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Post Office Hotel

Where: 229-231 Sydney Rd, Coburg

Phone: 9386 5300

Internet: www.thepostofficehotel.com.au

SCORE: 14/20

SEPTEMBER 5

VENUE: Third review of the Post Office (POH) and indeed it is in sparkling form.

Coming to life (along with this suburb in the past 15-20 years), the POH has turned into a multi purpose pub, with good pub grub, live music, and micro brewery as part of the set up.

The front bar, on the corner of Sydney Rd and Reynard St retains its old traditional northern suburban charm; the two newer dining rooms are modern brick affairs through to the rather lush beer garden.

Excellent B&W photos of rock legends e.g, Barnes, Farnham, Cave dot the public bar walls and on entering, enthusiastic staff is welcoming. Its rock creds are well established; Tex Perkins was a previous part-owner.

The highlight here is the wonderful curvy bar with local beers aplenty and in an age of this area continually contracting, the POH front is a beauty.

All topped off with a stage for live music with a giant and menacing You Am I poster (circa 2001) keeping eternal watch on proceedings.

And in a first (at least for me), the POH does an annual engaged couples day (21/9), where engaged couples can come, grab a cocktail, and survey one of the dining rooms transformed into a beautiful function space for nuptials (certainly covers the local footy club having the $20 Punters Club).

Tab: No
Pokies: No

Menu is punchy and reflects modern pub dining; curried mushroom croquettes w/masala spiced mayo (6/$18 and were excellent), or harissa spiced calamari, avocado cream, lemon ($22) are a couple of starters.

Mains are extended out to number 15 or so, with rotating blackboard specials. Its Coburg lager beer battered fish/chips, peas , curry sauce ($30), double cheeseburger, onion rings, horseradish, chips etc is $29. Good quality dishes in a pub, priced bang on.

Looking further though, the offer expands, e.g, braised pork cassoulet/polenta ($35), pan fried barra, curried carrot puree, roasted cauliflower, fennel and artichoke, is similarly priced.

Coburg Lager, Pentridge Pale are but two made in house, the latter being a rich, golden tasty pot @$7.

Around five red/whites are offered by the glass, $12/13 will secure a fine drop such as Lighthand Chardonnay, Yarra Valley.

HIGHLIGHT/S:

Main, dark brisket ale stew, chunky vegetables, pearl barley, braised cabbage, $33.

On a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon, this was the perfect pub meal, the meat perfectly stewed down, and a wonderful support cast.

Something Different to Eat: Kangaroo sirloin, 200g, dauphinoise potato, jus (flatbread $2 extra).

After all these years, this plentiful supply of lean meat remains a curiosity to many of us, its appearance on pub menus rare, than commonplace. Certainly looked good leaving the pass.

Surcharges: None shown.

Summary: The POH has become a much loved fixture in the suburb of Coburg, its love affair was a recent showing (advertised prominently through its socials) of the VFL clash involving Coburg and Williamstown (the Lions lost), but how they portray their offer is a lesson for other pubs.

The Face/X/Insta socials, like the great Hal Todd and love of Del Monti suits, looks good, feels good and is good.

It’s an all things pub to all people the Post Office Coburg. May it continue to trade for years to come.

Image: iStock