Centennial Hotel
The Centennial Hotel restaurant is a local favourite so make sure you book. If you haven’t then you can sit at the bar and position yourself to watch the up and coming Eastern Suburbs crowd. The dinning room is spacious and designed with the hip and trendy crowd in mind. The Italian inspired menu is well known for its woodfired pizzas. The antipasti and primi choices such as garlic and sage mushrooms and insalate Caprese are sure to delight.
This is another of those really flash hotels that you find scattered around Sydney's East (though there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of them). While I generally don't like these upper class establishments all that much, this one wasn't all that bad, especially since the staff bend over backwards to look after you, even if you are only stepping in for a beer. There was no snobbishness in this establishment. Okay, while I can't say much about the food (there are only so many places – usually three at the most – where I can have something to eat) it isn't a bad place to stop by for a beer. The thing that baffles me a bit is why I didn't find this place the last time I was up in this part of the city. Maybe it was because I wasn't keeping an eye out for it. Okay, I knew it existed, but for some reason I couldn't find it. Well, I've been here now.
I have been to this restaurant many times over the years and have always enjoyed it. The waffles are famous. They're not overly fancy or special but just delicious! I went here the other weekend and was quite disappointed by the food though unfortunately. The shared entree's were nice but nothing amazing and not very well presented. It was the main that was the real disappointment though. I ordered snapper and it just didn't seem like restaurant standard - felt more like something I'd cook at home. The snapper wasn't crispy enough and the piece had been broken whilst plated, it sat on top of some boring potatoes, and then some tomato/olive/caper mixture was thrown on top. It tasted alright but I didn't finish it and I usually always finish my meals. My friend said her pasta wasn't too good either. We didn't have dessert so no waffles this time. Hopefully they haven't changed like the rest of the food has.
I came to this pub when my parents from interstate came to visit for the weekend. We only decided to go out for dinner quite late and wanted to try somewhere new. I had been to the Centennial Hotel for drinks after the Randwick Races one day but not for dinner. I noticed then that the food looked quite good so decided to give it a go.
I cannot say enough nice things about the staff there on this particular night. By the time we sat down it was 10pm and they didnt seem to mind. They were just lovely. We all ordered steaks after speaking with our waiter as apparently that's what they were known for. We were certainly not disspointed. My mum had a few special requests and each of them were seen too without any foul looks or anything like that!
A great pub - very warm and welcoming. I will be going back.
