Marrickville Ritz Hotel, Marrickville

It's bright, it's flashy, it's The Ritz. The newest pub addition to the Illawarra Road strip in Marrickville is a glittering beacon of bling in between Banana Joes and the hole-in-the-wall Marrickville Pork Roll shop. The space was formerly a hokey arcade that housed a shoe shop and Vietnamese cafe.

When the owners of the struggling Henson Park Hotel finally won approval to transfer their licence to this new premises, they gutted the entire arcade, converting the space to a family-oriented gastro pub. It's a huge shift for Marrickville, traditionally dominated by pho noodle houses that close by 9pm, reflecting the changing demographic of the area. And in a happy ending scenario, the Henson Park Hotel has also been resurrected under new owner Ray Reilly (ex-Trinity Bar, Surry Hills) with a similar pitch of being a family-friendly local.


Bling bling inside the Marrickville Ritz hotel

On a Sunday evening, we find the place filled with families, heaving with high chairs and $8.50 kids meals. By 7pm the kids start to trail out as bedtime approaches, and an older crowd settles in.


Bar

Inside the decor is a stylised blend of modern with rustic -pallets repurposed as tables, cushioned banquettes, caged light fittings and steel drums that have been converted into padded chairs. The open area out the front is also inviting to passersby: there's no door or closed up windows, just a ramp that leads directly into the main dining room.


Barrel tables at the back bar

They've engineered enticements for practically every night of the week too. Tuesdays are $10 schnitzels, Thursdays are $15 surf and turf and Saturdays have $10 buckets of sticky wings all day.


Matilda Bay sparkling lager $6.50

There's a good range of bottled beers (including Young Henry's brewed in Newtown) plus four Matilda Bay beers on tap (sparkling lager, golden ale, amber ale and cloudy ale). Cocktails range from $10-$15 and wines by the glass cost $6.50-$9.

The menu is a mishmash of everything: classic burgers, steaks and schnitzels share the page with pulled pork rolls, Asian beef ribs, cheese burgers sliders and barbecue lamb rump with quinoa salad.


Salt and pepper squid $8

Order and pay at the special food orders register right down the back, take your order number flag, and your food will be delivered to your table. Our food arrived quickly and all at once.


Bucket of sticky ginger chicken wings $15

We started with the salt and pepper squid from the Share Items menu, and the bucket of sticky ginger chicken wings that were sadly more sweet than gingery.


Pimms No. 1 cocktail jug


Chicken schnitzel, fries and salad $16
[we ordered as part of the 2 meals for $20 on Sundays]

When we visited a couple of weeks ago, the Sunday special was 2 meals for either $20 or $25, depending on what you chose from a pre-set list. Kids meals were $5. Since then, the Sunday special has changed to $25 or $30 for two meals.


Ritz beef burger $15.50
[we ordered as part of the 2 meals for $20 on Sundays]

The chicken schnitzel looks just like a map of Australia, perched jauntily on a pile of chips with a side of salad. The Ritz beef burger comes on a softer-style bun, but it's a hefty construction of beef, bacon, sauteed onions, salad, aioli and the requisite beetroot.


Chicken breast in green curry sauce $19
[we ordered as part of the 2 meals for $25 on Sundays]

Phuoc had ordered the green curry chicken because of the mention of coconut foam on the menu, but when the dish arrives there's none to be seen. It's an odd plating of grilled chicken with avocado resting on green beans and wilted spinach with the green curry sauce quarantined in its own separate bowl. The curry has a good amount of heat and spice, but the deconstructed presentation is a little odd and awkward to say the least.


200g sirloin steak with chips and salad $18
[we ordered as part of the 2 meals for $25 on Sundays]

I'd stuck with ol' faithful - steak, chips and salad. The sirloin steak is more medium rare than the requested rare, but it's a hearty and satisfying meal overall. And who can say no to a fryer basket presentation of chips? We dip them in the mushroom sauce which is more akin to a heavy gravy.

Overall a relaxed spot for locals that should suit families or late night wanderers just fine.




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Marrickville Ritz Hotel
252-254 Illawarra Road, Marrickville, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9558 1620

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am - 12 midnight
Sunday 10am - 10pm


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