Central Hotel

Central Hotel

Leesha McKenny, reviewer

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

With timber tones, downlighting and TVs for the footy, it's not pretending to be anything other than a pub.

A quick count of pubs and bars around Central Station may lead one to reasonably conclude the abysmal state of public transport is driving people to drink. Cocktails. Spirits. The wine casks slung over the Eddy Avenue steps. On a bleary Monday night, a friend and I stop in at the newly renovated Central Hotel. After $2 million worth of work, the hotel is technically the newest addition to the well-trafficked Chalmers Street stretch. Allaying our fears, "hotel" and "renovations" prove not to be the infamous Sydney euphemism for gutted airport lounge of stainless steel. With warm timber tones, ubiquitous downlighting and a few televisions for the football, the lower floor is not pretending, most refreshingly, to be anything other than a pub. The menu, displayed on two large blackboards - one specifically for pizzas - behind the bar, is as unfussy as the decor. We open the ordering with mushroom risotto balls to share ($10) and two pizzas, prosciutto and spinach ($14 each)....

Full review on Sydney Morning Herald