Okay, being in the Northern Beaches part of Sydney means that this isn't one of the easiest pubs to…read moreget to, though being on a main road does help. I didn't think that the pub was all that bad, though in a way there wasn't all that much to make it stand out (which seems to be a constant theme where I'm concerned). There is a nice outdoor area, but once again, not one that really grabbed my imagination.

Large pub set off a busy main road. It would be easy to miss, as this section of Brookvale is…read moresomething you'd normally be driving through as quickly as possible. But it was renovated earlier this year, and the expansive pub inside doesn't look too bad. There's a sports bar and smoking area up front, and large bistro/drinking/beer garden areas out the back. Inside is a bit too dark for my tastes; a skylight would go a long way. But the drinks selection is decent, and is the food menu. They've got one of those cook-your-own-steak grills if you don't mind doing that. We stopped in for a Sunday lunch and found it relaxing. Good service, not too packed, nice clean toilets, shaded seats outside. All of this would normally add up to a 3-star review for me, but my lunch easily tips it up to a 4-star. For I had here, at the Brookvale Hotel, the best burger of my five years in Australia. It was thick, coarsely-ground, blackened, well-seasoned meat, with crisp, fresh toppings, delicious spicy sauce, and a springy brioche bun. It was an amazing, sensational hamburger.

This place is owned by the same people who own The Cook's Garden next door. In fact, they have…read moreknocked down walls and joined the two places together. The Garden Tap is an informal, small bar/pub food type place while The Cook's Garden is a fairly swanky (and very good) restaurant. We managed to leave the kids at home and go out for our wedding anniversary (19 years, thanks for asking). We had a booking at The Cook's Garden next door but stopped in here for a quick drink before dinner. We were very tempted to stay here instead. This is a small bar in the suburbs, so already a rarity. It's relaxed and casual. It's also not tragically hipster, which is a real rarity for a small bar. The drink selection is good (but not huge) with some nice craft beers and ciders. The food looks amazing though. Superb looking burgers. Amazing looking steaks. We very nearly cancelled our booking next door and ate here instead. We didn't though. We had a very nice meal next door and will have to eat (rather than just look at) the food next time. It's kid friendly so the next time we feel like taking the family out for the night we may well go here.

My second time here and when I just went to the bar to order my lunch I remembered why I'm…read morereturning......several bright 'hellos' as I approached the bar. And I like the feel of the place. Light, airy and casual. Today I've gone for the Pulled Pork Burger. It comes with smokey BBQ sauce, coleslaw and Mayo. . I like to be given the option of chips or salad so I opted for the salad. And a glass of cold Sav Blanc. Life is good! On Sunday afternoons they have live music. It kicks off from 4. And each Sunday a Sunday Roast is on the menu. This week it will be pink roasted lamb saddle, zaataar spiced stuffing and baked kiplers.

Great time amazing service, specially lamb chops are the best in the area ... all hands downread more

This pub wasn't all that bad, though it is quite clearly a beachside pub, probably because it…read morehappens to be next to the beach. I had passed it by the last time I was down this way, but since I had a bit more time on my hands, and also because I hadn't actually had a beer here either, I thought that it might be worth checking out. Well, that turned out to be the case that it was worth checking out, particularly with them having a nice range of beers, and also some rather friendly staff. While it wasn't one of the best places I have been to, it was still quite a nice place to visit.

My friends brought me to 4 Pines to pregame before the Sea Eagles match. The bar was packed with…read morefans in their maroon and white. This location is known as the Truck Bar because the bar is built into the skeleton of a 1960s Dodge Pickup. Unfortunately, I didn't notice this detail because there were just so many people in the place. The lines were long, but moved quickly. I don't remember which beer I had, but I enjoyed it. If you're not a beer drinker, they do offer wine and cocktails. The brewery has a full menu with items like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and chicken bites. We shared an order of fries and they were really good. I loved that it came with mayo. We managed to find some seats upstairs. They have large tables which is great for groups. Everyone was friendly and made space for us to sit. They have weekly events like half priced burgers on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesdays, and tours on Saturdays. There's tons of large screens to watch games and they have pool tables as well. This was a fun spot to visit! I see why it's popular with the locals.

