Edinburgh Castle, Sydney

Corner of Pitt & Bathurst St
Reviewers present: Joe Blogs, Burger Bot
Time of review: Lunch

"Hello, I'm Mr Ed"

Carlton Draught: $5.20
Burger rating: $15 Tasty pickles
Crowd: Friendly semi corporate/working class normies
Bar staff: Friendly (upstairs more so)
Take aways: Bottle shop purchases over front bar
Facilities: Pretty good, includes giant-hand basin (basement)


Bit of a surprise walking in here it was. The last time either of us were here was years ago and it was only for a drink, but the times have changed. Read on...


After a failed attempt to grab a seat one Friday lunch (resulting review here) we knew we had to come back and come back we did! More than your average Sydney pub, this one caters to all sorts (the upstairs dweller, semi outdoors types, even below-ground fish tank/pokie admirers.) We head on upstairs and order a couple of Squire's Golden Ales ("Chancer" in new speak) then wander out to the rooftop beer garden, a bit slim but more than adequate and a lovely vine-encrusted building-bordered view of the sky. Ahhhhh.

F'n'B
Beverage-wise you've got the regulars upstairs (from what we can remember) including Cooper's Pale, Carlton Draught, James Squire, and Bulmers for the cider inclined. Downstairs it's a different story - we eyeballed VB, Spew, Yak ($5 Beer of the month, remember that $7.60 schooner at Albion Place!), The Bulm, a Blondie, SA Green, Piss Rex Draught, Squires, Monteith's Winter Ale and last but not least, Matilda Bay's Bohemian Pilsner, which we ordered up a tight-arsed $13.50 special jug of the previously mentioned Pilsner, the last one I just mentioned, the Matilda Bay one... Not sure if it's a run out model but it was quite nice. Pilsner. Not even a Tuesday. But tight-arse.

Food-wise our maiden voyage was a victory! The $12 Steak and an Eddy Burger were ordered promptly after a quick menu perusal. The Eddy Burger consisting of beef, beetroot, pickles, cheese, lettuce & BBQ sauce; goes down the gullet a treat, how 'bout that pickle! The Steak is good value and one of the better I've had around town for this kind of dosh.

Eddy Burger-licious

Here's Joe with the weather. Burger weather that is...

Right, pretty decent burger served up before me here. All good from go to whoa. Okay, we are talking about a $15 burger so was it worth it? A big YES. I almost had an orgasm in my mouth and no one was invited because I wanted to enjoy it all for myself. The meat was well made and nicely cooked and the remaining filling was very nicely balanced. I commented to the Bot at the time that the taste of the pickle and cheese together reminded me a little of my youth, biting into a McDonalds Cheese Burger - IN A GOOD WAY! The addition of the beetroot was perfect too. Some kitchens overload their burgers with too many different fillings but The Ed' have it right. Top marks for the burger!

Thank you for your time and eyeballs, I now hand you back to the Bot for the closing of the article, which normally ends with a feel-good or funny story from the news readers at the desk.

We headed back downstairs to grab another beer and grab a pew smack bang in the middle of the castle. Definitely more of a old pub vibe downstairs, which is good, apart from the mandatory TAB betting corner. There's original tile work on the floor, bar and some old Tooth's mirrored cabinets behind the bar. Nice! Down here on the ground floor you can pop a few dollars in the video-juke, pick your favourite Farnsie track and head on over to Big Buck and shoot the arvo away. Or just pull up at the window and watch the suits scatter about like ants on the Pitt-Bathurst intersection. You also have access to a pool table, a couch and basement betting cave bonanza (tea & coffee facilities available here for the long haul). There are many ways fun can be had in Ed's Castle!
3 schooners!

Ed's web: www.edinburghcastlehotel.com.au