Stardust Hotel, Cabramatta

84 Broomfield St, Cabramatta
Reviewers present: Robot Simone & Joe Blogs, guest bloggers Hydings
Review time: Lunch, New Years Day

"TAB Airport Lounge for Iron Chef"

The Stardust Hotel, right by Cabramatta train station, seemed to be simply a waiting lounge for the diners of Iron Chef restaurant. The mission on New Years Day 2013 was lunch. We came for the lunch, didn't stay for the pub.

While we were not intending on visiting a pub on this suburban trip, it was unavoidable as we entered the building for the Iron Chef restaurant. Entering through the adjoining Stardust Bar it was hard not to be thrust into this short review. During the half hour wait for our number to be called for entry into the popular restaurant, we took in the sights and sounds of this TAB and gambling bar from a few hard-to-find seats. Here we noted a pool table (with Jack Daniels motif on the felt) by the bar and some seating along the windows. The view from the windows is of a driveway and brick wall. There's also a pokies cave opposite the bar. No surprise, especially considering the high rate of gambling and poker machines in the area.

It was hard to miss the giant wall of screens for the races and results, with an alarming percentage of people starring at the gambling gambling glow of gambling. If you find yourself drawn into the depths of the television wall of doom, don't worry, you are immediately pulled back into reality by the piercing voice of the lady calling your Iron Chef queue number over the ceiling sound system.

It's a hard one to rate because we weren't there for the bar and it didn't really seem like a pub. A glass bottle of Coke was $3 and there appeared to be an okay selection of beer on tap, although the bar staff weren't that interested on actually serving the busy bar, but rather dancing around behind it. Given the airport lounge vibe and the glowing wall of doom, we're rating lowly, at least for our tastes and interests. Is it possible to rate 0? Ok, half schooner for the beer.After our air-conditioned wait (at least an escape from the hot heat outside on this New Years Day) we were herded into Iron Chef where we enjoyed a delicious spread of yum cha. We recommend the restaurant if in or near the area. We wouldn't recommend the bar except if you were waiting to be seated in Iron Chef.

Sydney Pub List



Website: www.stardusthotel.com.au