KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT
In breaking news from one of the country’s most read metropolitan mastheads, potato wedges are out and polenta fries are in when it comes to the criteria for what makes a good pub.
The revelation comes as the SMH Good Food Guide put forward a list of the top watering holes in the Harbour Cesspit, a list which seemed to heavily feature the kind of yuppie-friendly pubs that have linen napkins and doggy treats on offer for local Saint Berdoodle owners who’ve just stepped out of a two- bedroom terrace.
The article, which has been seen by The Advocate, appeared to suggest that the only good pubs in a city of 5.4 million people can be found within a 5km radius of Bondi Junction, or alternatively the hyper-inner west for those brave souls that don’t mind a dash of “grunge aesthetic” with their Sour Lemon IPA.
Reading through the top watering holes listed, the Good Food Guide appeared to suggest the criteria that makes for a good pub is an extensive imported wine list, a menu that features swordfish carpaccio and ‘dog-friendly’ beef tartare, and certainly no venue that offers up a 1kg Surf n’ Turf challenge or schnitzels with a Mexican topper.
The review comes completely at odds with the opinions of Betoota’s very own food and wine reviewer, Brett ‘Parmi’ Giana, who told our newsroom many of the establishments listed don’t pass ‘the pub test’ in his eyes.
“Mate that list is hogshit, I’ve suffered through half of those venues in Sydney and they’re not pubs, they’re wine bars for snobs who’ve never ripped open a packet of Nobbys Nuts in their life.”
“They’ve got beige walls, beige menus, $12 schooners of low-carb piss and about as much warmth and character as a dentist’s waiting room.”
“Come down to the Shearers Arms Hotel in West Betoota tonight for trivia and $14 Lamb Cutlet night, I’ll show you a proper pub!”
More to come.
