Robin Hood Hotel

The Robin Hood Hotel’s distinctive wedge-shaped Art Deco silhouette has long fascinated me on drives through Charing Cross. (If you’re scratching your head, we’re talking about the intersection of Bronte Road and Carrington Road in Waverley.) Inside the architecture is shown off to good advantage with a light, open plan front bar that lends itself to daytime thirty-somethings keen for a drink, without ruling out pleasing twenty-somethings who pile in for DJs after 10pm on Saturday night. And despite the odd hipster font used here and there, it’s still the kind of suburban local where you can go without a beard or full-sleeve tattoo. The menu is short and to the point, but there’s nothing wrong with pub classics when they’re handled well. Chicken Parmigiana ($17) gives a good slab of schnitzel, with basil leaves and leg ham tucked between the toppings of tomato and gooey cheese. With decent chips, salad and a Stone and Wood Pacific Ale ($7.70/bottle) lunch is pretty much sorted – unless you wanna split some spicy Buffalo Wings ($12)? Rested a moment longer, the 250g Grain Fed Rump Steak ($12) with creamy mash and well-executed vegies would win my vote for the best-value pub steak in the East; and their pinot-heavy bottle shop is beaut too!

Robin Hood Hotel
203 Bronte Road, Waverley
Ph: (02) 9389 3477 robinhoodhotel.com.au
Pub Bistro $-$$