The Scene: Halfway between Redfern and Railway Square, on Abercrombie Street, The Chippendale Hotel (87–91 Abercrombie St) is under new ownership and it definitely shows. The streamlined interior and lovely outdoor seating areas now follow a uniform theme – with dark washed walls and stained timber replacing the somewhat haphazard, seemingly grafitti inspired ‘ambience’ that went before it.
The Grub: With new owner come a new chef and a renewed vigour and sense of purpose to the menu. The mission statement of the Chippendale’s new kitchen, for the moment anyway, isn’t so much to reinvent the wheel as it is to take pub food staples like burgers, schnitzels and salads and to make them as fresh, tasty and interesting as possible.
My friend and I were craving burgers and burgers where what we got. A trio of sliders to start ($14) – one a wagyu beef, one a pulled pork (pictured) and the other a beautiful haloumi with sun-ripened capsicum and zucchini. We then had the ($15) Moroccan style chicken burger all served with the Chippo’s signature handcut lemon thyme chips – properly delicious!
Behind the Bar: A nice selection of local(ish) brewed craft ales; Balmain, Stone & Wood, Monteiths – for the more discerning beer drinkers among you – as well as your staple drops. Grab a couple of $10 jugs and you won’t go too far wrong.
Verdict: If you’re looking for top Inner West pub grub then the Chippo’s the place to go – great for a Friday afternoon lunch.
Four of Five Stars, so you know that it’s good!
