DOG OWNERS READ BEFORE VISITING - We read this place was a dog friendly pub and because of its catchy name identifying it as the DOG hotel we thought we would try it out. We sat inside and ordered food & drinks. Once drinks arrived we were asked to sit outside because we had our dogs with us. So we moved outside. Food was clean but average nothing special. We expected it to be a dog friendly pub like - The Carrington in Surry Hills but nothing like that place. The carrington even has a dog food menu for the dogs and dogs can be inside throughout. I would recommend they either become a full dog friendly pub or change its name so they dont attract people with their dogs thinking its dog friendly through out the whole pub. Was a unusual uncomfortable experience.

It's a good and big pub. Dog friendly. Good cold spilled Guinness and many other beers from all over Australia and over sea. Food is OK. Ceasar salad was on average but the lamb pie was good. I think it's one of the best pub around together with coach and horses. I don't know if the DOG does happy hour cheaper beer, though.

A pub called 'the Dog,' with tip jars reading “FEED THE DOGS!” which doesn’t allow dogs... What was once a lovely indie craft beer local supporting multiple independent breweries is now just another bland Merivale establishment full of the same “craft beers” found at every other pub in Sydney (e.g the usual Lion beers plus Young Henry's and Stone & Wood) without any of the extra zing that makes a decent Merivale establishment (like Totti's being attached to the Royal in Bondi.) And while there has been a slight upgrade in the standard of the food, it's definitely not big enough to justify the difference in price when there are no specials! Hopefully Merivale will quickly realise that that's why the locals used to flock there... Has definitely lost a lot of the charm from the previous owners. Fingers crossed the Robin Hood renovations don't go the same way or they'll be no good pubs left in the East.

My expectations were a little low before we went but actually the dog bistro is quite nice with an open kitchen and nice seats and open fires! The courtyard is also well done. Food is tasty, but the portions are just way too big the nachos were massive! I didn't even get through half (and that was without the beef) which seems a waste, perhaps do different portion sizes you can choose from. Also one major turn off was the TVS showing sport, absolutely no one in the restaurant was watching and lowers the tone I feel. Of course they should be on in the pub part, but why the restaurant? As it's all families and couples.

Was curious to try The Dog under the new Merivale management. Ordered our meals via the table app, one meal came in 10 minutes ... the next 25 min later... the next 35 min later...apologies made but really nothing much done about it. Staff we’re really inexperienced. Disappointing that the fri night steak special has been taken off the menu too. Music was sooo loud we could hardly hear each other talk. It would’ve been nice if the some of the great things about this pub from the previous owners were kept alive . Overall it wasn’t a great experience.

Good traditional pub food in a very casual space (spaces actually), generous portions and tasty. The daily specials are great value. We had the rotisserie (lamb and chicken) on Thursday night. We really liked the way each of our meals had different sides which we were able to share for more variety.

Seems like the end of an era after the previous management has left. Miss the previous staff. No more specials + missing a lot of the previous craft beers that were great. Order chicken wings which were overloaded with seasoning/salt and served with a mediocre sauce. Please bring back the buffalo sauce and blue cheese mayo. The place had a different vibe about it when we visited. Hopefully it doesn't end up being a shadow of it's previous self.

Great venue let down by the total lack of quality in beer. How you can have 24 taps to play with and fill most of them up with standard CUB stuff you get in every other pub is a real shame. Other than that it's a great spot, good food and really nice staff. If someone there took a gamble on just 10 of the taps and experimented with a variety of craft beers this would easily be one of the best pubs in Sydney.

Went for a Sunday roast ($30). It was decent, no where near the best I’ve ever had. Would return if I was in the area but won’t go out of my way for sure.

