It’s no secret that Aussies love a local pub/ hotel bar for a good hearty meal with friends, a few after work drinks on a Friday or to party the night away on the weekend! Eastern suburbs institution, The Royal Oak Double Bay, is one such venue popular for classic pub meals and drinks which can be enjoyed on the sprawling terrace, outside in the al fresco Garden Bar, on Phil’s Deck which features a retractable roof or in the Front Bar where you can also watch live TV sports.
Recently The Royal Oak freshened up it’s much loved dining menu with lots of tasty new additions, but don’t worry they still have the classic, crowd favourites on the menu! The extensive new modern Australian menu features a delicious selection of hearty meals and smaller bites and offers a selection of kids menu items, as well as appetizing options for Vegetarian and Gluten free diners.
Sydney Social 101 recently popped in to try out the new menu. We started off with a round of cocktails- after all it was a Wednesday! We ordered Margaritas, Espresso Martinis and Amaretto Sours which were all beautifully served, tasted delicious and did not skimp on the booze- We were in cocktail heaven!
We took our seat on Phil’s Deck and sipped on our cocktails while perusing the extensive menu. Think: salads, burgers, pizza, fish, dumplings, steak etc. We finally decided on a selection of new dishes, classic dishes, smaller bites and larger mains to share. To start, from the new menu we tried the fashionable, fresh and delicious and beautifully presented Poke Bowl of goodness with salmon, avocado, fresh veggies and crispy wonton strips. We also shared the Spicy Bean and Capsicum Nachos served with corn chips, mozzarella, jalapeno peppers, guacamole, and sour cream. The chips were crunchy, the guacamole was plentiful and the cheese was super warm and gooey! Another popular favourite from the new menu which we didn’t try but wish we had of is the crispy pork belly in a cider glaze with pineapple salsa, asian style spicy & sticky pork ribs and shrimp san choy bow served in crispy lettuce leaves. Yum!
For mains we tried the new angel hair pasta which was full of Australian prawns and crab tossed in a perfectly spicy and sour sauce of fresh chilli and lemon. We also devoured the Vegetarian Pizza which featured a crispy base topped with pumpkin, spinach, mushroom, capsicum and goats cheese. Finally, we squeezed in the wagyu beef cheeseburger with cheddar cheese, caramelised onions, ketchup and American mustard.
It breaks my heart to say this but we ran out of room for dessert! But if I had room I would have definitely ordered the Dark Chocolate Brownie served with decadent Kahlua chocolate sauce, and vanilla ice cream. Let’s just say I will be back and I will start with dessert next time to ensure I don’t miss out.
The Royal Oak is a friendly neighbourhood favourite for locals and visitors alike. Whether it is a ice cold bear in the Garden Bar in the summer or a glass or red and a meal in cosy Phil’s Deck in the winter, The Royal Oak is the perfect place to eat, drink and catch up with friends!
Check out the brand new menu HERE
Open: daily from 12pm – 10pm
Address: 28 Bay Street, Double Bay
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