciano on offer though. Resisting dessert we left, $150 for the 75 minutes there and a job well done.

The service is pretty efficient, the welcome was probably the warmest feeling of the whole night but I'd seriously do something about the air-con, we were getting a bit embarrassed using our napkin to wipe sweat from our foreheads. For all the moans they do good food, they do their best but it's not a space you'd love to linger in all night. I saw an outdoor area and wonder if this would make the night different.

Great food, no wow, little change from $200.

Jan 15, 2012

6 Average

Food  4      Drinks  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  5     

First and foremost, I truly hope the brains trust that run the Beresford curiously read all the reviews here. Everybody scores the ambience here high, and mostly sky high. Just tick the boxes of good food (get a big name chef in) and add some taste to the food and you'll gain.

I have always loved the redevelopment of the Beresford, and we land here after fun at El Loco for more food. I actually love the old school atmosphere of the front bar, albeit rarely patronised, so we headed for the courtyard out back. I still concur that the previous owners visions for the Beresford was a winner, and Merivale snapped up a bargain and trade off it. It's a slick joint and filled with trendy peeps, butch gays and tagalongs, but it works so well. The vibe is uplifting and buying old school beers by the pint gets a tick in my box anytime.

The service is actually really good here. Mainly visiting overseas folk but they are well drilled with minimal personality to satisfy you, but innocuously so.

The food, however, is a fair let down. Rarely will I not go into detail about grub, but the food here is pumped out without care nor flair. This is a pub, a destination and nothing more. All I will say is the Arancini balls were gluey and crispy and not usually a fare I'd venture for but saved the day. I really like this place, but treat it as a pub, but not for dinner. It was trendy and cool before it changed hands and I wonder why all the lemmings have come here since. Go have a pint on a sunny afternoon and enjoy the vibe.

Jan 04, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Yes it doesn't look like another Merivale concept and you kind of wish it wasn't but you know it is. I really like what they've done here and it's so hip and happening it makes me feel a little too old to appreciate the vibe. Luckily my gang went on a Wednesday arvo when the rush isn't as bad as late P.M.

Finding a nice table outside on one of the rare Sydney sunny days it's all about self service to one of many tattooed female pseudo cool waitresses at the bar. The margaritas are Ok, the Corona's for $8 a pop I can barely justify but it's the street food of $5 a taco that makes you think value abound. The service is uber-cool McDonalds, which in my world is people acting and thinking cooler than they are. They aren't abrasive, they just seem a little bored and wondering where else they should be.

I must add that at 3pm with just a few covers in, every 15 minutes visits from the team to 'check that we are Ok' was annoying. It felt like either we weren't spending enough or taking up space.

The food itself is fresh and interesting. You could easily order one of everything of the short menu and share amongst yourselves. We started with two serves of corn chips, guacamole and salsa. Face it folks, they are just corn chips. Past reviews rave or chuckle at them, but the guacamole was insipid but saved for the salsa. Tacos are nice, the pulled pork was fairly basic in taste, but I loved the beef and lemongrass. Another wolfed down the tofu taco and the highest priced minute steak and radish salad went down well.

You couldn't ever take this place too seriously no matter how much I wanted to. It's just a place to meet. You and your gang can hang and marvel at the margaritas at $14 a pop in a 'eco' plastic cup with the dispenser of 'eco' napkins on your table. I'm taking the piss a bit but it is a good vibe here, but as I said earlier, caveat emptor should you arrive at night, this place will be too mobbed.

Jan 04, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  6      Drinks  6      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  5     

I love how this pub seems so off the beaten track and industrialism of this part of Sydney. It's as if you've driven through hours of countryside to get here but it's just off the GW Hwy.

I'm not sure how long it's been there but it feels like forever. It's pretty kid friendly which isn't my strongest suit but the front verandah, the expansive outdoor backyard and old school indoors means there's something for everyone, and everyone gets a table.

As for the food, I wouldn't put my house on sale for it. It's a pub, true, but the basic staple of chips with your meals were well overcooked and cooked from frozen meat the rest had to be good. Chicken schnitzel was beautiful, homemade. Side salads were undressed which was a shame. Battered fish had lovely white fleshy meat. Beef Wellington on mash looked overcooked and the bangers n mash tasty if a little small on the portion size.

Your choice of drinks are Ok, but I wouldn't have expected 50 beers on tap though a few more might be a good idea. It's got a lot of charm this place and I feel a little pricey, but I'm sure we'll be back again should we venture out that way.

Dec 18, 2011

5.8 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  2     

It's lucky for Bungalow 8 I review this establishment as a bar and not a restaurant.

As a bar it's got it all. Waterfront, open spaces, outdoors but undercover and moody lighting. I felt a little old wanting to soak up this space but it was for a work Xmas party so my colleagues made it better than I needed.

Drinks are fairly priced for a tourist trap area, but I implore you, go there to drink and don't bother with the food.

They have an asian influence for food with the usual bar fodder but it was fairly ghastly. Even a serve of chips to share came with a tiny bit of mayo to dip and the chips were brown bordering black. Salt Chilli squid, which was my choice came out 30 minutes after everyone else, and we all know how uncomfortable it is to eat way after others are on their next drink. The squid is pretty much like KFC coated calamari. Awful.

Nice service, nice views but just don't eat there.

Dec 06, 2011