We wandered into the 'Hood last Sunday. BF ordered a Lashes and the friendly barman informed him of a special deal - local Brissy pale ale, $8 a pint. Appreciative of the gesture, BF accepted and we settled in. At some point during the arvo, the chef came round proffering a massive plate of freshly-fried spring rolls slathered in sweet chilli sauce as a free nibble for the punters. BF and I happily munched away. Well played, Robin Hood Hotel.
The menu is a bit sparse, but has all the usual suspects - burgers, fish and chips and the like. Unlike the Charing Cross Hotel across the street which sells their F&C at a bargain $24 (sense the sarcasm?) the 'Hood clocked their battered fish in at a respectable $15, inclusive of tartare and two sides of choice. We went down the chilli coleslaw and chips route.
Portion of fish was hefty, with 3-4 sizable pieces, a tad underdone and fairly batter-heavy. But the fish itself was fresh and tasty. Chili coleslaw was a bit dry, a strange-ish flavour and lacked the creaminess I normally crave in a 'slaw. Chips were delish and plenty of them. The whole production came in a lovely wicker basket with a tartare that was reminiscent of sour cream with a gherkin haphazardly thrown in, but still tasted ok. A lemon wedge was a nice touch. Bottom line -we both got fed by one meal for only $15. And got a free spring roll. Hence the 4 star rating. Overall, a win.
Ambiance was awesome - all worn comfy leather couches and high-top bar tables. There's an outside space as well. Clientele an interesting mix of hippies, beach-goers and hipsters. Live music from 3pm on a Sunday, which was awesome. The food was OK, but I'd def come back for a brew, some hot chips, and live bluegrass tunes. A fun, relaxed way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. read more