Jason King
AmyHuangThe Observer Hotel
March 9th 2009 09:44
The Observer Hotel, The Rocks Sydney
I had the opportunity to grab a bite in the Rocks the other day after interviewing one of the wealthiest people in film (that interview out soon on www.saltypopcorn.com). My friend Dave and I settled on The Observer Hotel for lunch. A place I had visited once before about six months ago with my parents. I just wanted a beer with lunch so hinted at a pub lunch. What a treat of a place and I reminder how far the "pub lunch" has come since I was a lot younger in the 80's.
It is a place that has the old school charm of one of the original Rocks pubs and it mixes it up with a deliscious selection of food from what they call the Bistro but what I would call the Restaurant. Another surprise was the old pub look always looks dark with the lingering odor of smoking over the decades imprinted on the walls and smell of ale the replacement smell of carpet. This place has two hidden outdoor areas that are relaxing, private and a great place for a quiet midday meal and the inside is airy and relaxed and somewhere I could have easily stayed and drank all afternoon.
The Observer Tavern was constructed in 1848 as a two storeyed, six room public house. The tavern was owned by Robert White from 1847 till his death in 1875, after which the hotel was managed by his trustees, Benjamin Palmer and Thomas Moore. The land was resumed in 1901 under The Observatory Hill Resumption Act, 1900.
In 1908 Tooth and Co. purchased the site and held freehold title. The Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority resumed the land in 1977.
Rumour abounds that the hotel has its own resident ghost, which is said to be the spirit of a woman murdered by the then republican, N. Grindall, in 1944
An even bigger joy was my fave beer on tap - Tiger Beer - total YUM. But let's talk about the food. It's BIG and it's wholesome and it's deliscious. I had a big plate of Salt and Pepper Squid. And while it wasn't your typical S & P Squid it was all devoured very quickly. They used huge chunks of the squid and they were spirals and served on a bed of scrumptious chips - the kind you would use to soak up gravy but alas there was no gravy with S & P Squid. It also came with a bowl of salad, and not your typical salad that Jamie Oliver would frown over - a decent one that complimented the fried food nicely.
Dave ate a T Bone steak the size of most cows I have seen and managed to devour it while I blinked. It also came with a big salad.
The other stuff on the menu was a big mix of food. Chicken parmigiana I ate on my last visit was still there and hopefully just as nice as last time. They also have a couple of curries to eat and one of their specialties is a big pie in a pot - my mum struggled through this on our last visit. They have four types of steak to eat and your standard fish chips and other meals common to pubs.
Well worth it for an affordable Rocks meal for lunch or dinner with 2 beers and 2 meals for about $40-.
For more info and contact details suss out their website HERE
I had the opportunity to grab a bite in the Rocks the other day after interviewing one of the wealthiest people in film (that interview out soon on www.saltypopcorn.com). My friend Dave and I settled on The Observer Hotel for lunch. A place I had visited once before about six months ago with my parents. I just wanted a beer with lunch so hinted at a pub lunch. What a treat of a place and I reminder how far the "pub lunch" has come since I was a lot younger in the 80's.
It is a place that has the old school charm of one of the original Rocks pubs and it mixes it up with a deliscious selection of food from what they call the Bistro but what I would call the Restaurant. Another surprise was the old pub look always looks dark with the lingering odor of smoking over the decades imprinted on the walls and smell of ale the replacement smell of carpet. This place has two hidden outdoor areas that are relaxing, private and a great place for a quiet midday meal and the inside is airy and relaxed and somewhere I could have easily stayed and drank all afternoon.
The Observer Tavern was constructed in 1848 as a two storeyed, six room public house. The tavern was owned by Robert White from 1847 till his death in 1875, after which the hotel was managed by his trustees, Benjamin Palmer and Thomas Moore. The land was resumed in 1901 under The Observatory Hill Resumption Act, 1900.
In 1908 Tooth and Co. purchased the site and held freehold title. The Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority resumed the land in 1977.
Rumour abounds that the hotel has its own resident ghost, which is said to be the spirit of a woman murdered by the then republican, N. Grindall, in 1944
An even bigger joy was my fave beer on tap - Tiger Beer - total YUM. But let's talk about the food. It's BIG and it's wholesome and it's deliscious. I had a big plate of Salt and Pepper Squid. And while it wasn't your typical S & P Squid it was all devoured very quickly. They used huge chunks of the squid and they were spirals and served on a bed of scrumptious chips - the kind you would use to soak up gravy but alas there was no gravy with S & P Squid. It also came with a bowl of salad, and not your typical salad that Jamie Oliver would frown over - a decent one that complimented the fried food nicely.
Dave ate a T Bone steak the size of most cows I have seen and managed to devour it while I blinked. It also came with a big salad.
The other stuff on the menu was a big mix of food. Chicken parmigiana I ate on my last visit was still there and hopefully just as nice as last time. They also have a couple of curries to eat and one of their specialties is a big pie in a pot - my mum struggled through this on our last visit. They have four types of steak to eat and your standard fish chips and other meals common to pubs.
Well worth it for an affordable Rocks meal for lunch or dinner with 2 beers and 2 meals for about $40-.
For more info and contact details suss out their website HERE
| 54 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by K @ the Lair
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Count me in for the next outing - I can't wait to try that pie in winter with a big glass of ale. I might even have to try that "spoon required" beer known as Guiness with it.
Glad to see you got to comment this time without heaps of hassles.
Luv Ya