Sanctuary Hotel, Sydney

There's nothing like a good steak sandwich.

The Sanctuary, sister establisment to the St James Hotel and on the site formerley occupied by Don Quixote, is one of our new lunchtime favourites. Decor and furnishings are strikingly similar to St James, in a style described on the Sanctuary website as "cosmopolitan chic". Pressed metal finishes, quirky lamp chandeliers and a colour scheme of creams and browns dominate. Here too gold gilt frames surround the plasma screens, an attempt to romanticise the non-stop stream of cricket and football, perhaps.

Split down the middle into casual seating and dedicated diners, the left side is a mix of high bar stools at bench tables, square ottomans and several fancy-looking Edwardian chairs. On the right is a collection of dark brown tables and chairs. A dedicated "food orders only" queue is enacted at at the bar during busy periods (weekday lunchtimes, especially Fridays) keeping drinkers happy and well-watered.

The usual buzzer-system applies here in a system that seems to work with admirable efficiency. More often than not, by the time we've ordered, then collected and distibuted cutlery, napkins, sauces and mustards from the self-serve area to our table, our buzzer is vibrating noisily on the table, indicating our meals are ready to be picked up from the kitchen.

It's great to have a dedicated staff member who stands on the dining side of the kitchen, checking dockets and distributing meals, rather than relying on the stressed and hectic chefs on the other side.

I've eaten here three times now and have tried something different every time. Together our group are still only a third of the way through the menu...


Double decker bbq steak sandwich $13
New York-style with chips

I have no doubt the double decker bbq steak sandwich is one the best value items on the menu. Three slices of toasted bread surround two steaks and salad, accompanied by a mountain of golden chips. Skewered with a giant toothpick, the hardest thing is working out how to fit the entire skyscraper into your mouth. The steaks are tender (although best steak sandwich still goes to the Three Weeds at Rozelle).


Lightly battered calamari with namjin sauce $10

Various friends have sampled the calamari rings (extra crunchy although they look pre-battered to me), warm Cajun salad, linguine with prawns, and mushroom risotto.


Warm Cajun salad with tzatziki $13.00


Linguini with grilled prawns, chilli, rocket and lemon $15


Mushroom risotto $12


The Aussie burger $12
with tomato, beetroot, grilled onion, smoky bbq sauce and chips

The cricketer has an obsession with the Aussie burger, a generously thick patty of beef that comes with caramelised onions, salad and a triumphant slice of beetroot.


250gm certified Angus rump with creamy mash $11

We've covered all three steaks available and can vouch that the doneness of meat is reliably spot-on. Medium rare provides a a welcoming display of pink, and rare is bloody good as well.


350gm grainfed T-bone with chips $15

I prefer my steak on the bone and it's hard to choose between the 350g grainfed T-bone and the 300g rib fillet. The rib fillet comes with thick slabs of buttery field mushroom, although the T-bone has more bones to nibble on. Hard to choose when there's so much at steak, I mean stake. Mmm...


300g Grainfed rib fillet $19
on the bone with field mushrooms and red wine jus


The Sanctuary
545 Kent Street, Sydney
(corner of Kent and Liverpool)
Tel: +61 (02) 9262 9144

All-day dining everyday 12pm - 10pm
Supper club menu Thursday to Saturday 10pm - 2.30am

Sanctuary Hotel menu

Related GrabYourFork posts:
The Sanctuary Hotel, Jan 09

Bar Food--Albion Place Hotel, Sydney
Bar Food--Bungalow 8, Sydney
Bar Food--Equilibrium Hotel, Sydney
Bar Food--Oscars, Pyrmont (Oct07) and (Oct06)
Pub Grub--Australian Heritage Hotel, Sydney
Pub Grub--Bank Hotel, Newtown
Pub Grub--Carlisle Castle, Newtown
Pub Grub--Brewhouse, St George Hotel
Pub Grub--Chamberlain Hotel, Sydney
Pub Grub--Forest Lodge, Glebe
Pub Grub--James Squire Brewhouse (Jun 07), (Jun 06) and (Feb 05)
Pub Grub--Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
Pub Grub--Monkey Bar, Balmain
Pub Grub--Paddington Inn, Paddington
Pub Grub--Paddy Maguires, Haymarket (May 06) and (Feb 06)
Pub Grub--PJ Gallagher's, Drummoyne
Pub Grub--PJ O'Briens, Sydney
Pub Grub--Porterhouse, Surry Hills (May) and (Nov 04)
Pub Grub--Slip Inn, Sydney
Pub Grub--Southern Cross Hotel, Sydney
Pub Grub--St James Hotel, Sydney
Pub Grub--Toxteth Hotel, Glebe
Pub Grub--Wentworth Hotel, Homebush West