The interior decoration is tasteful, fun and a little bit quirky, and there’s a pretty little deck out the back to enjoy a cold brew in the warm sun. The lighting is nice, the staff are friendly but unobtrusive and in many ways it would be the perfect place to while away a day or two luxuriating, chewing your jaw off. Although on this occasion, we were here to talk about the food. It skirts a line of fashionable modern reinventions of pub classics with inspiration from Mediterranean tapas and Japanese izakaya-style bar food that takes just enough risk to be interesting. You’ll find little treats like jalapeno poppers with your choice of dipping sauce (of which there are about a dozen), deep fried potato skins served in a chalupa basket and corn bread topped with chilli corn carne, or vege chilli and fresh herbs. The menu is exceptionally tasty and has a good amount of variety. While a few years ago the focus seemed to be on fun, flavoursome vegetarian dishes, the chef has added a good amount of carnivorous options, too, like the baked chicken wings with your choice of sauce, slow cooked pork ribs and Cajun jambalaya with chicken, chorizo and prawns. The poutine is a fine example of a classic drinking dish: beer battered chips with house made gravy and your choice of cheese curds or melted cheese. Almost every meat option on the menu has a non-boring vegetarian alternative and the beer taps change regularly. The laid-back crowd is welcoming, diverse and the vibe is totally reflective of the eclectic surrounding Smith Street. You’ll like it here.
EDITOR’S PICK
Chicken wings. I can’t get enough of them.
