Friday, July 29, 2022

White Cockatoo, Petersham (2019)




The following was penned sometime in 2019.


(Previous cock posting, 2012)


It had to happen some day - out of nowhere here we are again with a little pub review. And here we are again at The White Cockatoo - several years later after our first visit.   The place has changed somewhat you would say, almost unrecognisable. Safe to say we've been out of the game for a while and posting these blogs is no longer second nature, but what hasn't changed is an appreciation for a good pub, a good burger and a cold beer. I'll keep this fairly brief, here we go.....

Peter's Cock underwent an overhaul a number of years ago now, we're quite late to the party. They've really opened the place up, which is immediately obvious the moment you enter the front bar doorway.  There's also some major surgery gone on around the side creating a sunny beer garden and dining area.  The pokey old dining area, from what I can recall at least, was a boxed in room for smashing massive birds (I mean, schnitzels). Now that area is opened up more and you'll find a bright purple topped pool table for the stick'n'ball folk to enjoy.

The front bar has ample room with high tables and stools aplenty.  As you swing around the bar (show us ya nice metal wears and mirrors, by the way) you'll land your two thirsty feet at the kitchen and overlooking a couple of areas to park your arse.  I write this from a perch in the beer garden overlooking the stairs to Petersham train station. Something kind of nice about enjoying the sun and watching a train-shaped world go by you.

Tap beer selection pretty good. Take-aways fridge also not bad. Craft beers for the most part.  Ridiculouschnitzel menu items of yesteryear replaced by non-corpse (see previous review) meals. Burgers, check.  I ordered the beef burger and grabbed a pint while I waited. My pint of Stone & Wood was $10. Jesus' Daughter, is that normal these days? Am I that old and out of the loop?! Didn't spot our benchmark beer, Carlton Draught, although I wasn't really looking.

The burger - now don't get me wrong, the burger was not bad but for $20 I was looking for more quality.  I couldn't finish it or the fries it came with.  Cut the quantity, increase quality.

On a side note, as I plug this text into my phone by tapping on its screen, I wonder how bars operate their music these days. Are iPods even a thing anymore? 'Back in my day' they had to operate a radio or record player with a crank handle. A small boy (or girl) was hired to do the job. Are they just hooking up to “the cloud” now? I'm imagining a bucket load of Spotify playlists called "Pub Rock", "Front Bar 80's", "Music to sink piss to, mix 5" and "Get ready to eat".  This is no comment on this pub, I was seriously just wondering. Enlighten me.

Fairly friendly pub, family friendly too (noting for self). Plenty of room. No jerks, at least today.

Overall, not bad. Like what they've done with it but where can you get a sub-$20 meal these days?!

Later.

Friday, January 9, 2015

3 Wise Monkeys, Sydney


555 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY

Reviewed by: JB
Time of this visit: Wednesday lunchtime


Bananas?


In 1879 some people built a bank; The Bank of Australasia. The heritage building still stands but instead of dealing in the financial side of life, the venue deals in food and beverage, and monkeys. Three crazy pub-loving monkeys. It's bananas. The 3 Wise Monkeys is a main-stayer of Sydney "entertainment", keeping this section of George Street going through day and night. Does it speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil?

Friday, November 1, 2013

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.

Friday, August 30, 2013

KB Hotel, Surry Hills


26 FOVEAUX ST, SURRY HILLS

Reviewers: Bot & Blogs
Review time: Friday Lunchtime


KB, it's still a pub! Yeah! Take that pubs that aren't pubs! In your pub face!

Yes the KB is "still a pub" according to their signage, and we think that's great. However, it's a pub that we all spend more time walking past than actually stopping in and grabbing a beer. Why is this? Too much competition in the area? Yesteryear charm not cutting it any more?

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

St James Hotel, Sydney



114 CASTLEREAGH ST, SYDNEY

Reviewers: Bot & Blogs
Review time: Tuesday lunchtime


St Shames?


We really have to start only going to places that are actually good. Ticking these ordinary establishments off our list is reducing us to whinging reviewers who appear to not like any pub in existence! On the plus side, it certainly makes the better places stand out!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Parlour Bar, The Morrison, Sydney


225 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY

Reviewers: JB, Bot
Review time:  Wednesday lunchtime

"xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx Bar"


Generally if you have nothing good to say about something, don't say anything at all. We're keeping this fairly short. Parlour Bar is not really a pub anyway, in fact neither is The Morrison (The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room) that Parlour is a part of so not sure why we bothered. It sold beer and we were thirsty.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Hollywood Hotel, Surry Hills


Hollywood Hotel


2 FOSTER STREET, SURRY HILLS

Reviewers: Burger Bot, Joe Blogs
Time of Review: Friday lunch time, 1pm

 

"Golden Olden"

 
Tucked away in the backstreets between Museum and Central train stations stands the golden-trimmed Hollywood Hotel. While just a hop, skip and stumble away from The Macquarie Hotel, the two neighbour pubs are worlds apart.

Friday, July 26, 2013

CBD Hotel, Sydney

52 King Street, Sydney
Reviewers: Burger Bot, Joe Blogs
Review time: Friday lunch



"CBD Hotel. City Burger Diner?"


Big arse 5-floor building in the CBD presents Merivale-run pub, CBD Hotel. It's located, you guessed it, in the CBD, and caters for all your corporate bar, bistro and function needs.