To the uninitiated, the thought of having a drink at a Chippendale local may conjure up images of peeling walls, sticky carpet and a roughly hewn clientele. Who knows, perhaps sometime during the 100-year history of The Rose this may have been a valid scene but today it couldn’t be further from the truth. Located on a corner fronting Cleveland Street and a stones throw from The Seymour Centre and Sydney Uni, the crowd that swills about the pub is mainly of the schooner-sipping student-kind diluted with residents and workers that are out for a casual catch-up.
The very decent selection of beers, wines and cocktails can be had in the cosy front bar or for those that prefer the higher decibels there’s the split-level beer garden out the back complete with pool table, bench seating and music ranging from funky to rock. It’s like country pub meets inner city local meets someone that has a thing for their cherub statues.
A quick drop-by had us faced with typical pub grub and sifting through a choice of burgers, NZ Angus or a whopping 31 varieties of pizza . The open steak sandwich was just that; a relatively tender and thin piece of meat teetering on wild rocket, tomato and topped with caramelised onion. All of this on lightly toasted sourdough with a squirt of aioli and tumble of fries.
The grilled piri piri spatchcock sounds decent enough on the laminated menu but the zingy bite I was expecting came undelivered due to a very light touch on the spices. The punch of garlic, chilli and ginger was sadly a hopeful thought in my mind rather than a sensation on my tongue. That said, the meat on the little bird was as tender as hell and every meagre bone was stripped bare.
In a pub like this you can’t get too worked up about the calibre of food as the majority seems to be here for the social aspect that involves pool, schooners and post-uni wind-down.
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A great little place it seems, I love pubs with character (must be a feeling remnant from living around the corner from the East Sydney for years) and if they can deliver decentish food that’s more of a bonus.
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook recently posted..Scones with a very special jam- double cream a giveaway!
I’ve been to this pub once before and quite liked the courtyard…we ‘may’ have had pizza but I cannot remember. Perhaps I should check it out again as it is SO close to my work.
MelbaToast recently posted..Coopers Hotel- Newtown
Although not a big fan of atomic spices, the lack of punch in a peri-peri dish would leave me unimpressed too. 31 types of pizza? Whoa.
I find The Rose a tad pricey but it is near-ish to me, has a good vibe andBulmer’s Pear Cider on tap, yum! As always, brilliant photos.
Lau@corridorkitchen recently posted..Café Review – Paper Cup- Stanmore
Never been there before, have been to the Rose in erskineville though for drinks before…
Susan recently posted..Tomato Chicken Rice Soup
31 varieties of pizza sound overwhelming. And kinda makes you think they do more quantity than quality.
Gaby recently posted..Australia & NZ 2011 23 March
This is at the end of my street, but I’ve never eaten there, although I did feature it in my blog. Always found the crowds a little off-putting. The Duck and Swan in Rose Street is a better bet for both food and ambience.
Lottip recently posted..The Shortlist
31 varieties of pizza and none to entice you to try? And the poor little bird looks absolutely dwarfed by the other components on the plate =(
mademoiselle délicieuse recently posted..What’s in a wok
Sadly, no. Was tempted but after seeing a few go out I thought the spatchcock would be a better option