City Hotel, Sydney

347 Kent Street, Sydney
Reviewers present: Bot, Blogs and Doom
Tine of review: The lunch hour

"The City Hotel: appropriate name 'cos that's what it is"

(that's "2 rubber chickens" in the old system)



Loads of space in this place with plenty of dining areas up front, one up behind a sizey bar, out back in the courtyard, upstairs and downstairs. The downstairs magical cave of mystery (aka "Emperor Lounge") was closed today but looks to be available for private functions. There's a pool table up back for those that like a bit of "stick-ball" and out near the front a curtained off pokie room with it's own poker room attendant. There's an ATM not too far away from the slot machines (cleverly placed?) and a big screen TV in the front area. No Sydney pub seems to be complete without one. I, personally, haven't decided if that's a good thing or not.

We pulled up a seat in the dining area in front of the bar which had a little too much mood lighting going on, to the point where it was hard to see our food to review it. Maybe the place caters for vampires. The fit out lacks a warm personality, much like any pub that gets the updated referb these days. Boring. Looks like they've tried the "high class" fit out feel but missed the mark and just look a bit try-hard. The large leather couches don't really warm the place up either and are probably there for after work drinks suit-kanoodling.

For price comparison, Carlton Draught costs $5.50 and a burger $15. We opted for the James Squires "Fifty Lashes" Pale Ale and "Orchid Crush" Apple Cider however and also noted a bunch of other Squires beers available on tap as well as a couple others. For the food, we ordered up a Chicken Burger and a couple of Chicken Schnitzels.

Chicken thingy hoojah flavour or something or other

The Schnitzels dented the wallets $12.50 per head with today offering up a Friday schnitzel price - normally $15. Reports are that the schnitzels were okay, good given the price. One reviewer later said it was as juicy as a snail in Spring. Not sure whether that means it was super juicy or as dry as a leather shoe. Probably somewhere in the middle. As for the Chicken Burger, it was fine. The meat was flavoured with some kind of garlic and herb thingy, and had some other stuff packed in between the buns. Lets say it was lettuce. All meals were served with shoe-string fries which weren't too bad!

The verdict - not a bad pub, especially for the 'business corporate peeps' and the food gives nearby workers an option for a reasonably quick pub lunch meal although I don't think we'll become regulars.

A "city hotel" for "city folk". 2 rubber chickens.

Website: http://www.cityhotel.com.au/