Cornerstone Bar & Food
“We have to remind ourselves that we are a theatre bar,” says Manager Dominic Carnevale. After Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week saw them cater to 22,000 people in a four-and-a-half day period, I reckon Carriageworks’ pre-and-post theatre crowds should be a breeze. It has become an egalitarian everywoman kind of space that (finally) celebrates the gritty industrial roofline, without losing out on creating some cosy nooks and crannies. Think Chesterfields and arty types, noses buried deep inside books, nursing Pear and Maple Old Fashioneds ($18) – understandable as it’s winter, and the wine list shows a distinct lack of Chardonnay. Propping up a pool cue holding My Wife’s Bitter ($7) might not get you a date, but it’s a fun way to kill time before your show. It goes down well with Cod Croquettes and Garlic Aioli ($12) or the (ubiquitous) Wagyu Beef Slider ($12), gussied up here with Gruyere. Leaving aside the obvious critique of the squid ink smear, the Kingfish Carpaccio ($16) eats very well. And there are few pairings more pleasurable than Prosciutto and Figs ($18). While young Bartender Ben King is still tweaking the cocktail list, I rate Under Saged ($18) – a tequila pineapple concoction – even if it was served post-war chic in a jam jar.
Cornerstone Bar & Food
245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
Ph: (02) 8571 9004 cornerstonebarandfood.com.au
Bar, Modern Australian, Cocktails $$