Great pub with nice varied seating options whether you want a nice view of the city skyline or catch the game. Happy to have this as the local watering hole. Pre-covid, their specials and beer of the week deals were amazing and its only understandable they are on hold at the moment until things pick back up. Come support your local business and I trust down the line they will repay the favor with their great specials when they can afford to do so. 5 star pub

We had Sunday roast here after 8pm, it was quiet and cosy! It is hella busy during peak dinner time! Definitely recommend getting a booking! They have pub grub deals every day! Sous-vide steak is a bit on the dry side! Aged rib eye is tender but on the fatty side!

This pub was so busy, it was a great atmosphere with a live DJ and the sport on the screens. Ordering was really easy via a QR code on the table. We ordered a steak and a burger and they came really quickly, so quick I questioned if they were for us. The steak I had was probably the best steak I have had in a long time. It was cooked perfectly seasoned well fell apart in my mouth. The selection on the menu was great exactly what you would expect from an upmarket Pub. I would definitely check this place out of you are looking for a good feed in Sydney.

The menu isn't huge but all the dishes we ordered was food. Love it when pubs take cooking their chips seriously. They were crispy and golden. Seating spacious and clean.

One of my favourites in the area. Great food, great vibe, friendly service.

Love it here and so do our kids 7/10/12. Just wish food served with salad was actually salad. Should say lettuce and chips, not salad. Kids over 9 will probably need more food then what comes in a kids meal. Many places have 12/13 and under as kids meals and the variety in sizing is always surprising. This menu (food size) is definitely meant for younger kids but it’s delish.

Very welcoming friendly staffs. Lovely multi floors pub and dining, you can have Sunday Roast here. They also have live music DJ in the afternoon.

I have never walked into a pub and felt as disregarded as I did tonight. The glassy was a gem the three young people working the bar and floor, I would send home immediately. I won't be back, the attitude comes down from the management. I will refrain from adding the expletive to the pubs name to define the experience.

Bistro holds up and the big beer list means there's always something great to drink. Managing covid protocols and numbers really well. Their courtyard is a nice spot to enjoy the summer evenings too.

Great place to catch up with friends. Dog friendly pub. Dogs allowed in the beer garden. Today tried the Sunday roast - generous serving of beef (have choice of chicken too). Served with gravy big size potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli and gigantic Yorkshire pudding. Service was a bit slow (think people suffering post covid) and may be attitude was a bit off still a great place to go. Also serves your usual fare burgers, fish n chips, chicken parmie. Good selection of cocktails too. Will go again as things can only get better now that everything is opening up.

We really wanted a bottle of wine after the bottle shop had closed so we went in and bought a $55 bottle of wine and tried to sneak it out, the bouncer caught us and made us take it back, the manager REFUNDED us!!! What a legend! Although we didn’t get wine from the DOG we got wine elsewhere for 1/3 of the price. Five stars for the leniency! Legends! Highly recommend stealing wine from here. They are very amenable to thieves. Especially middle aged women thieves.

Best to go happy hour. $5 schooners for all tap beers almost 30 to choose from. pub food is good and big servings not cheap tho

Came for the Sunday roast and UFC with my puppy. Was greeted by a super lovely member of staff. Unfortunately, I did not get her name, but she was very attentive and brought our pup some water straight away and said hello. The roast was DELICIOUS - highly recommend! Came very fast and was a generous serving. Beer list was a bit of a disappointment. Would have liked a bit more variety, but still enough to keep most people happy. We ended up having to move tables mid way through the UFC event because reservations are for a max of 2 hours. I get it, but it meant we had to move around a lot to try and watch the event with the dog. It might be worth considering reservations around specific event running times. Staff and management were very good at maintaining RSA and safety standards. Will absolutely be returning very soon. A wonderful venue overall.

It was one of the few places open late in the evening. Good food - had a chicken hamburger but saw someone on our table have a salad which looked great (will try it next time)

A once cheap and cheerful local gem recently bought out by the Merivale and sadly seems to have become a bland, over priced pub. No more dinner specials, half the craft beers replaced with mainstream ones, over priced menu with smaller portions and they even got rid of the famous hot chips and replaced with flavourless soggy ones. Food used to be fast and now took >35 mins to arrive, on tiny plates, portions small, underwhelming taste. Not sure if will return.

