4/5 Jackie M. 1 year ago on Google
Easily
the
best
drinking
hole
in
Summer
Hill,
Vernon's
Bar
sits
above
One
Penny
Red
in
the
suburb’s
former
post
office.
Written
across
mirrors
and
chalkboards,
the
drinks
list
is
extensive.
It
runs
from
well-crafted
cocktails
to
wine,
beer,
sake
and
an
extensive
list
of
spirits,
including
many
I
have
not
tried,
like
the
three
French
whisky
options.
Happy
hour
(4–6pm)
on
a
hot
weekday
sees
the
air
conditioning
cranked
and
the
inside
tables
full.
The
bar
also
boasts
an
attractive
sandstone
and
brick
verandah
that
might
be
nice
on
an
evening
that
isn’t
so
warm.
Beyond
lowering
your
temperature,
the
happy
hour
attraction
is
cheap
Tommy’s
Margaritas
($15/each)
and
Vernon’s
beef
cheese
and
bacon
burgers
dropping
in
price
from
$24
to
$15.
They’re
presented
without
the
spiced
salt
spuds
but
the
lack
of
carbohydrates
can
be
offset
by
a
generous
serve
of
salt
cod
fritters
($15/6)
with
tasty
smoked
chilli
mayonnaise.
The
burger
is
a
work
of
art:
a
quality
beef
patty
contoured
to
fit
a
perfect
milk
bun,
balanced
by
house-smoked
bacon,
Gruyère,
pickles
and
tomato
jam.
From
the
wider
selection
of
“fancy
drinks”
Altos
tequila
is
extended
with
orange,
coriander
and
bergamot
into
a
refreshing
Sunrise
Sling
($22).
Bam
Bam
spiced
rum
is
taken
tiki-style
in
Breakfast
in
St
Barts
($24)
with
balanced
Mr
Black
and
spiced
ginger.
Coconut
and
cacao-washed
3-year-old
pineapple
Havana
rum
goes
down
easy
in
the
C.C.
Mac
($22).
We
punctuate
each
round
with
snacks
from
the
regular
bar
menu.
Gildas
($5/each)
lost
the
white
anchovies
under
substantial
mouthfuls
of
guindilla
pickle
vinegar.
Charred
flatbread
with
split
pea
and
lemon
agrumato
oil
($10)
was
absorbant
and
tasty.
The
scallop
crudo
($24)
challenged
me
with
a
grainy—almost
floury—ajo
blanco.
Vernon’s
Bar
is
certainly
an
interesting
and
well-serviced
place
to
kick
back
and
experiment
with
a
unique
range
of
restaurant-level
bar
snacks
and
drinks.
