Minskys Hotel

Bar Bar Food Booze Cocktails Eat & Drink Pub Bistro Wine

Jackie McMillan
January 22, 2014

With a reputation for being one of the North Shore’s only late night venues where you can get a decent feed after a flick at the Hayden Orpheum, you’ll be pleased to note the newly renovated hotel – subtly masculine without being alienating to women – kept the 1am kitchen. Publican Anthony Brady tells me value for money is very important: “We want people to like this place.” He’s clearly proud of the menu by new chef, Robert Oey (who spent time at Est.). Oey doesn’t forget it’s a pub, but notches up the standards, delivering a well-rendered Caramelised Pork Belly ($25) with Asian ‘slaw; Crisp School Prawns ($10) that won’t damage your mouth; and a great rendition of Chicken Liver Pate ($11) with house-made chutney. Even the ham on his juicy Minskys Burger ($18) is house-smoked. Bar industry heavyweight Jason Crawley has put together a smart, underpriced cocktail list. The Salted-Caramel Espresso Martini ($14) won me, while the Spiced Honey Apple Whisky Sour ($14) wooed my dining companion. Wine’s actually where it’s at – what with an Enomatic wine pouring system and charismatic bartender Liv, who’ll happily tell ladies who walk in after work and slump at the bar: “You need a big glass!” Try the Pichot Vouvray Sec ($13/150ml glass, $21/225ml glass)…

Minskys Hotel
287 Military Road, Cremorne
Ph: (02) 9909 8888 minskyshotel.com.au
Pub Bistro, Cocktails, Wine $$-$$$

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.