The Balmain Hotel

This is one of those gorgeous pubs that I simply cannot help but love, and love it I do. If there is a word to describe it then that would be eclectic. This pub is magnificent, even if it is just the gorgeous beer garden, the interior rooms, or just the fact that they have some really great beers on tap. Sure, it might not be the easiest pub to get to, sort of being out of the way and all that, but it is certainly worth the trek.

This is an intriguingly designed pub, each room has its own style, with the dining area around the kitchen dark-wooded, low-lit and casual. This is a pub, and pubs live and die by their classics. Fortunately the Balmain Burger ($18) stands and delivers. This is classic Australiana: smoky, charred beef patty, sharp with grated beetroot and pickles, and freshened up with salad. This is a solid pub menu, and the stand out dish reflects it - that's one tasty burger.

We had a baby shower for a colleague at the beer garden (tiki hut) and we loved it. The beer garden is spacious and nicely decked out, we ordered a whole bunch of food to share (Thursday is 2 for 1 pizza so went a little crazy), the aranchiniballs were deveine and the chicken wings were pretty good too. At night the fairy lights came on and it made the beer garden even more awesome. Friendly staff, good vibes, it was great.

Had a casual lunch here yesterday. The food menu was typical pub grub with a bit of a modern twist. I had the pulled pork burger with chilli fries. It was nice, but at $18 on the more expensive end of what I'd expect to pay for a pub burger. The fit out of the pub is very bright and modern. A big change from the old West End days. Whilst fancy beer features on tap, you can get a VB stubbie or Carlton on tap.

A beer garden out the back, which is dog friendly, makes this a great location to pass away the time with mates in summer. The menu offering is really good. The duck buns are a highlight, though disappointed they've recently changed the pricing and portions of the menu. #reviewtowin