Totally amazing now! Clean, all new furniture, same great hospo staff, and food. Great place to…read morehave an impromptu meeting in a quiet and clean setting. The daily food specials are amazing, and on Friday is the Chatty Platter at $30, normally $46 for members. It states it feeds two, eat easily would satisfy four! Best place in Chatswood for a business lunch for sure.

By Odin's beard, this is good food. Plus the whole hunter / gatherer concept taps into something in…read moremy primal lizard brain, like I foraged and hunted my meal myself clad only in a loincloth and spear and dragged it back to feed the tribe amid much fanfare and they probably made me chief or something. The concept is simple - you choose a meat (hunter) and a side (gatherer). There's around 5 meats to choose from and they're unreal, we're talking deconstructed shepherd's pie, slow roasted Berkshire pork, that kind of thing, each of which is almost a meal in itself and comes with garnishes and sides like sauerkraut and slaw and such. The sides are a bonus, I had crumbed haloumi salad wth mint and this thing was legit, I would have smashed this alone. Extra sides are just $4, can highly recommend going for broke here. There's a ton of good options. Win, win, win.

Always can fit you in for a really good meal. I've been coming here quite a lot and really enjoy…read morethe atmosphere and tasty food

Maybe you can see the bridge from upstairs, since this place is reasonably close to the Harbour…read moreBridge, but unfortunately, it was closed, so I'm not really able to confirm anything in that regards. However, as far as I'm concerned I really couldn't see any bridge from this pub. As a place to grab a beer, well, it was okay, but nothing really all that out of the ordinary. Also, being a bit of a hike from anywhere but the local area probably suggests that it is a place suited for the locals.

Ah the Bridgey! I once saw a guy put another guy's head through the front window here. Mind you,…read morethat was years ago when it had a bit of a rougher reputation. These days it's a perfectly serviceable old man-style pub with some good food specials and a daily happy hour. The food is gastro pub prices (think $20-$25 mains and $8 bowls of chips) but there's a special most nights, the chicken schnitty one is particularly good, you get a huge gourmet schnitterz with a range of flavours and slaw and chips and the entire plate is big as a man's face. This is a good place to watch the footy at over a quiet jar of something cold and bitter. Hunker down in one of the leather couches and ask for your game to be turned on the big screen, although it will depend on what's on and how many other punters are in for the other codes. AFL, pffft. Barely a sport.

I'd been living in Sydney for all of one week when I wondered up to the Crows Nest Community Centre…read morehoping to find out about the new area I was living. I walked in and happened to find my new community nurse too - ideal timing as my daughter was due for her six month check up that week also. I told the nurse that I was knew to the area and within 5 minutes of me being there she had me on the phone to one of the women in a local mother's group. I'd found a tribe without even trying. I love this centre for a few reasons other than the warm welcome I received from the nurses. Inside there is a place area and change area if you are in need of a place to breastfeed away from the busy streets and cafes. Outside there is a decent grass space that you'll find dozens (no exaggeration here) of mothers with prams or on the weekend market stalls and a general community buzz. There's no doubt Crows Nest is family oriented but what I like about it is that it's still dynamic enough to host an array of young creative types working away on their laptops and specialty shops. Every town needs a hub that is clean, safe and welcoming and the Community Centre feels like that place in Crows Nest.

I've seen many things at the North Sydney Oval, many things that I've not seen anywhere else…read more Growing up on the North side meant that this was the major oval of closest convenience and this is where we would go to watch sport as a family when we did. I've seen International Soccer games here; I watched the Northern Spirits, captained by Robbie Slater in the competition outdating the current A-League; I watched the North Sydney Bears play when they were still a team; I watched a national baseball competition, though given my lack of interest in the sport and how long ago the event took place I am unsure as to whether it was an acid flashback or not. I've even worked there. In 2010 I worked as a food and drinks attendant to the "Gold Class" customers who came in to enjoy a movie under the stars. This was under the guise of the 'Starlight Cinema'. It's a diverse oval, capable of holding many events. The sport is great when it is being played there, though none of the teams I know play there anymore and the events it holds are truly enjoyable, especially when they take place on the grass itself. The oval is surrounded by St Leonards park and is only a brisk walk away from North Sydney station. If you're on the north side it's an accessible oval that can cater to your sporting needs without having to make the trek out to Moore Park. (Provided your team plays there.) However, there's more than just sport at North Sydney Oval.

Pull on your fancy pants, this place is the members club you've been waiting for all your life…read more Straight outta the London members club stlyez, The Stables is around $1000/year for membership (from memory, you should double check that if you're keen) and gets you unlimited access to their unbelievably plush mega penthouse on top of the Randwick Racecourse Pavilion, a huge, custom-built millionaires playground pimped out with epic terraces, beautiful bars, expensive things in glass cabinets, leather booths, private rooms, an exclusive restaurant, chess sets, and the golden Moet & Chandon room overlooking the track. Some people use it for meetings, some to co-work with a like-minded community, some go for race day access, others are there to see and be seen or, y'know, just show off. Guess which category I fell into. You'll never guess. Okay you probably will guess it was to show off, there I said it, are you happy now?

