York 75: Sports Bar serving spirits by the bottle, CBD Sydney (23 Dec 2010)

Hotel CBD, Level 2, 75 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com/#/cbd/york75
http://www.york75.com



Spirits by the bottle — game on!

“Now watching sport doesn't mean compromising on comfort, service or atmosphere – sit back in our leather booths that seat 8 and also include full waitress table service. Or simply enjoy watching the game on one of the 20 screens throughout the bar.”

I never knew this bar existed until some friends invited me along for a casual drink and meal. It's tucked away on level 2 from the busy street below. They do have promotional advertising around the ground floor of the CBD Hotel but I'm sure most people like me have just walked past thinking it was for the ground floor bar. I like the sporty decor even though I'm not really a sporty person because it's something a bit different and interesting. If you like your sports then the abundance of screens will surely please including one at your table if you get a booth. Keep in mind once you're seated at a booth you're pretty much stuck unless your companions get out to let you out. For an American-style bar it's surprising to see no American beers available but you can buy spirits by the bottle which I've come across in Las Vegas nightclubs. Fancy a Belvedere Pure Vodka ($190), Tanqueray Gin ($168) or Hendricks Gin ($210) served with ice, citrus fruits and mixers or perhaps go-hard-or-go-home with Hennessy XO Cognac ($426).

The BBQ chicken wings ($8.50) is a generous serving although for my taste buds it could be more spicy and preferably with a crispy coating. The Spicy potato chips, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce ($8.50) is as hoped and for extra bite just add some Bone Suckin's Sauce Habanero sauce from the condiments selection. The Eggplant lasagne ($16) sounded like a healthy option on the menu but there's a lot of cheese in the dish. Perhaps a better balance of eggplant might have been better. The Chicken schnitzel, salad and french fries with roasted garlic mayo or gravy ($16) and The biSTRODE burger ($18) is pretty standard tasty fare to fill the stomach, especially if you're challenging your liver with a 1.5 litre Carlsburg jug ($20).

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Spirits available by the bottle if you dare and can afford it, Beers available by the jug, For the sports fanatic, Interesting decor and reasonably priced bar menu

CONS: No american beers available (although perhaps that's a good thing?), Female toilets on different level (doesn't effect me though), Can't get out of booths easily

MUST TRY: Spirit by the bottle

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1.5 litre jug Carlsburg beer ($20)

BBQ chicken wings ($8.50)

Spicy potato chips, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce ($8.50)

Eggplant lasagne ($16)

Chicken schnitzel, salad and french fries with roasted garlic mayo or gravy ($16)

The biSTRODE burger ($18)

Table condiments including Bone Suckin's Sauce Habanero sauce

Bar menu

Tap and bottled beer menu — where's the Budweiser though?

Sparkling and white wine menu

Red and Rosé wine menu

Spirits by the bottle — now we're talking!

Bar philosophy

Sports memorabilia and table condiments

Snooker table and sports screen at your table

One way of getting in and out of the booth

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Pellegrini's Bar Espresso: Italian, CBD Melbourne (24 April 2010)

66 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

No frills Italian hangout

This long standing Melbourne institution serves up Italian comfort food with no frills — a bit slap-n-dash for one of a better word. Either eat at the bar and watch the staff serving up dishes, making coffees and cleaning plates at the same time or sit at the back where you can see the nonnas cooking up the daily specials in the busy hot kitchen. It might not be the best food or service but it certainly has some down-to-earth atmosphere which makes you feel like you're in a little bar or someone's home in Italy — with a bit of imagination. Basic desserts are also available if you have room after your decently sized pasta. If you're a fan of the model Christy Turlington then check out the photo on the old looking wall of memorabilia.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Decently sized portions, Efficient service (when they notice you), Interesting retro decor, Down-to-earth service

CONS: Can be hard to get a seat during busy times, Noisy and chaotic, Food is pretty basic

MUST TRY: Granita for a refreshing drink

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Lasagne (Pastas seem to be around $13-$15)

Complimentary bread and butter

Granita

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Espresso

Menu board

Christy Turlington (top left) apparently once did a photo shoot at Pellegrini's

Sitting at the bar is the most interesting spot to people watch


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The Commons: Local Eating House, Darlinghurst (22 May 2010)

32 Burton Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://thecommons.com.au

Menu changes daily

In place of the highly successful pop up restaurant The Pond now sits this cosy restaurant which thankfully still cooks up some reasonably priced comfort food. The black board specials menu seems to change daily depending on what's in season and much of the sustainable seating and decor has been retained. There's mixed reviews about the food and service on Eatability giving a low score of 6.5 after 10 reviews but my experience has been fairly good. A reasonably priced 2007 Chain of ponds Sangiovese Blend 'Novello' ($36/bottle) is easy to drink followed by a Seasonal produce plate ($20) which has a selection of organic looking carrots, battered zucchini flowers and a vegetarian tart. They're all quite tasty although I've enjoyed the zucchini flowers more at MUMU Grill.

There were no complaints with the Lasagne of Biodynamic veal and free range pork ($18) which seems to tick all the guilt free meat eating boxes and the side of green beans ($5) were nicely cooked. Quite a substantial looking Commons Chicken Parmagiana with fresh mozzarella ($22) went down well and I enjoyed my Pumpkin and pine nut ravioli with brown butter and sage ($20) which contained some of the largest homemade ravioli I've seen since the The Pond. The Crème brûlée ($9) was quite small but smooth and had a nice caramelised top although I wished there was more vanilla bean for extra flavour. Our service was pretty accommodating and down-to-earth. For drinks only head downstairs to the bar at the back but we found it had quite a musty and dusty smell so perhaps not too good for asthma sufferers.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Menu changes daily to use the freshest ingredients, Enjoyable dishes at reasonable prices, Quality ingredients, Cosy decor

CONS: Dishes tend to run out quickly during the night, Varying service experiences (see Eatability), Small stool seating quite uncomfortable over long periods of time, Can get busy

MUST TRY: Ravioli with brown butter and sage

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Seasonal produce plate ($20)

Lasagne of Biodynamic veal and free range pork ($18), side of green beans ($5)

Commons Chicken Parmagiana with fresh mozzarella ($22)

Pumpkin and pine nut ravioli with brown butter and sage ($20)

Crème brûlée ($9)

Chain of ponds Sangiovese Blend 'Novello' 2007 ($36/bottle)

Menu


Outside dining

Inside dining

Downstairs bar area

Bill $140 for 3 people

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