The Alfred Hotel
51 Missenden Rd
Camperdown, Sydney
If you’re in the inner west, and in search of a new local pub – look no further. The Alfred Hotel has been going through some changes over the past few months and with more in the pipeline, it’s going to be an exciting time for the new owners and for those local to the area. Upon arrival, our first thoughts were how cosy the Alfred felt with its open fire and relaxed attitude. One of the big changes has been bringing in new Chef Jamie Dyball, who has overhauled the menu and we couldn’t wait to be taken on his culinary journey.
After a chat with one of the owners, Sam, and hearing his and the vision for the venue, we were excited for what was to come. Their aim is to provide good quality pub food to the local area and also have plans to renovate the décor and appearance. Sam recommended The Viscount a specially imported Hawaiian Golden Ale called Kona which was one of the nicest beers he has tried and has since been searching for it since. The Viscountess had a Pinot Grigio which was fresh, crisp and light.
With drinks on the table we left our food choices in the hands of Jamie to show off the food he is so passionate about. First up was the ‘Spicy Fried Chicken Drumstick’ which sounds like it could be quite basic, but was actually the opposite. The drumstick is seasoned for hours in Jamie’s special blend and then confit before serving with the Chefs Blue cheese sauce. The chicken as expected was delicious, juicy and fell away from the bone and was incredibly aromatic. It had a bit of kick but the southern fried spice blend was delicious and the blue cheese sauce was creamy. This dish was everything rolled into one - it was sweet and sour, spicy and cool, and the small chunks of blue cheese were delicious.
Next up, The Original Sunday Roast. As an Englishman, the Viscount takes his Sunday roasts very seriously and from the moment it arrived on the table and took his first bite he was absolutely blown away. The rare roast beef was tender and juicy, the Yorkshire pudding was light and fluffy, and the roast potatoes were perfectly crispy. Paired with a side of buttery greens and a red wine jus, The Viscount was so impressed he is confident in saying that it is one of the best roasts he has tried in Sydney.
The other main dish Jamie suggested was the Chef's Herb and Parmesan Gnocchi. It was a quite simple and tasty dish, but it was the toasted almonds that really made the dish a star for us. They were just perfect alongside the roasted pumpkin, crispy kale, charred corn and the browned butter with sage sauce. The gnocchi itself was freshly made, light and fluffy and made on-site.
For dessert we were treated to an absolutely decadent chocolate brownie. The brownie itself was beautiful and soft with a lovely crunch of macadamia nuts. Paired with housemade salted caramel ice cream, chocolate crunch and chocolate sauce, this dish was everything you’d want from a delicious dessert. Although not too sweet, this dish would be the perfect way to end any meal at the Alfred Hotel and one we’d definitely recommend!
Finally, we finished off the evening with a cheese plate which showcased some beautufl Australian cheeses – a Victorian Blue cheese and a Mersey Valley hard cheese. Served with housemade chutney and soda bread, it was the little extras on the plate that really made this something special. Our favourite part were the poached apples, which added another texture and a beautiful sweet flavour.
We had such a lovely evening at the Alfred Hotel, and thank Sam, Jamie and the team for hosting us. We are excited to see what they do with the venue and we highly recommend checking out this up and coming venue on the Sydney food scene.