Basement Brewhouse — Restaurant in Sydney

Under a gleaming silver dome inside Bankstown Sports you'll see a glowing white sign for the Basement Brewhouse held up on three steampunk-style copper pipes. Descending the stairs will see you emerge in an attractive microbrewery, with dancing flames in a two-sided fireplace likely the first thing that catches your eye. Behind the bar you’ll find shiny fermenters and a row of beer taps to tempt you into extensive beer sampling. Being housed in the basement puts this space at the level of the keg room. This has cleverly been made into a feature, with a host of more private rooms having glass windows where you can watch the beer kegs being changed. We take our meal tucked inside a soundproof barrel, with our own television screen.

Food orders are placed in the sunken dining room. The kitchen, led by 23-year-old chef Sarah Hanslow, is efficient and undeniably proud of their burger offerings. Generously adorned with thick, stretchy slices of smoky, coffee-rubbed brisket, Smokin’ Little Joes ($16) is a menu highlight. Hanslow explains they get in an experienced, contract smoker on the weekends, to ensure an excellent result. She keeps the brisket as the hero on a brioche bun with snapping fresh lettuce leaves, lightly dressed ‘slaw, Swiss cheese, pickles and aioli. But there’s something about a buttermilk fried chicken burger that gets me every time. The Chicky Babe ($16) takes a nicely seasoned, juicy fried chicken breast and teams it with more butter lettuce, golden American double Jack cheese and a splash of peri peri mayonnaise. Taken on a black charcoal bun, this burger is a winner.

I was also pleased to see the menu offer up beer matches with each burger. As I was keen to give the easier-drinking end of the Brewhouse range a proper going over, we opted for cocktails with our burgers. I went for A Little Taste of Weiss ($17), a surprisingly tangy Archie Rose Gin cocktail that summons a Weiss bar using pineapple, lemon juice and macadamia and cashew syrup. My dining companion tried to ward off the cold weather with a Tropical Spice ($16) that combined mango nectar, pineapple juice and passionfruit with peach schnapps and Grey Goose Vodka, cut with enough jalapeno to stop it from being cloying.

To accompany our beer tasting journey, we hit up the other half of the menu that offers up charcuterie and cheese. Our San Daniele Prosciutto ($14) and Saint Agur Blue ($14) arrived nicely presented on a board with guava paste, dried muscatels, crudités, olives, Nigella Barossa Bark, bread and Pepe Saya butter.

From their extensive 27-tap range, we selected two Tasting Paddles ($8/4 x 150ml). As this bar is exempt from contracts, they’re allowed to pour whatever they want, meaning their list is pretty exciting. On this occasion, I skipped over some of my favourites like Batch, & Modus Operandi and only drank Brewhouse beers.

The best beer I drank was the 4.3% ABV Brewhouse Pineapple Gose ($4/middy). This sour beer is summery and light, and perfectly pitched at the Australian summer with sea salt, freshly juiced pineapple and a tiny suggestion of coriander. Natalie, who served us, loves it, and explains she took home a growler of it just last night. I also loved the 6.5% ABV Brewhouse Cereal Offender ($5/middy) that uses rolled oats to produce a fruity, round and flavoursome American pale ale style beer (using American hops) that’s easy to enjoy. While the Brewhouse Pale Ale ($4/middy) showing a little bit of floral hops and a little bit of citrus, gives you no reason to not like it, my third favourite beer was actually their 5% ABV Brewhouse Sparkling Ale ($4/middy) even though it throws in a bit of melon.

While it’s impossible to argue with the fact that gambling revenue is subsidising your meal and well-priced drinks, Bankstown Sports keeps their restaurants very separate to their gambling areas. I didn’t have to see them, or walk through them, between the (free) underground car park and...

Travel out to Bankstown for the huge venue that is the Bankstown Sports club, and it is an institution in the area. The complex is a hotel, pokies and an amazing array bars and restaurants, you don't need to leave, especially when it's open 24 hours.

On this occasion we went downstairs to the Basement brewery. It is a bar or microbrewery with over 30 beers on tap, specialising in craft beers. From American Pale ales to pilsners or ciders, there's something for every beer lover! You can also see the brew house in action through viewing glass.We got some beer paddles (basement brewhouse pilsner, basement brewhouse pale ale and american pale ale as well as the basement brewhouse sparking ale.) to sample the different beers.

Food wise, this is the kind of place that is totally to go with a big group of friends to enjoy some burgers and fries over a couple of beers. Now, it’s even suitable for the whole family, with kids meals too for only $10.

Between a group of 5, we had a huge selection of the menu offerings. With three adults and 2 kids, this we felt was a good mix.

For starters and shared items, we had the Mac & Cheese Croquettes $12, Crispy Cauliflower Bites $13, Mozzarella Fries $14 And a box of Sweet Potato Fries $9. So moreish, but you gotta stop early before you get too full for the mains ahead.

We also found the Cheat Day Platter to be a great deal, for only $89 you get any 2 burgers, pork ribs, buffalo wings, shoestring fries, slaw and corn. The burgers select were: *The Mighty Brewburger (Grilled patty, pulled beef, milk bun, jack cheese, lettuce, beetroot, bacon jam, special sauce) *Chick ‘N’ Lickin’ (Crispy buttermilk chicken thigh, milk bun, jack cheese, lettuce, chipotle mayo). These were both really good burgers and went perfectly with all the other sides.

One of our dining members went for a hot dog, or “The Big Dawg” to be precise. Smoked frankfurter, milk bun, pickles, bacon jam, mustard, ketchup, crispy onions, chips for $17. The crispy onions were a great addition to this dish.

Throw in a salad for good measure! The Brewhouse Chopped Cobb is nice and fresh and colourful. With Lettuce, tomato, corn, avocado, feta, egg for just $15.

The new kids menu items are great - we opted for the Crispy Fish Fillet Burger, Cheese, Tartare Sauce & Fries $10!

Finished off with the Brownie Sundae which was naughty but so nice! Brownie pieces, salt caramel ice cream, chocolate sauce, toffee popcorn, pretzels) $12.

A large venue with plenty of booths, bar seating and tables and chairs. TVs and Foxtel throughout to watch all your favourite sports.

Get the friends and family together for your next lunch or dinner...

Had a pretty poor experience here recently. Our group had made a reservation and the booking confirmation advised us to go to the bar so that we could be seated.

I informed a staff member at the bar regarding the booking time and name and she said another staff member would be with me shortly. After waiting for a few minutes and nothing happening, a second staff member finally approached. When I explained that we were looking to be seated and that we had a reservation she didn't acknowledge what I said in any way and simply proceeded to walk away.

At this point both myself and the members of the group were confused/frustrated and wondering what was happening and whether anyone was actually going to assist us. After waiting some more, a third staff member approached and we were finally seated.

On a separate note, there was an incredibly drunk lady shouting obscenities at other patrons at nearby tables or anyone who walked past. Security didn't do anything about her for the entire duration of our meal.

The beer selection here is pretty good but the food was average (chicken burger was overcooked and dry).

The customer service did leave a very bad taste in our mouth. Not sure...