Snaffling a table on the coveted balcony, I take in the streetscape that’s inspired fan pages like My Love Affair With Newtown. Truth be told, I’ve got my own slew of memories in this venue, but the new Keith Richards Coconut Incident ($18) melds with them nicely. (Blue drinks slugged from bottles never tasted this fine when I was a teenager.) The placemat-come-menu reveals it’s sharing dishes – a Porteño for poor folk (or those that hate queuing) – though there’s a decidedly Greek twist. Which definitely points to lamb – Coal Roasted Suckling Lamb ($20) to be exact – set off by a moist side of Watermelon, Fetta and Mint ($14). Actually we hedge our bets by also ordering a complete meal for one – the Beef Tri Tip Skewer ($18) – which impresses with grilled, house-made flat bread, and a ripper tzatziki, that’d do well to be included with the aforementioned lamb as standard: hint, hint! It’s the kind of food that demands beer, so we share a Moylans Tipperary Pale Ale ($21/660ml) – a bittersweet symphony that lasts well into our compelling bowl of ‘Backyard’ Lemon Roasted Spuds ($10). Happy endings here are made of sharp Matso’s Ginger Beer ($9.50) against syrupy sweet Baklava Rolls ($13). Downstairs the pub is jumping!
The Animal
Level 1, The Newtown Hotel, 174 King Street, Newtown
Ph: (02) 9557 6399 newtownhotel.com.au
Cocktails, Greek, Pub Bistro $$
