Palmer & Co. — Restaurant in Sydney

I love moody, darkly-lit places, sprinkled with candles, and hidden nooks-and -crannies where you feel both far away and still a part of the bar. And Palmer and Company certainly delivered.

The drinks were very good. There was only one miss. I ordered a caipirinha, and they said that the fruit would be strawberry, and I asked if it was sweet, and the server said, “a little bit, but not really” and it was far too sweet. I drink Cachaça plain with a little bit of lime, because Cachaça has such a funky flavor that it really goes well in a caipirinha, which is a very bare-Bones drink, allowing the Cachaça to shine. But, in this case, the cachaca seemed buried by the strawberry. If this were a bolder, darker rum, perhaps, but Cachaça is exquisite and really does not deserve to be overpowered. The other drinks were good, and our server took his time with me, giving me samples of wines. Most of the reds were too light, but they definitely had one winner! I’m trying to adjust my California palate to Australian wines. Australian wines are great, but I like a big juicy Cabernet, so I’m trying to find my balance here. They also have an exquisite champagne list, but I’ve been drinking so much bubbly lately that I opted not to have any.

The offering that we enjoyed the most (believe it or not) was their interpretation of steak tartare... on Doritos. Perhaps we were craving a little slice of back home in the states, but tartare Doritos was a seemingly ridiculous idea that really worked! The Tartare was lovely, and the cheesy Crunch of the Doritos enhanced the other elements that they put on the mix such as avocados and jalapeños. It was messy and a little odd, but, for some reason, it did work. My husband also had a spicy pork jaffle. Basically, a jaffle seems to be the equivalent of a pressed Panini sandwich, and reminds me of when we go camping and we bring the cast iron sandwich-makers and cook them over the fire. It was a fun idea. And I had a… Hotdog. I have been eating such interesting and high-end food all week that I reverted to a hotdog for one of my last meals in Sydney. It was okay. I would say, for future if they’re trying to make a regular New York style hotdog they should dial back on the onions, and really amp up on mustard. But overall, fairly authentic.

Server was efficient without being obtrusive. He was there when we needed him, but mostly was absent, But seemed to intuit when we needed something which was great and it made the experience seem even more intimate.

I believe we came through the wrong entrance, because later we saw a host bringing people from another room and greeting them. We entered from the side alley through a back door, but it made it even more authentic to feel like we were walking into a speakeasy. The host who was seating patrons seemed really peppy, so I’m glad we found our way on our own. I was not in the mood for peppy.

Overall, a five star experience featuring interesting food, finally crafted cocktails, and a beautiful dimly-lit interior with...

Another NYE in Sydney (2023/2024). If you are visiting Sydney this is a great bar to sit back and get your senses calmed. Walking North down George Street you come across Abercrombie Lane and turn right. The madness of George Street is suddenly subdued by this unassuming Sydney city lane way. The bar is at the bottom of a slight alleyway decline. It’s a heavily franchised establishment. The interiors and the atmospheric vibe has been worked to the extreme. It’s almost as if you are travelling back in time but the style falls short of any historical authenticity. Not that this is a bad thing. The bar has a basement feel and has the usual booze on sale. No tap beer and the prices are extraordinarily high. A 375ml bottle of Stone & Wood is $15.00. I mean that is a humongous mark up. Though the overheads and staff working the bar probably make the price per bottle a moot point. Despite the overly expensive beer there is the food. Food as in bar type tapas is tasty but again extremely expensive. Though if you’re a city lizard cheapskate you’re not going to feel relaxed paying out the big bucks. This is the arena of the disposable income set. It is a fact that the older you get the less you give a fu#k about atmosphere and ambience. The interior is a moody party vibe that you either appreciate or can live without. Put it this way if I had dollar bills sprouting out of my ears I would drink, eat and charm the parade of circus personalities. I did try and talk myself into the pants if a lovely woman who wouldn’t have a bar of me. Though I stopped short of buying her a drink because at $15.00 per bottle of sub standard beet a cruiser had to either be loaded or at least onto a sure thing. The bar was filled with very well dressed cool set types. Beautiful women and finely dressed men creating the atmos that outsiders line myself would love to be part of but because of poverty, ugliness and a lack of institutionalised coolness I do not belong and there ain’t no invites coming. So if you’re in your mid twenties to late thirties this bar will suit you to a good looking tea. All in all one more over priced Sydney bar, however the high priced goods might be a good way to separate the wheat from the loser chaff. It is a place I would love to call my own but I just do not fit the mould and I’m too old and far too broke to fit in. Great place to bring your lover or a third date but if you’re on the prowl be careful because you’ll be broke by...

Palmer & Co continues the trend for themed small bars in Sydney, albeit you wouldn’t really call the bar small. It occupies the former VIP room at Tank Nightclub and you can enter from the back of Tank Stream Bar, or for the cool kids an entry via Abercrombie Lane is possible. The space is themed as a prohibition bar with the purported hidden entrance by way of a taxidermist festooned with mounted animals in cages who make guest appearances throughout this underground lair of alluring delights.

Bare brick walls, stripped of white paint and plastered with feux-advertisements of years gone by, are decorated with mugshots of celebrities, cast iron stylings and witty pictorial curiosities. Waiters and waitresses are dressed from the 1920s and 30s as are the jazz band who play brilliant covers transporting attendees into the nostalgic era of the alcohol ban in New Orleans and New York City with all the convenience of, well, alcohol.

The cocktail menu, rather precociously described as “The Bible" by one of the waitresses, is extensive and unique covering the usual favourites as well as many originals with two new cocktails offered every day. The champagne and wine selection is well thought out and all your favourite beers are available by the bottle along with the very drinkable Sierra Nevada pale ale, which is delicious but pricey at almost $10 a bottle. The cocktails represent the best value averaging out at about $16.

It’s a sit down affair at Palmer & Co where getting a tab for the table is the order of the day though you do have the option of ordering from the bar. The large space is divided into smaller segments which adds further intimacy amongst the amber glow and loud murmur of conversation. The charcuterie board looked amazing and has been added to my “to do" list. It’s a perfect venue for the start or end of a date or with a small group of people for a cocktail night.

Palmer & Co is not really your after work establishment, at least not in the area where it is located, but it will no doubt encourage further small bars to set up nearby which are seriously lacking amongst the male suit dominated drinking holes in the vicinity. Combined with the Bridge Street Cafe Sopra, you now have a viable night out at this end of town without succumbing to the heinousness of "Stabbies" and the like. This...