The Paddington

Food before the footy There is not much to celebrate at the Sydney Football Stadium these days with the Waratahs playing like a 4th grade club side BUT if you want to go to the football in a good mood then head for the Paddington Arms on Oxford Street. It is within easy walking distance of the stadium and I guarantee you will have that feel good full feeling as you walk towards the stadium. We booked a table for 5, arrived a bit early so had a cleansing ale on the lounge chairs before sitting down. The floor staff was immediately into action and that set a friendly standard for the entire meal. Spoilt for choice on the Grazing Menu we settled for Scotch egg, Spiced Crab on Toast and Oat Crusted Sardine Fillets. Heaven! Each dish was so individual with even the humble Scotch egg coming up trumps. For mains two decided to double up on the Grazing Menu with Black Pudding & Crumbed Pork and the Cajun pumpkin soup. The others got stuck into mains of shoulder of lamb hotpot, pasture fed rump steak and the House made beef burger. The chef just kept the surprises coming with wonderful fresh tastes in each dish. By now the restaurant had filled up, noticeably with people sporting football supporter gear, so booking was a good idea. The floor staff continued to provide great service. Drinks list? Beer, cider or wine the choice was there to satisfy. Great to see a full range of wines by the glass. With the wines there’s a solid Aussie core with enough choice from France, Spain, and Italy to satisfy the curious. Or for those who want to try a different grape variety like Garganega? Drink on. We intend to return and this time we are going to do our own degustation by going through the entire Grazing Menu while selecting our own accompanying drinks. Then again the Whole Pork Belly With Accompaniments for 10 people does sound decadent. Who needs the football anyway?