Died On Hold

Kingsley's, and Woolloomooloo Wharf generally, is by now a Sydney institution. Save for Icebergs, perhaps, there is no better place for lunch in Sydney. The location is gorgeous, the afternoon winter sun even more so. And, happily, the steak meets the required standard. (My 200g grass-fed ribeye was delicious.)  Although I still have Moo Moo's in Brisbane slightly ahead on the steak-o-meter, and although Kingsley's is fully priced, the whole package remains superb for a special occasion. Like any Friday. Keep reading »

Omerta is another one of the wine bar/restuaruants that has sprung up in Sydney with the change in the licensing laws. It's a welcome addition. Mrs DOH and I lobbed in on a Saturday night, reservation-less, and found our whole experience very positive. Friendly and knowledgeable service from both the maitre d' and our waiter, delicious Italian food (I had pork shoulder and we shared a crusty soup) and a buzzy vibe in very pleasant surroudings. It wasn't cheap but it did deliver a most enjoyable night.

Zinc used to be my number 1 weekend breakfast spot. The big tables, ample supply of newspapers, good coffee and delicioius bacon sandwich kept myself and Mrs DOH coming back week after week. Kids now make our visits rarer, but I squeezed one in today. The coffee is still good, and the big table saw me through 31 pages of sports section, but I'm sad to say the bacon sandwich has lost its zing. I don't know if they changed the recipe, but it's not the same as in its beetroot and mayo-infused glory days (c. 2003-08). Keep reading »

Lobbed into Cumulus last night without knowing anything about it (turns out it's new, hip and the chef is quite well-known). I was quite impressed. Casual, buzzy vibe with outstanding food and quick, knowledgeable, friendly service (e.g. good recommendations for both wine and food). I had the lamb shoulder as a main course and it was delish. It's not in the cheap-and-cheerful category, but it's very good.

The service here has improved significantly - it's more personal and more competent - and the coffee has always been good, if you like the chocolatey Toby's blend, but I still don't love the place. Probably two main reasons: the food, which is ok but not great (sandwiches too bready, breakfast eggs not up to snuff), and the small tables, which preclude newspaper reading (a cardinal sin in a cafe). However the weekend and late afternoon opening hours make it a convenient option when other places (e.g. Collier's) are closed.

I grew up in Stanmore, and, for better or worse, grew up with R & R hair. Originally it was the first 'R', Renato, who took care of things, but with his passing a couple of years ago, it's the second 'R', his son Roger, who runs the show. He's reliably delivered my No.3 round the back and sides and a trim on top for years, and still can't bring himself to charge more than $20. (I think it's around $16-18, actually, with plenty of soccer chat thrown in.) Great value, so much so that I still drive to Stanmore for haircuts.

I took a stroll up Crown St on Sunday afternoon with no fixed destination in mind. Title ended up being it. It drew me in with a comfortingly old-school value proposition: a small but select range of CDs. For one who blew way too much money on music in the '90s (or was it the rest of it I wasted?), this was a real retro pleasure. Unfortunately CDs weren't arranged alphabetically, which made browsing somewhat random, but there was an interesting range of genres, from rock through funk, blues and rock to classical. Keep reading »

I am not the type to mist up over fashion. After all, my idea of a big friday night is a six-pack and Friday Night Football. I am also not one who thinks business shirts must cost $180 each to be any good. However I still LOVE Baubridge & Kay. Beautiful fabrics, immaculately cut make the best business shirts going around. You know, the ones you pull out for the big presentation or the meeting with the CEO. The "A" Shirts, which make up an all-too-small proportion of your wardrobe. The ones that make you feel like George Clooney when you put them on. That's Baubridge & Kay. Keep reading »

Mrs Died On Hold would not like the Strand Hotel. This is probably why I've never taken her there. She has a deep and abiding dislike of all businesses which operate in the mid-range. She loves a good low-rent operation, and of course can cope with the top-end. It's the middle she can't abide. (The fact that the middle is where most businesses operate is neither here nor there!) I, on the other hand, have quite a soft spot for this unpretentious William Street drinking hole. Mainly because it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Keep reading »

I've been a fan of Oxford (or the Oxford Shop, as it used to be) since the late 1990s. Whenever I need a wardrobe refresh (in my case, about every 5 years!) or a new suit, Oxford is where I go. In the past, usually the Paddington store, but my last pair of suits were sourced from Chifley. I must say the service wasn't up to the usual heights (efficiency + a view on what looks good and doesn't, crucial when buying a suit with a lifespan of 5 years+), but it was friendly. When the loyalty program is added in (with regular discounts), I'll stick with four stars.

Eastern Sydney pubs come in many forms. There are the flash upscale oneslike the White Horse. There are the all-purpose sprawlers like The Dolphin or The Golden Sheaf. There are the quasi-dive bars like the Strand. And there are the genuine "locals" like the Lord Dudley and this one, The East Sydney Hotel. Decidedly mid-20th century in feel, with an eclectic clientele, this is the perfect spot for an after-work, or after-hours, drink. The service is nothing special, but the ambience makes up for it. Keep reading »

The coffee was decent and the food was edible, if limited in range, however the following exchange caused me to give RBK a one star rating:

Me - "I'd like [a few other things] and a serving of peanut butter toast."

Them - "The condiments are down there [points]."

Me - "You don't put the peanut butter on the toast?"

Them - "No."

Me - "So you just toast the bread?"

Them - "Yes"

Me - "Why don't I just cook it myself?"

Them - "Why don't you? Maybe because you don't have a grill?" Keep reading »

Periodically there is a burst of incoherent noise from the South claiming Melbourne is a superior city to Sydney. The list of alleged reasons typically includes unconvincing vagueries such as "European feel", "Sports capital [unless you like rugby or league]" and "the seasons [i.e. t's cold and dark half the year]". The one reason that has always resonated, though, is the small, cool bars that characterise the Mexican capital. Until now. Cos we've got Pocket. Pocket rocks it for at least 3 reasons: Keep reading »

Agree with other posters on this matter - NRMA provides an excellent roadside service and has justified, and repaid my membership since I got my first car (and first in a series of bombs) in 1992. (I have no views on insurance etc, although I guess that's a different company these days) However, punters should be aware - YOU NEED TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE! A mate on my cricket team broke down on the M7 (Sydney) a few weeks ago and discovered, on calling NRMA, that he wasn't in fact a member. Keep reading »

This has been the best sandwich shop in Sydney since inception in late 2006 (I think). Founders Cliff and Paulina were the ultimate tag team: Cliff devised the delicious sandwiches, while Paulina provided the velvet service and operational steel. The Colliers sold out to new owners in 2008 and, while the sandwiches have remained superb, the service has become a bit erratic. Still the best place to lunch around, and the sandwiches get five stars.