The <i>Sydney Morning Herald Pub Food Guide</i> team of 95 reviewers scoured the highways and byways of NSW. More than 500 pubs later, here are some of their top picks.
Imperial Hotel, Paddington
This is what a pub should be. And it's not just the food. There's a real bid to engage the community here. Ultra-friendly, professional, with a smart fitout.
Patonga Beach Hotel, Patonga
Eating seafood on the patio, with a view of boats in Brisk Bay, is a totally memorable dining experience.
Mitchell Davis, Landmark Hotel, Eastwood
As head chef at the Duck Inn Pub and Kitchen, he put it on the foodie map - and looks like doing it again at the Landmark.
The Clarendon Hotel, Newcastle
The staff are professional, warm and friendly - they go out of their way to make you feel welcome, are fantastic with kids and it appears they have excellent training.
The Lennox Hotel, Lennox Head
This is a corker - a spacious balcony overlooking Seven Mile Beach. Pine trees, waves, sand and horizon as far as the eye can see.
The Australian Heritage Hotel, The Rocks
The most amazing dish is the pavlova stack, a tottering, creamy confection topped off with a cherry, standing tall above a passionfruit coulis and flanked by a couple of slabs of rocky road.
Eltham Hotel, Eltham
Chef Graeme Stockdale uses stacks of local produce, and he's got a veggie patch, too … and kitchen scraps go to the publican's chickens.
Forest Lodge Hotel, Glebe
Most things on the menu are about $10-$15. You don't see that anywhere that knocks out this kind of quality food.
Australian Youth Hotel, Glebe
Soft buns, beautifully seasoned meat, melted cheese, lettuce, beetroot and mustard mayo - this pub delivers burgers with the lot.
Centennial Hotel, Woollahra
There's a wood-fired oven, thin crusts and imaginative toppings deliciously rendered. What more is there to say?
THE RESULTS: the Good Pub Food Guide 2013 Schooner awards
The Sydney Morning Herald Pub Food Guide 2013 will be available for purchase this Saturday with the paper for $5. It is also available for pre-purchase via The Sydney Morning Herald bookshop.
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