The Clarendon Hotel

156 Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Rating: Ambience 4, Price 3, Food 4, Service 2.5

As you sip a glass of cabernet-shiraz house wine and sit on a balcony,
you’re peering over an open-air view of the roofs of terrace houses.
The Clarendon offers much more than a cheap-eat, pokies-cranking pub
night. It has an old historic feel, originally established in 1876
competing well with the Balmain pub culture. Unlike most old pubs, it
has a spacious interior, a revamped balcony and a mini beer garden on
the lower floor. Behind the Clarendon’s sleek modern veneer is an
Australian familiarity that makes you feel instantly at home. The
crowd consists of a mix of indie arts folk, uni students and young
professionals ready for a slightly higher-market meal. It is perfect
for a post-Belvoir Street Play feed, a casual tête-à-tête over a beer
or a bottle of wine for birthday celebrations.

The menu at The Clarendon draws its strength from its gourmet
sensibilities. Their meals tweak traditional pub food with a hint of
Middle Eastern, Italian, and Greek cuisines. They offer pastas,
gourmet pizzas, hearty steaks, and a cheaper menu for the frugal, and
less food-fanatic. The only let down about this place is the service,
and most of the options on the menu are slightly overpriced. Certain
members of the staff may treat you with the regard of a wall fly or
act as if you should be serving them.

Regardless of this, Belvoir St Theatre’s Cheap Tuesdays offered just
around the corner would be well matched with their delicious lamb
souvlaki, which is doused in Tzatziki and accompanied by a Greek salad
and freshly fried chips. If you want to stumble home it’s only 200
metres from Central Station. The only thing to keep in mind is that my
student pocket would be empty if I ate there every night.


Overall Rating: 3.5/5