64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills
Reviewers present: Joe Blogs, Burger Bot and special guest Fraulein Burgman
Review time: Late arvo beverage
Food is good, food is cheap.
Beer is good, unfortunately beer is not cheap.
I think all the reviewers may have been to the Excelsior at some point, both while in it's current all-the-rage Mexican/Spanish-fad bar incarnation as well as back in the day when it was the place to go for live music. There's an old relic kick drum to be spotted in the front bar but I think that's about it for it's gig history these days. A shame.
Reports from some of the group of The Excelsior's current food offerings from El Loco is all good. Reasonably priced mexican/tex-mex grub out in the back area. On this review visit however, we opted for the front bar beer-only option as we were due to hit up some dinner a little later at the Cricketer's Arms up the road (review on that up soon).
Beer. A bit torn here. The selection isn't too bad. You can order up a couple of more local (Australian) brews (James Squire One Fifty Lashes for example) but it is hard to pass up an okay range of Mexican beers. As well as the boring choice of Corona (please don't), you'll find Negra Modelo (please do!), Pacifico, Bohemia, Dos Equis Lager Especial and Ambar varieties, Tecate, and Victoria Mexico. Not bad but here's where it's all wrong. Price. A Corona, one of the shittest Mexican beers is $8 a bottle, which means that the better beers can only be more. $8.50 for any of the other beers, with the exception of Tecate at $6.50.
Reviewers present: Joe Blogs, Burger Bot and special guest Fraulein Burgman
Review time: Late arvo beverage
"Pub meets Mexico in the Eastern Suburbs"
Food is good, food is cheap.
Beer is good, unfortunately beer is not cheap.
I think all the reviewers may have been to the Excelsior at some point, both while in it's current all-the-rage Mexican/Spanish-fad bar incarnation as well as back in the day when it was the place to go for live music. There's an old relic kick drum to be spotted in the front bar but I think that's about it for it's gig history these days. A shame.
Reports from some of the group of The Excelsior's current food offerings from El Loco is all good. Reasonably priced mexican/tex-mex grub out in the back area. On this review visit however, we opted for the front bar beer-only option as we were due to hit up some dinner a little later at the Cricketer's Arms up the road (review on that up soon).
Beer. A bit torn here. The selection isn't too bad. You can order up a couple of more local (Australian) brews (James Squire One Fifty Lashes for example) but it is hard to pass up an okay range of Mexican beers. As well as the boring choice of Corona (please don't), you'll find Negra Modelo (please do!), Pacifico, Bohemia, Dos Equis Lager Especial and Ambar varieties, Tecate, and Victoria Mexico. Not bad but here's where it's all wrong. Price. A Corona, one of the shittest Mexican beers is $8 a bottle, which means that the better beers can only be more. $8.50 for any of the other beers, with the exception of Tecate at $6.50.
In terms of venue, out back you'll find a bright and cheery set up to go with El Loco Mexican. Sitting in the front however is a bit different. It's a pub front bar with wooden bar and hutch facia with mirrors and wooden trim, with a smattering of the El Loco Mexican vibe over the top. For seating, pull up a high stool by a table covered in your grandma's bright pattern retro vinyl table cover. Nanna.
Fairly friendly staff on our visit and not too many jerks hanging around the front area. You can also pull up a seat outside, which would be nice in the warmer weather. ATM available (you'll need it with these beer prices), music playing overhead, and very well located a short walk from Central station and a giant's handful of pubs nearby.
One final note, take a step ladder with you to the toilet. You'll need it if you're planning on getting aim up in the high urinal trough. Something weird yet humourous about it.
A good pub, that has seen some change in styles and patrons over the years, from gig pigs to day of the dead taco eating grandma table cloth loving eastern suburb set. Go for a beer or stay for a tequila. 3.5 schooners.
El Loco website: http://www.elloco.com.au/
Merivale group site: http://merivale.com.au/elloco
Fairly friendly staff on our visit and not too many jerks hanging around the front area. You can also pull up a seat outside, which would be nice in the warmer weather. ATM available (you'll need it with these beer prices), music playing overhead, and very well located a short walk from Central station and a giant's handful of pubs nearby.
One final note, take a step ladder with you to the toilet. You'll need it if you're planning on getting aim up in the high urinal trough. Something weird yet humourous about it.
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| File photo: Excelsior Feeding Trough |
El Loco website: http://www.elloco.com.au/
Merivale group site: http://merivale.com.au/elloco
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