Image: Porter's Liquor Pyrmont is one of my favourite bottle shops. Their recommendations are always right on the money; so when they told me about the inexpensive new bar next door, I followed suit.
Porter’s Liquor Pyrmont is one of my favourite bottle shops. Their recommendations are always right on the money; so when they told me about the inexpensive new bar next door, I followed suit. The deceptively small shop front widens into a sandstone cavern decorated with dictionary pages, lumps of wood, a groovy bird cage candle holder and some outmoded, archaic forms of measurement, tying into the bar name. Friendly owner Julian plays down the self-renovation as “all we could afford”; but I like the way it eschews cutting edge cool and hits warmly inviting squarely on the head. The menu’s harder to define – how about eclectic, female friendly and easy to share? Start with chalkboard delights like Roast Chestnuts ($6) or a wafer thin White Base Pizza with Sliced Potato and Caramelised Red Onion ($13.50), before moving on to menu standouts like the wooden board of Prosciutto, Burgomaster Ham, Salami & Goat’s Cheese ($17). Layer moist Spanish Serrano with chalky cheese and quince paste on a crisp, salty crackers, and order a curiously good breaded Calamari Salad ($15) to keep up your greens. Lubricate with beer, St Helier Pear Cider ($10/500ml) and lesser-known wines such as a likable Marlborough Lobster Reef Pinot Gris ($6/glass, $30/bottle).
Gallon
117 Harris Street, Pyrmont
Ph: (0402) 799 557
Modern Australian $-$$
