P.J. O'Briens, Sydney

57 KING STREET, SYDNEY

Reviewers: BB O'Donoghue & JB O'Neill
Review time: Friday o'lunch

Finally made it to PJ's for lunch. As it's one of the city Irish pub mainstays it was well overdue for a review.

How was it? Well, any place that pours both Guinness and Kilkenny is off to a good start in our book, but we believe you've got to pick the right time. For us, it's a perfect 'shitty weather, comfy afternoon' pub if you're looking for somewhere like this in this area of the city. Not our choice for a lunch session though.



As it was lunchtime, naturally we ate, in this case pizza being that they were the special of the day. The food was fine but that won't be the point of future visits, it'll be the shitty weather Irish comfort that we previously mentioned. All that wood y'know? Other items on the menu included more Irish-themed dishes like soup and Irish Stew. Although was a little confused then by the addition of things like the Chicken Tandoori Wrap and Spicy Buffalo Wings. Hey, we had the pizza so we can’t really complain about the choice of menu items. Is there any Italian pubs in Sydney?

We opted for the Kilkenny pints (560ml) at $8.20 each. For a halfy it was $4.60. Also noted from the drinks menu that Carlton Draught rang in at $7.90 a pint and $4.40 for half pint. That’s about $6.65 for a standard 425ml schooner doing some rough maths. Interestingly, Coopers Pale Ale, Pure Blonde, Miller Draught were all the same price as the Irish mob.

The place is kitted out in the wood and Irish memorabilia (Guinness signage, Ireland Rugby jersey, etc) and has enough tables of the standy-standy type and booths too. Can’t recall the music playing but I hope it was something vaguely Irish in some way.

Think we really need a foreign correspondent review from Ireland... from a proper Ireland 'locals' pub.

Ahh, whatevs.. I don’t know, all these "Irish" pubs in Australia could be bullshit? How much like an Irish pub are they?! These particular reviewers don’t know first hand but from what they’re told, not much. Imagine an "Aussie" pub in Ireland! What.. Men at Work and Fosters? Yeah, I guess I'd check that out.

Irish pubs? Insert signed U2 guitar, lots of wood, and Guinness on tap, and fucken bam! Irish pub!

At least some play The Pogues.

If comparing the Irish pubs we’ve been to in the Sydney area, we’d prefer somewhere like the Mercantile in The Rocks (that review coming soon) because it’s less about the stereotype Irish and gimmicky look that most other Irish establishments go for, but these things are all relative to personal taste. PJ O’Briens is well located and would see people through most times. Busy at night.



Online here: http://www.pjobriens.com.au/sydney/