The Australian Hotel at Sydney, and its kangaroo and croc
pizzas, was one of the first things that I read about in Lonely Planet Australia. This was before my first trip here in April.
pizzas, was one of the first things that I read about in Lonely Planet Australia. This was before my first trip here in April.
Couldn’t make it to the Australian Hotel that time.
Did manage to go there last Friday.
Sydneysiders do not seem to believe in wasting Friday
night or weekends. Spending Friday evening on a treadmill at the gym could
work back home at Bandra but not here I was told. So we headed out to The
Rocks.
night or weekends. Spending Friday evening on a treadmill at the gym could
work back home at Bandra but not here I was told. So we headed out to The
Rocks.
The Rocks was a lot livelier on Friday night than it was when we
went there earlier mid-week.
went there earlier mid-week.
We climbed up the stairs, crossed the popular beer garden on
the terrace, and reached the Australian hotel.
the terrace, and reached the Australian hotel.
The promised pizzas were there on the menu and we luckily
managed to get a table too.
managed to get a table too.
The crocodile pizza was with a Thai coconut cream dressing
according to the menu. That sounded so wrong. We skipped that and went for the kangaroo pizza with
Australian berries and a pepperoni one. With potato wedges to round up our
dinner.
according to the menu. That sounded so wrong. We skipped that and went for the kangaroo pizza with
Australian berries and a pepperoni one. With potato wedges to round up our
dinner.
The wedges were good.
The pizzas?
Well they stood for everything that I hate in pizzas. Sticky
cheese and an overdose of tomato puree. Reminiscent of the Amul ‘pizzas’ sold
at the diaries of Mumbai. Except these had meat.
cheese and an overdose of tomato puree. Reminiscent of the Amul ‘pizzas’ sold
at the diaries of Mumbai. Except these had meat.
Scanty in the case of the roo. So didn’t really get a good
taste of it. The pepperoni one at least came loaded with meat. Though one has
had better at Australia.
taste of it. The pepperoni one at least came loaded with meat. Though one has
had better at Australia.
For once Lonely Planet seemed to have got it horribly wrong.
Though, to be fair, they didn’t really recommend the ‘food’ at the Australian Hotel.
Though, to be fair, they didn’t really recommend the ‘food’ at the Australian Hotel.
Yes, if ‘experience’ is your thing then a taste of game meat
in a pub that re-creates the past would work for you.
in a pub that re-creates the past would work for you.
 |
| potato wedges |
 |
| The Kangaroo pizza – very avoidable |
 |
| pepperoni pizza |
Thankfully I got a proper introduction to kangaroo meat a
couple of days later.
couple of days later.
This was at the Café 242 at Sydney’s New Town.
I was almost going to order a healthy mountain salmon when I
changed tracks at Ash’s reco and went for the roo. Not the usual Sunday lunch
stuff at India after after all.
changed tracks at Ash’s reco and went for the roo. Not the usual Sunday lunch
stuff at India after after all.
Turned out to be a good call.
The kangaroo was served as a medium rare steak. Coupled a
with a lovely buttery mash and some chopped brinjal which we won’t talk about.
with a lovely buttery mash and some chopped brinjal which we won’t talk about.
The meat tasted fantastic. I am not a big fan of steaks. Too
much of meat for me normally. But the roo steak at 242 was juicy, slightly
sweet and enticing. The sort you couldn’t help ‘keep coming back’ to. A rare
instance when I finished a steak.
much of meat for me normally. But the roo steak at 242 was juicy, slightly
sweet and enticing. The sort you couldn’t help ‘keep coming back’ to. A rare
instance when I finished a steak.
Finally a proper introduction to kangaroo. Shot up high on
my list of favourite meats now. The
pizza didn’t really do it justice and my earlier encounters were with kangaroo
jerkies and cold cuts. This was the the real deal.
my list of favourite meats now. The
pizza didn’t really do it justice and my earlier encounters were with kangaroo
jerkies and cold cuts. This was the the real deal.
 |
| Kangaroo steak |
 |
| Yes, I like kangaroos |
 |
| Would have ordered salmon left to myself. Being in the right company helps |
New Town, I was told, is the grungier and younger side of
Sydney. A bit different from the carefully preserved and mausoleum-like Rocks.
It is picturesque in it’s own way.
Sydney. A bit different from the carefully preserved and mausoleum-like Rocks.
It is picturesque in it’s own way.
There was this chirpy little red café where we stopped for
coffee before heading back. Looked warm and cosy and reminded me a bit of
Candies in terms of the vibe.
coffee before heading back. Looked warm and cosy and reminded me a bit of
Candies in terms of the vibe.
The coffee and cakes were quite ordinary here though.
Well I always knew that Candies is the one place at Mumbai I
would miss while travelling.
would miss while travelling.
Though a got whiff of that the other night at The Rocks when
we went to the Guylian Café and was welcomed back warmly by Jan, the manger
there.
we went to the Guylian Café and was welcomed back warmly by Jan, the manger
there.
I guess the Guylian Café at The Rocks would work for me when
I am Sydney.
I am Sydney.
tomorrow will be diwali guys!!!
Enjoy!!!!
I think you're being unreasonably harsh on the Australian Hotel pizza. It was cheesy yes, but I didn't find too much tomato sauce on there and it was definitely nowhere close to being an Amul pizza!
The thing to bear in mind is that Australian Hotel is essentially a pub, not a restaurant. And one doesn't go to pubs for the food, b/c they've traditionally not put emphasis on food. It's unfair to expect a gourmet pizza at a pub 🙂
@Scarlett: well I'll fortify myself with more beers before my next attempt with the pizzas 🙂