Hotel Coronation, Sydney

The Park Street Bar / Hotel Coronation
5-7 Park Street, Sydney
Reviewers: Burger Bot, Joe Blogs
Time of review: Friday lunch

"Cheap, or is it?"

(schmiddy)

After a long hot walk half way around the city, Bot and Blogs eventually found themselves grabbing a high stool at the "Park Street Bar", the pubic bar of Hotel Coronation on Park Street. Not exactly a stunning looking bar but that said, they weren't turned off immediately and a cold brew satisfied their thirst. But what was it that left the reviewers with a bad taste in their mouths?

Lets first make a few notes about the place, like the giant doughnuts hanging above the bar. You might like to refer to them as light shades. You wont find too many places to hide at the Coro, the bar being a fairly uncomplicated rectangulary shape. Nook and Cranny are not welcome here, either were the two men being asked to leave as the reviewers sat waiting for their food. There's a few small high tables along the side wall opposite the bar, some larger seats and booths up the back, as well as a sprinkling of stools along the bar and up near the front windows. Noted "Thommo's" gaming room hidden up the back. Also noted by one of the reviewers, "Blue and red light, they piss me off." Yes, the lighting by the bar seemed a bit out of whack and really did nothing for the place. "And what's with the Illuminated inerds of the air con?!"

Doughnut bar

On arrival Bot & Blogs could only manage a stool by the bar (of the sitting kind, you child. Wait, that's no better. Look, There were no poos by the bar... that we could see). Convenient spot to sit if wanting to peruse the beer tap cold beer pouring device thingies. The first thing they noticed was a house beer, Coro Lager, and it was cheap! $4, said the sign and they asked no questions except if they could have two of those. Look, it wasn't fantastic but it was drinkable and for this price the reviewers weren't complaining. The Carlton Draught wasn't a bad price either at $5, which was the same price as the Boags Draught. More about beer price shortly.

Bot and Blogs were able to snatch a table before too long and they cast their eyes over the pub menu, noting some standard orders and some cheap burgers - BAM! Of course they went with the burgers. For $7.50 they ordered up the Coro Burger & Chips. Also on the menu - chips, prawns, rolls, salt & pepper squid, blah, blah, blah, tandoori chicken skewers, schnitzel, steak, chicken breast, pasta, lamb curry, bangers & mash, yada, yada, yada.

Coro Burger & Chips, $7.50

The first negative noticed was the wait on the order. It's a $7.50 burger, how hard can it be? After what seemed like a bit less than an eternity, the burgers arrive. They weren't anything special and for the price you wouldn't expect too much more. What's in 'em? *Shrugs*. Chomping through the whole Coro was an effort and the flavour rewards just weren't there. Burger corpses! Somebody stick these in the ground and lay them to rest!

Murder. Coro(ner) called. Statements made. A bloody ending.

Somewhere along this Coro journey, the guys noticed something about their drinks that caused a bit of a stir. The glass size. Can't believe it took two beers served in tumblers to notice. Crooks! So, thinking back to the prices, maybe not so cheap afterall? Quick calculation puts a schooner amount of the same liquids up closer to $5 (for the Coro Lager) and $6 (for the Carlton Draught). Not really cheap at all. This is the first time in these reviews that we have come across a default beer size of a "schmiddy", and it wasn't even served in a beer glass but rather a cheap bulk mail-order hospitaility brochure glass tumbler. The reviewers were annoyed and left almost immediately with a bitter taste in their mouths, debating the outrageous discovery of the drink size all the way back to the office.

The reviewers discussed the closing of this review for, well, for probably way too long. At first it was a case of, "yeah, it's fine and cheap" but the more they thought about it, they more they came to the conclusion that with so many options in this area of town, it's unlikely they would end up in the Coro again. Yes, the burgers are cheap but the quality isn't exactly good, and certainly wasn't worth the wait that was endured. The only reason the reviewers landed there was that the other pubs nearby were full at the time. All that said, they do score a bonus point for putting on their own beer, The Coro Lager, which was perhaps over-priced teenager homebrew at it's best, maybe.

Check out the amazing beer specials! www.hotelcoronation.com.au/specials