Pub: New Bay Hotel

Where: Cnr. New/Bay Sts., Brighton
Phone: 9596 4949
Date: 18 June 2010
Score: 14/20
Internet: www.newbayhotel.com.au

Anyone vaguely interested in the Sport of Kings would know that the name of your noble steed is as much an extension of you as it is its breeding.

For instance, if you race one in the colony of Hong Kong, names such as Supreme Winner, Lucky Eight Champion, Glorious Win Star (I’m making them up) create a buzz and image of equine invincibility which of course is complete and utter ‘tish.

In Australia, we tend to take a name from sire and dam perhaps reflecting our attitude of ‘she’ll be right mate’ and as such lack any real imagination e.g., Redoute’s Girl, Encosta Boy etc and bleeding etcetera.

Worse still, names like Mums Favourite, Dads Little Girl, Grandmas Tea Pot are not only are gobsmackingly twee, but destined to be poisoned odds at the lucky shop.

Not sure how long it took Keiran and his team to come up with the name New Bay Hotel but one suspects a lazy drag on a Craven A looking at the street sign on the corner of their pub and it was a case of just add water.

The reason though has a little more substance.  The pub was the Devonshire many moons ago and a much loved institution too, and then lived the Irish life as Finbars so time to kill off any links with the past.

I visited 3 years ago when it open as the NBH and it started out as a suburban pub doing pub Chinese and made a pretty fair fist of it too. Now more modern bistro, the pub belts out very good pub tucker in most comfortable surroundings and ticks over very nicely with the locals.

Tab, no pokies, an accommodating area for smokers marks out a discreet area for traditionalists.  But the bistro, on the lower split area of the pub the pub provides a better level of well priced food, something sadly disappearing from pub life as you get further out into the ‘burbs.

I think the most important check on how a pub is received is judged by the number of women dining and on this Monday, a group of women (with prams) had taken block which is the best endorsement you can have.

It is always nice to observe what is coming from the kitchen. Veal cutlet (28.90) is one of the pubs favourite dishes, A massive chop, it arrives with bacon, mash and vegetables, while a similarly large plate of fettuccine marinara (24.90) is generously topped with the freshest seafood.

However, a large share platter was ordered and a plus for the pub is that you can pick and choose what you would like from the menu and it is provided.

There was a mix of oysters (coffin bay) and scallops, salty and spicy calamari (very good) and chicken wings (something I hadn’t had for a while and were terrific).

Cajun Flathead (24.90), Rib Eye, 500g  (30) fully plated for both again represent a real effort to win the hearts and wallets of public of the bayside suburb.

Wine is sensibly priced and there is a range between high 20s-low 30s on their list.  Shared was a bottle of Galli Estate Shiraz (30) and a pinot blanc, Les Petite Vignettes, (28) which was delicious blend.

Steaks night, Mondays sees all their beef at $15 and with a trivia night (hosted by Jeremy Kewley) and a salsa (dance not food!) class (go to website for details), the New Bay can’t be accused of joining the dots as far as hospitality goes.

And the kicker is the beer – Fresh, clean taste. properly served, glasses treated correctly and the package is right.

As a generalisation the southern suburbs lag behind their northern cousins in the pub stakes, but offers like this from the New Bay means that those punters who like to go to pubs do not have to travel to town.

After 3 years in its new life, the NBH has gathered a loyal following and is not going to let them go.

I just hope they didn’t pay someone to come up with the name.

Tony's Pub Of The Week 2010

Tony Leonard is back again this year providing readers with reviews from all the pubs he visits on the Neil Mitchell program every Friday after 11:30am. Your home for all of the reviews - 3AW.com.au/pub2010. More here.