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Royal Hotel Restaurant

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

The Royal Hotel at Paddington has everything you could want in a venue; but the catch is, they actually do everything with a certain flair that is not often found among the plethora of Sydney pubs. Standing proudly on one of the five apexes that make up Paddington's uber stylish Five Ways, The Royal Hotel has a rambunctious restaurant within the midst of its many levels. Up a couple of flights of steps, this restaurant effuses an atmosphere which merges classic pub with casual elegance. French doors open out to a wrought iron balcony where couples sit taking in the fresh air. Inside is more amicably frenetic due to the capacity which can host large, and usually lively, groups.

The menu sports delightfully modern Australian dishes with a super wine list to match. When you're eating at a pub, however, it's best to stick with the familiar meals and The Royal doesn't disappoint. The fillet steak is juicy and succulent and comes served with thick cut chips and bearnaise sauce. The lamb shanks, braised in tomato and red wine, sit ceremoniously atop creamy mash potatoes, the meat falling away easily from the bone. Plus, there's a terrific menu for the little tackers including veal schnitzel, sausages, peas and mash, and fish and chips. You can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will be catered for at The Royal Hotel and the staff go to many lengths to make this possible.

Annabel Wise, August 2008