A really nice ambience reminiscent of an old British pub. Good food and a nice selection of beer. A good place to bring children too.

Love the decor got a lunch time special rump steak $20. it was cooked perfect medium rare so happy we stopped here for lunch.

Happy hour friendly staff, nice place to spend a couple of hours.

Great beer, average food. Needs updating from top to bottom.

It's fine. Pub has a bit of character about it unlike most Eastern Suburbs venues. Unfortunately it's days as a great craft beer den have gone since new owners stepped in.

Great pub on a Sunday arvo!!! The upstairs bartenders, Pat and Adin (I think?), made me feel cosy, fulfilled and extremely well tended to! Definitely recommend them for a happy ending to the day, they put a smile on anyones dial!

Came in for a hearty pub feed on a wet Monday. A warm welcome was accompanied by false promises. The bartender and person seemingly in charge was very insincere, mentioning it’s our money and we can have whatever we want . But hold on we can’t have the pie and can’t swap anything in any of the dishes - not very accommodating! Not to worry let’s give it a go anyway, after paying through the nose ($30 for a chicken parmi) we were expecting a taste sensation - we were met instead with a long wait and missing items on my dish which were specifically requested. The dining experience was in no way relaxing with beady eyes staring down on us overbearingly. The food itself was regretful and after we’d eaten couldn’t wait to escape. Will not return.

Ever since Merivale took over the food has improved ten fold and the staff are super chill and friendly. New management hasn’t messed with the place at all and it’s basically the same as before but with the best happy hour, awesome beer on tap and as previously mentioned the yummiest food. Still kid friendly and staff are welcoming on arrival with good tunes playing throughout. Well done guys.

I had an hour to spare at lunch time today so ventured to Randwick. What a great decision. This pub is excellent. The staff were attentive the whole place was clean and the Sunday roast was absolutely amazing

If anyone tells you there is a better roast in the Eastern subs then they are incorrect… I was recommended the DOG for a roast by my mate Samme. It was excellent. Upon hearing rave reviews of other places for a great roast, I can confirm I have had 5 extremely average roasts and Laura was correct; the DOG is by FAR the best. Superb cut of roast beef, lovely roast potatoes and Yorkshires on point. Along with a nice bit of veg and the swede was a nice touch. Gravy very good too. Only thing to stop from a 5* review was the slight lack of trimmings. Throw in some parsnips or honey roasted carrots, or some optional extras like pigs in blankets or a bit of pork, sage and onion stuffing and then we’re really talking. Oh and great atmosphere, very relaxed vibe, with a lot of sport too. Perfect for any mood, if you’re hungover, chilling on a Sunday or having a few bevs. Just get there in time as if the roasts are sold out it’s devastating news… 👍

This dog ( in beer garden) & family friendly pub ( another Justin Hemmes awesome turn around) . It’s now clean , great food and staff… we go here often and it never disappoints. Thank you to Justin and the Team.

Great pub. Go for the Wednesday night trivia. Would be 5 stars but the meals are frankly a little expensive for a suburban pub meal. The food is pretty good, just too expensive. $65 for a pub steak? Come on. Other than that, a good social atmosphere.

Hanging out in the beer garden for a beer with my dogs, staff were very attentive, friendly. Mostly sheltered. Water bowls were brought to every dog.

When in Sydney we met up with friends for dinner. The food & staff were great. We ate upstairs & the only fault I can pick is there was a DJ playing music, that would be fine in the evening but not when your eating Sunday lunch & trying to catch up with friends.

If you haven't had a parmi from here then you haven't lived. Go to the beach, work up an appetite, and cool off with their comically extensive range of beers and their incredible food. This pub's so good it should start an OnlyFans.

