Pacific Penthouse

I was there last night for dinner while a State of Origin match was televised. The place was busy, and I suppose I’ll give them a small benefit of doubt, based on the fact that their kitchen was being hammered (which is a bit odd given they would expect people to be in pubs for this kind of thing).
My friends ordered a variety of food, the more notable being the duck fried rice which my mate next to me ordered. I’ve ordered this before and this time it looked as good as previously. Memory tells me that it was tasty, and large-​portioned, but $ 18 for a pub meal… asking a bit much. $ 15 might be more reasonable.
Another dish I noted was a bangers and mash, with an extra banger. Apparently it was about $ 12 and was both sizeable and had a good aroma.
For myself, I ordered a beef curry… it was creamy and for $ 10, it was great value. If I were the chef I’d put a little more curry powder/​herbs into the sauce — yes it was creamy, but it tasted… just creamy. If I was blindfolded I wouldn’t have told you it was curry.
I managed to get my hands on some wedges too… My friend who ordered it couldn’t finish it, and after doing a taste-​test for my fellow Unilocalers, I figured out why — way over-​fried and had this strange red batter on it. It was crusted around some of the wedges and held a lot of oil… a lot.

Went here for dinner with family last night. Really nice atmosphere in the place! We arrived about 7pm and there was a great buzz, lots of people having Xmas dinners, a few beers etc. We got a table easily and the menu was pretty good. I struggled a little due to some food allergies I have but finally settled on a good old chicken Parma. It was really good. Fresh unprocessed chicken cooked well. Family had ribs which were devoured and the steak, another winner. They also have a good beer garden which we sat in for a while. The only down side is drink is quite expensive there, much more so than in a normal bar so can’t ever see myself sitting there for a big night out…

It just feels like the AB has been around for donkeys. And, to be fair, it probably has.
Words like ‘stalwart’ and ‘institution’ and ‘since time immemorial’ spring to mind.
If there’s any kind of sporting game on the place is a heaving sea of people, with a good smattering of women sprinkled in amongst the blokes, a better ratio than at most other pubs which is great for the one-​man wolf pack or the lone frotter (look it up. Actually. .. don’t. Really, don’t).
Where the AB really shines is the food’n’booze. Loads of different drunks and a rotating roster of specials, just like a good pub should have. And the food! These guys have reinvented themselves as a gastro pub of some repute, snagging a coveted SMH Good Food Guide recommendation in the process.
There’s some really lovely steaks at the higher end, and at the lower end, well, take your pick. I did, and my picks were the Laotian soup, a piping broth filled with coriander and noodles and rare roast beef, and the dragon dumplings, each served in their own individual spoon with dipping sauce.

The AB hotel is short for the Ancient Briton. Not particularly British in style though, this pub is the same refurbished sleek commodity as all the others after the smoking law renovation boom.
The food here is top notch however, with a menu that caters to a sliding scale pricewise. There is the fancy pants $ 20+ meals, as well as another menu specifically with $ 10 and $ 11 meals. You can even add parmigiana sauce and make your chicken schnitzel a whopping $ 14. There is an asian focus to the dining menu which is a nice change from pub grub if that’s what you like.
The outdoor area is smokers haven but not so bad for non smokers. Friday night after work drinks here are simply bonza.

I’m on my way to a party, Wales is playing France on the television and every bar I walk past is chock full of people cheering for the Welsh team.
I need to buy a bottle of wine and so, en route to the social do, I pop into AB Hotel’s adjoining bottle shop.
Upon entry I am greeted by a French Man offering me a taste of some of the Bordeaux province’s wines. I opt for the white and try a sample. It’s very tasty but I am not a wine connoisseur, I wish I was, but if it’s it not being poured from a silver pillow case, I consider it fancy.
Choosing one, I line up with the cheap bottle and keep an eye on the game in the room next door; it’s not looking good for Wales.
I pay for my wine and make my way back out of that crowded bottle shop, back on to the street and continue en route to said social gathering.

In my opinion, this is what it takes to be a great pub:
* Cheap pub grub
* A good courtyard
* Good ciders on tap
* Good trivia night
* Relaxed atmosphere
That’s five points for a good, stock-​standard local. If they decide to do something interesting with their décor then that’s a bonus.
The AB in Glebe ticks off most of these, but it’s the important few that it leaves empty that prevent it from kicking it with the best.
Here’s what the AB does have: it’s got a good, sunny courtyard. Whilst it’s not very big, Glebe-​ers are more than happy to share their table with you, and it’s a pretty nice place for a Sunday arvo cider. Which brings me to my second point.
The AB does have cider on tap. In fact, they quite a good cider — Pipsqueak. But whilst this appears to tick a box, the fact of the matter is that I’m not willing to pay over $ 8 for a schooner of cider — at least not at my local.
The AB also rocks a good Music Trivia night. Whilst last time I contributed only a handful of correct answers, a good trivia night is an inexpensive and relaxed way to hang out with your friends on a Wednesday night. The atmosphere here is pretty chilled (that’s another tick), and with the potential prize pool including a keg party, it’s always worth a try.
But the one place where the AB fails to impress is with its menu. Yes, I do have a few friends who think the food here is ok, but I’m yet to be impressed. These days I tend to duck across to Fish On Fire for my dinner between ciders. The menu at the AB is neither cheap (average meal $ 22) nor can it really qualify as typical pub grub, as it opts instead for your classier Asian inspired dishes. Whilst some may view this as a positive, it fails to meet my ‘good pub’ criteria. What’s more, there’s not really much on offer if you’re not into meat.
The AB does tick many boxes, and I wouldn’t say no to meeting a friend there for a drink. But if asked for other options, I could think of many.

The AB is a real gem in the rough. At first glance, it would be easy to disregard as your standard sports pub. Yes, the main room near the door is outfitted with only televisions and bar tables, but if you keep exploring you’ll find so much more on offer. Upstairs is a remarkably large lounge with fireplaces and an enormous fish tank that spans the length of the bar. There are plenty of nooks and crannies for secret sharing.
Back in the cold winter months, I used to come down to the AB for a quiet lunch. I would order the delicious pork phở for $ 8.50 accompanied by a cheeky glass of red and lounge in an overstuffed, leather chair by the fire. I felt like a modern day, female Huge Hefner up there in the plush lair… minus the bunnies.