When I approached this restaurant connected to other businesses with limited signage, I must say, I…read morewas a bit concerned. Sure, I did not select the restaurant but quickly found out that the meeting setter had not patronised the restaurant - yup, a pure blind visit. I have to say, I was happy with the food and service, the fillet was cooled properly for all and the wine list was pure Aussie but decent. I will definitely visit again in the future. Too bad I was stuffed and did not try the desserts - maybe next time.

Such a grand old dame. You can almost imagine Jane Austen types in their corsets taking tea on the…read morebalcony and giggling behind lace gloves. I don't know if that's what people did back then, but that's what they do in my head. High tea here is as luvverly as you'd expect, there's egg salad sandwiches and marinated chicken sandwiches and little gorgeous desserts and small scones served with lashing of jam and cream, and more tea types than you'll be prepared to choose from - you were warned. Dress up and make it faaaancy, it's the only way to fly. Oh, and explore the house and grounds, they're rool noice mister.

Absolutely beautiful spot for high tea in a grand old mansion…read more The decor is beautiful here - bright open rooms with tasteful furnishings and crisp white linen on the table. We ordered the traditional high tea (one of which was vegetarian) and it was delicious. An excellent range of sandwiches, mini quiches, and of course dessert (doesn't it look great?). The service was lovely and attentive and prices reasonable for high tea. Highly recommend - nice change from the well known spots!

I've seen many a great band advertised here but as is my wont, the thing that finally got me here…read morewas the lure of a spankin new comedy night. And it doesn't hurt that this deep wild-wild-inner-western venue is on the freakin bondi junction train line! #ftw Hump Night (Wednesdays, in a camel themed bar, capiche?) Comedy's opening night was brilliant, with a stellar lineup & full house. The decor description is best quoted to the night's MC- David Smeidt- who described it ss if a gay pirate was having a garage sale. Camels, camel themes, and some classic posters- the gay pirates responsible for decorating Camelot have definitely never heard the expression, "less is more"... I ordered a garlic pizza cos it was like $8. It was alright & for $8 I ain't gonna complain the crust was a bit hard tho. Some pretty amazing looking mezze plates were doing the rounds and making me regret my decision. Now that I know how easy it is to get to and groovy a venue it is I'm looking forward to joining the camel cult.

Random nights are the best nights, aren't they?…read more My friend Isobel sent me a message last week, with a Facebook link saying, wanna check this out next week in good old Marrickville? I was like, yeeerrrppppp, let's go. Why not, right? So tonight, I look at the Facebook page to figure out where it is and its like all trendy and ambiguous "in the back streets of Marrickville".... well, where the FUCK is that, eh??? Bloody thing. Well, I figured it out and I can't tell you how AWESOME it was! Dimly lit, trendy, hipster kitch. Think Shady Pines, but not so much Americana. Yes, cowboys. But also gypsies, persian carpets, camels and eastern flair. The owner, came over and introduced himself to us and was like, how did you hear about us? Well, we have the very uncool story that Isobel's mum told her about it. Yeah, I'm serious. LOL. We think it's funny as hell too, especially since the place was so great, so unknown. Her mum saw some live music here a few weeks ago. I should probably make up a cooler story about how I know about the place that makes me sound really awesome with my finger right on the pulse of avant guarde Sydney or something, so when I bring people here I can be like... yeah... I'm cool... man?!! We had wines which were delicious. I had an SA Pinot Noir. Hey, look! I'm trying to learn my wines! Be impressed. I'm a wine doofus. Downstairs is "Django Bar" which is I guess, not a music venue. Camelot is technically on the top floor, and is a music venue with some food... the garlic pizza is amazing. Perfectly garlicky and cheesy melty goodness. Sean Taylor was playing, he was described as a Chris Isaak acoustic guitar type.... well, wow, I could have easily stayed out til past midnight if it wasn't a school night. He was amazing. Everything was 5 star. I'm really glad to be able to write this review for such a great NEW establishment, but it's even better that it's in my home suburb of dear old MARRICKVILLE!!! Marrickville is seriously Sydney's Brooklyn. Seriously. Its coming up in the world. Watch out.

Why doesn't Chatswood have any cool bars? Like, it's growing. Exploding, almost. Nobody but oil…read morebarons and foreign princes can afford property here now. But there's no small bars, and no late-night nightlife. Mike Baird, what have you done here? And why doesn't anyone know about it? Anyway, that's clearly a digression. This place bucks the no-bar trend, in fact it's the only place worth drinking in Chatty. (Chelsea Hotel and The Orchard are both soulless). It's *gasp* trendy, if I can say that and not sound like a dag. Probably too late for that. Ah well. There's craft beers you've never heard of and a thoughtful wine list and creative (and affordable!) cocktails and lots of different places to sit depending on whether you're on a date, a corporate lunch, or a catch-up with an old friend that likes playing pool. Magical trees covered in fairy lights welcome you, there's couches, and fun outdoor areas. Come. Drink. Liven Chatswood up with the sound of your laughter and Viking-like merry-making.

Good times great place. Highly recommended! The funky…read moreatmosphere is only topped by the yummy food.