The back outdoor area is always pleasant. Apparently just been taken over by Merivale so watch this space

We were a group of 10 old friends who meet up 2 to 3 times each year. We lunched yesterday (Sunday) at the DOG and I'd like to compliment the whole team for their efficient service, good food and happy faces. My only criticisms were the very ordinary wine list and the loud music, which was lowered on request. Special mention to Edo (not sure about his name) who did not stop all day, serving the meals and as well, the Matre de, who most kindly changed the TV station so we could watch the Aussie Golf Open!

Monday long weekend. Was told fish and chips would be flathead or whiting. Received a slab of FLAKE, soggy and totally tasteless-$29! We eat fish and chips in many places outside insular eastern suburbs. The worst at one of the highest price. A beef cheese burger and chips -$26. The menu says pickles and onions but only a thick putty of the hardest granules, I don’t dare identify possible meat cut used, but am grateful for having a perfect dentition in my 60’s. I also have intact taste sensation and can assure anyone that neither the putty, the melted slice of ALDI cheddar, the bun and the non existent pickles and onion, had any identifiable flavour. My teeth worked very hard but my taste buds were very idle and bored. The inedible dishes, a beer and a soft drink $83. The Dog Bistro will surely make you see McDonald’s in a different light!

Use to come home 2-3 time per week for dinner as the food was so delicious, but lately, last 18 month it just gets worse and worse. Today cant even eat my dish as it is soo disgusting.

The staff are very sweet and professional, they love their jobs and seem happy.

Great beer selection

Great food, great place to be especially on that balcony!!

Decent bar no issues

A great working man's pub and also a family hotel. Very friendly staff

Foods was gooooood

Great pub food and an impressive beer selection. However, their beer list online isn't up to date, with one bar member remarking that it 'probably hasn't been updated in four years'. Further, multiple beers advertised at the bar were unavailable, but there was no way to distinguish this when looking at the taps; simply putting a schooner over those taps that are out would solve this issue.

Lots of beers and good tucker. Can't go wrong.

Rude staff

Lots of different beers but ...

Expensive.

Very good Pub!!

Eggplant parma for the win! Whoo hoo!

Sunday roast was tough (meat) and soggy (veg). Lots of great spaces to sit and eat/drink the afternoon away.

Great food. Relaxed atmosphere.

Nice views from balcony

Easy covid sign-in (QR or manual) - seated us quickly, and prompt bar service.

Nice beer . pleasant . Quiet smoking area .....

Good food great beer list

Great craft beer selection and great food to boot!

Run by idiots

I’ve been to a lot of hotels in my life and worked at a lot too. This is the most horrible place I’ve ever been too. Staff were rude. At Bar. At bottle shop. Very very very unprofessional. Absolutely terrible!!!!

Best bar in Rnadwick

Pretty lame and disappointing. Was looking forward to a pub night out. We booked a week ago and requested upstairs. Instead we were sat in the "dead zone", no music or atmosphere, basically a walkway from the front door to the outside area. I think this is the last area they sit people as it appears to mainly be used for walkins, so a bit confused as to why we were put there as we booked a week ago. It was half empty upstairs when we arrived (still more atmosphere coz they at least have music) and they continued to sit people upstairs the whole time we were there, even though I asked about being sat there. Pretty annoying. We left early. Will put the DOG on ice for a while or at least until I can choose the area I sit, especially when the place is half empty at the point on arrival.

Fair

Beer selection was great but lunch was well below average

Great Sunday roast, beef just fell apart it was so tender. Generous amount of gravy but we were sad that the Potatoes were boiled and not roasted. Great range of beers on tap. Upstairs is much nicer than downstairs. The back room had the fight on which was very rowdy, but the Upstairs balcony was a delight

Nice atmosphere.

Has got a lot better recently. Don't know if it is the new management or if it is down to a new chef but the Sunday Roast is great. Very tasty and decent portion sizes. All the staff are also very friendly and helpful. Had a small birthday gathering here recently and they were really helpful regarding storing and bringing out the cake for us etc. Recommend.