Pub of the Week: Cross Keys Hotel, North Essendon
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Cross Keys Hotel
Where: 350 Pascoe Vale Rd, Essendon
Phone: 9379 3477
Internet: www.crosskeyshotel.com.au
SCORE: 13.2/20
JUNE 26
VENUE: A popular venue in the north, the Cross Keys is a large pub made up from many parts, doing hospitality that meets your expectations.
There’s a big public bar that covers sporting pursuits of footy and the horses, large room for the pokies, down to a lower level for its dining and entertainment, with a neat terrace area and beer garden. Functions/corporate events etc, are easily handled.
The Cross Keys was last reviewed around eight years ago, and to my eye, not much has changed save for some cosmetic works to pretty it up.
The Cross Keys does all things that its suburban brethren do; Parma ($22) and burger nights ($28), trivia, happy hours and a Saturday punters club. Always has a steady stream of patrons, trading everyday until 3am.
In essence, you could interchange this pub with any of those in the ‘burbs: any differences hardly noticeable.
MENU: This is your standard pub menu seen in most suburban pubs.
By that, entrees consist of breads/dips/vegetable//duck spring rolls/chicken ribs. All solid offerings, the duck spring rolls ($18), generously packed with a sweet chilli dipping sauce stand out.
Mains have low $30s parma/burgers/snitty/fish similarly plated. A bargain is the natural oysters priced @ $30/dozen. Sensible pricing for a food item that – in many pubs – is ridiculously overpriced.
Beer features mostly Carlton taps e.g Draught/Dry/Mid/Northern. Well presented. Favourite labels are well represented in wines, e.g., De Bortoli, Seppelts, Jim Barry.
There’s nothing to scare you off. Better still, the seniors deals are very generous.
Average Prices:
Entrees/starters: $18
Mains: $33 (steaks from $58)
Desserts: $12
Surcharges: Cards, yes. None other stated
Beer: Carlton D pot, $7.20
Wine: $12pg
Roast: Daily, $33
Tab: Yes
Pokies: Yes
Jack Ginnivan Steak Index (JGSI): This week; Cross Keys, Essendon. 350g Scotch Fillet, $58. Choice of sauce.
HIGHLIGHT/S: Note: Lunch/dinner menus vary in items offered.
Main: Grilled barramundi, crisp skin, vegetables, $36. On special, this was a thick tile of fish, skin, crisp, very solid, fresh barra flavour. Full plate supporting the fish, i.e., seasonal greens, chats, lemon wedge. Good eating.
Something Different to Eat: Dessert: Chocolate brownie, $2 (part of deal for seniors – 3 courses $24). Straight up and down brownie, good flavour, very cak-ey, but at $2 a piece – good size – really its a total bargain!
Summary: Steady as she goes, with some nice seniors deals, the Cross Keys has pretty much traded smoothly over the journey.
In its favour, the nearest pub is the Paco going north, while enough kms existing between it and Moonee Ponds pubs.
There’s a enough distance from competition to stake your territory and they do. Their set up is good and sporty, the food isn’t confrontational. Expectations are met and there’s nothing wrong with that.
All good here at the Cross Keys.