Blogger’s Choice Bar: Blu Bar on 36

Bar Bar Food Booze Cocktails Eat & Drink

Jackie McMillan
October 8, 2014

By Charn Tangson from The Food Diary by CK theckdiary.net

BLU BAR ON 36
Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks (02) 9250 6124 36levelsabove.com.au/blubar
Sometimes enjoying a great drink isn’t just about the drink itself, but also about the experience and atmosphere of the bar. Our favourite small bar is the classy yet cosy Blu Bar on 36 which offers some of the best cocktails in the city with a view to match. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows complete the experience with a breathtaking, panoramic view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. The menu is another sight to behold with half a dozen pages of inventive cocktails ranging from the chilli-infused Fire Hazard to the Orient-inspired Jasmine Garden. The food on offer includes mouth-watering dishes such as wagyu tartare served with ponzu and truffle mayo. Those with a slightly higher budget can opt for the most expensive cocktail in Sydney, dubbed the Martini On The Rock, which goes for a cool $10,000 and includes your very own diamond to keep as a memento.

REVIEW: Karen’s Diner Top Ryde

Arts & Entertainment Eat & Drink Scene

Swagatalakshmi Roychowdhury
June 28, 2022

I am not going to lie, walking into Karen’s Diner, which is reputed to have the worst customer service in the city, can be nerve-wracking. After several minutes of nervous pacing and scrolling through the reservation confirmation with clammy hands, a Karen turned to serve me. Rolling eyes and sass made up most of her demeanour, which finally put me at ease. As I looked around, I realised I was not the only nervous one in the diner. Many of customers were similarly hesitant to order their food, all of whom were understandably unwilling to invoke the Karens’ wrath but equally keen to experience what this place was all about.

An evening at Karen’s Diner was a fun experience indeed. From aggressive pushes of food on the table to constant f-bombs and booing at customers, Karen’s Diner was a vibe.

The diner decorations were also quite beautiful. Seated at a high-top table with a table full of has-beens next to a comic plastered wall we watched the customers heading out to play the Wheel of Misfortune. Misfortunes that could land you anywhere between model walks to the not-so-fun spicy shots.

I ate a meal called the “Royale Karen” alongside sips of a cocktail called the “Sour Karen” – listening to Good Golly Miss Molly playing overhead. The food was good, but it could have been better.