Great little brewery upstairs. Do a tasting with an over the bridge. Super friendly bar tenders.read more

Ohhh, but old father time has a way of fixing things…read more I live about a minute away from the Northbridge Hotel but never went there because, well - how to put this - it was a wretched hive of scum and villainy (thanks, Star Wars!) Weird old men betting ion the horses and, well, folks whose eyes didn't exactly look in the same direction, if you catch my drift. And I think you do. But now. Now! The Northbridge Hotel got a cool-over in every sense of the word. The menu kicks A (A stands for ass. Yep.), they're trying different stuff like chicken wing Wednesdays (which I believe their sister bar The Fringe in Paddo also do) and the interior is now a place that I'd want to hang out in. There's still a big focus on the nags, with TV screens and a TAB catering perfectly to those people who love a flutter, casual or otherwise. And look, I have to mention the hot chips. Such chips. Piping hot, heaped on the plate, with some kind of cajun spice rub and a bowl of what I can only assume is chilli mayonnaise hand-delivered by whatever Greek god is in charge of condiments.

Super Friday lunch spot. Well priced pub meals, cold drinks and friendly service. Pub looks newly…read morerenovated and is a nice place to spend an afternoon. Recommended!

This is another one of those pubs that aren't the easiest to get to, yet it still had some charm…read moreabout it. I probably shouldn't call it a Manly Pub, or even a beach side pub, though in a way it did have some charm about it that made me think that it was quite okay. Actually, I guess it was the outdoor area that did it to an extent, though it also had a nice feel about it inside. The staff were pretty good, and the place was quite relaxing, though it really isn't one of the best that I've visited.

We ordered the GIANT seafood platter, the 1kg bowl of mussels and a spinach salad with orange,…read morecashews and tomato to share amongst four people. When the platter was served it looked AMAZING!!! There was a mix of fresh seafood - oysters, balmain bugs and prawns, as well as cooked seafood including a mountain of calamari, battered fish, battered prawns and a huge bowl of chips... it was served with a huge amount of fresh fruits including mango, pineapple, watermelon, orange, strawberries, raspberries, passionfruit, blueberries, honeydew melon... basically everything!! The other dish - the mussels - were delicious!! There is a choice of a tomato based sauce or a creamy white wine sauce for them... we chose the tomato - it was great, and served with a baguette for dipping. The salad was the only average dish, as I think it was outshined by the other dishes but all in all the meal was GREAT and I would definitely recommend this place!! I would also like to point out how welcoming and attentive the staff were!!! - GREAT service for us!

I love this place. The food is yummy, the staff are very kind and the place is very clean. There is…read more2 places of kids to play in and the are pretty big. I will definitely come back later!

The Belrose Hotel. The Belrose Hotel. The Belrose Hotel. Must remember that it's now called the…read moreBelrose Hotel. But it's hard. Having gone to the President (or Presso) for netball dinners and trivia nights for, say, my whole life, it's hard to make the transition into this snazzy new "Belrose Hotel" that's popped up in my suburb. I'm not the only one; I have yet to meet another Belrose-dweller of my vintage who has gotten with the times and called it by its name. But anyway. The Presso of my childhood has been bought, renamed and renovated. Very much to its advantage; what was before a dingy bar/bistro is now a big, bright space that you'd be happy to take your kids to for dinner. As are all similar hotels in the suburbs, it's cheap eats and drinks. Often, my mailbox is filled with coupons offering a "BUY ONE MEAL, GET ONE FREE". Not bad, Belrose, not bad. The service is good; quick and cheerful on both the food and drinks. The drinks are all the standard choices at reasonable prices, but the food is average pub grub. The problems faced by the President, however, are now faced by the Belrose Hotel. How to attract a cool crowd? The only people who really go there with much frequency are those that are quietly called alcoholics behind their backs, and very young families. Occasionally, a sporting match or trivia night will pull a crowd together, but it's generally limited by its location. Young people would probably like to pre-drink at those prices; but where to afterwards? The Bowling Club?

Middle Harbour Yacht Club is a series of buildings along the waterfront at the southern end of Spit…read moreBridge. You can't miss the entrance to the clubhouse where you'll find Skiffies Chargrill - it's the one with the bizarre roof-height fake palm trees. Being a Club, you sign into go to Skiffies in much the same way you do at an RSL. The restaurant is out the water front side, hidden behind unmarked doors, but the bar and restaurant inside is cheerful and welcoming, with options for either indoor dining or an alfresco covered deck overlooking the yacht marina - all very pleasant. Used to Sydney bar prices, the chit for the first round of drinks was a nice surprise - and the pattern continued with the well-priced menu. It features the usual suspects - burgers, steaks, a pasta dish, some fish - table service and generous proportions. All a welcome contrast to my only previous dining experience at MHYC which was at a function in the older part of the Club ranking as one of the worst pieces of group catering I've had! The revamped Skiffies only opened recently, and along with other upgrades to the club is attracting lots of new guests and even memberships.

They have done a fantastic job with the refurb! With picturesque views and food to compliment I…read morewill defiantly return soon