The Porterhouse, Surry Hills

A stone's throw from trendy Oxford and Crown streets, The Porterhouse is a refreshing oasis of genuine pub grub served with down-to-earth Irish hospitality.

Inside the pub is bright and airy yet Irish-cosy; red brick arches complement sandstone features and plenty of wooden booths provide enclaves of privacy. Even more heartwarming is the presence of genuine Irish punters--this must be the real McCoy.

We had the smoked salmon pillow which was tasty and rather artfully arranged. The caper and lemon dressing was a little on the sweet side but otherwise this was light yet satisfying.

Smoked slamon, chive and creme fraiche pillow $9.00
served with crisp green salad, caper and lemon dressing and Irish soda bread

The chicken Caesar was also a hit, although it did suffer from a bit of oversaturation with the creamy dressing. However the lettuce was crisp and crunchy and--hooray!--anchovies were clearly present. Why do so many Caesars these days leave out this essential ingredient?

Traditional Caesar salad with chicken $14.50

There's nothing more comforting than bangers and mash. Our lamb sausages were fat, juicy and meaty--the skin was well-browned and crispy, offering that perfect degree of resistance when cutting it with a knife. The caramelised onions were genuinely caramelised too--ribbons of soft, slow-cooked sweetness with a hint of balsamic. The jus was thick, salty and "meaty"-tasting--perfect for mopping up with spoonfuls of creamy champ.

Lamb sausages served with champ potato, kilkenny onion relish and rosemary jus $15.50

We really liked the atmosphere here and the glass-ceilinged atrium next door looked perfect for functions or groups.

Pub grub with style.