The Village Inn

After a tough week of personal attacks due to his ‘no high vis.’ dress code, Leeroy Petersen was keen to show me what his new venue should be known for – good food.  He has completely gutted a ‘durty’ old Irish bar, giving it new life, natural light, wooden floors and smatterings of taxidermy on the walls. “We’re going down the gastro pub route,” says Petersen. “Forty per cent of takings are food, which is rare for a pub,” he admits. The Underwood ($18) has many fans with its braised, pickled beef, honey carrots and mustard served on toasted soy linseed bread – I don’t think it’s a House of Cards reference but this sanga certainly holds a lot of power. The Pet Two Four ($17) wins the game for best tasting pun: a ham hock terrine with duck rillette (because ducks have two legs and pigs have four – get it?). While on the lighter side, the Nordic ($17), cured salmon with smoked baby potatoes and delicious crunchy capers, pairs nicely with a glass of Pfeiffer Pinot Gris ($12). But don’t listen to me; you can still get your Guinness on tap. And call it a snazzy ‘tradies’ doughnut’ if you will – but the Chocolate Churros ($8) goes down a treat.

The Village Inn
9-11 Glenmore Road, Paddington
Ph: (02) 9331 0911 thevillageinn.com.au
Pub Food $$