For all the things we love about Sydney culture in 2015 – great coffee, more dessert choices than you can poke a marshmallow-encrusted stick at, and a diverse music and arts scene – sometimes we all just need to kick back with a classic.
When it comes to a hearty winter feed, nothing beats the local pub – so we caught up with some of our favourite locals to find out what’s new on the menu, and what familiar dishes still rule the roast.
156 Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Chowing down: At the Dove & Olive we serve classic pub dishes. We draw our influences from Italian and American-style cooking.
Staff pick: The Jambalaya. It’s a delicious Louisiana-style creole rice dish (similar to a paella) with sausage, shrimp, chicken, cilantro and cajun spices. It’ll cost you $18.
Do us a deal: Have we got deals for you! Every Monday – Thursday we offer a $9.90 meal, available all day. Mondays it’s schnitzels, Tuesday is po’boy day, Wednesday is steak day and on Thursday it’s burgers [pictured]. On Saturdays our 330g Monster Parmagiana with fries and slaw is only $12.50. We also do a Sunday Roast with all the trimmings for $15.
Care for a drink? At the Dove & Olive, we’re all about beer. With 28 individual taps pouring over 20 craft beers and cider, you’ll find a great selection of local craft beers. As our selection is always rotating to bring you the most interesting beers available, you’ll find something new to try each time. A tasting paddle for $10 is a great way to sample them!
What to see and do: Craft Beer Fight Club is a monthly event that brings two craft breweries (and their beers) to taste and vote on whose beer is best. It’s a great night of banter and rowdiness. The next one is being held on Sunday August 23, with special guest host Christina Batista, who will be cooking up some special Aussie and New Zealand beer-inspired dishes to give out. Tickets are still available but get in quick!
The crowd: We see a bit of a mix of people at the Dove & Olive, from local office workers enjoying an after-work beer to the die-hard beer nerd.
Happy hour:
Craft Beer Happy Hour ($4 select craft beer and cider): Mon – Sat 5-7pm
Happy Hour ($4 house wine, spirits, house beer): Mon – Sat 5-7pm
Beer of the Week ($6.50 schooners): all day every day
Tinnie Tuesday ($5 Young Henrys tinnies): all day Tuesdays
64 Stanley St, Darlinghurst
Chowing down: Gastro food is the order of the day at the Lord Roberts.
Staff pick: The Portuguese chicken burger and the pork belly are definitively high up there. They cost $17 and $19, respectively.
Do us a deal: We have specials every day, covering food and drinks. Visit lordrobertshotel.com.au for full details.
What to see and do: We have great live jazz and funk music playing every Thursday evening in the main bar, sports all through the pub at all times. There’s also a pool table and cocktail bar.
The crowd: Darlinghurst is such an eclectic neighbourhood and our clientele certainly reflect the local vibe.
Happy hour: Monday to Friday 4-6pm
387 King St, Newtown
Chowing down: Newtown Social Club has been given a fresh facelift. The newly renamed Ground Floor at Newtown Social Club has been unveiled with a charming new look and completely new food and drink offering. Our all-day food offering has had a complete shake-up, with a number of weekly specials and a new signature meatball-focused menu that allows diners to choose their own adventure in three easy steps – meatballs, sauce and side for just $19 [pictured].
Staff pick (with Emily): My personal favourite is the vegan balls with kale tabouleh, spicy roma tomato and basil sauce. It’s healthy and real tasty! I recommend the platters as well, as they are great value for money and go really well with a glass of wine or two.
Do us a deal:
Monday night – $10 parma subs.
Tuesday and Wednesday night – wine and dine (any three-step ball combination served with a glass of house Shiraz or Semillon Sauvignon Blanc for $20).
Endless Sundays – vegan or meaty platter with a bottle of endless Pinot Noir or Pinot Grigio for $45.
Care for a drink? We have a variety of taps including Alpha Pale Ale, Coopers and Young Henry’s. The drinks menu has been given a complete overhaul, with a solid new wine list featuring a number of organic and biodynamic wines and locally produced spirits such as Archie Rose’s Signature Gin and Stone Pine Dead Man’s Drop Black Spiced Rum. For those who like something a bit fancier, the new cocktail list boasts a range of flavours from the refreshing Blood Orange Margarita to the tart Fireball Sour and classic Old Fashioned with Tassie Lark Whisky.
What to see and do: One of the best live music rooms in Sydney! Music up to seven nights a week including Swerve Society, which is a free showcase of live, local acts on Monday nights.
The crowd: Expect a very diverse crowd. We welcome all kinds of folk through our doors here.
Happy hour: Monday – Friday 4-6pm. A selection of beers, schooners at middy prices.
200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Chowing down: Cheap and delicious pub food. Most of the menu is priced at $12.50. Burgers, pork ribs, steaks, lamb shanks, schnitzels, parmis.
Staff pick: Our most popular is our 280g rump steak with crinkle cut chips and salad ($12.50), then our slow-cooked lamb shanks with creamy mash and salad ($15.50) and our flame-grilled cheeseburger with crinkle cut chips ($12.50).
Do us a deal: Monday – $10 burgers; Tuesday – $10 rump steaks; Wednesday – $10 chicken schnitzels; Thursday – $10 fish and chips.
Care for a drink? On tap we have Young Henry’s Real Ale, Coopers Pale, Lazy Yak, Reschs, Peroni, Guinness, VB and Carlton. There are plenty of craft beers in the fridge, constantly rotating through different varieties. The wine list is all Australian with Simon Gilbert, Tim Adams, David Franz, Well Mannered the majority. House wine starts from $6.50/glass and $24.90/bottle.
What to see and do: We have a Monday night trivia which always fills up, members’ badge draw on Wednesday night, and Sunday roasts.
The crowd: We host some of the most eclectic crowd in Sydney. Famous with skaters (after being on the front of Skaters Journal mag), Surry Hills hipsters, media types, film students, families for dinner and some locals who have been coming here for 40 years.
Happy Hour: Mon – Fri 4-6pm on all house beers, wines and spirits.
[Main photo courtesy Dove & Olive]
