Duke of Gloucester

LOCATION
Centrally located in the eastern suburbs between Bronte and Coogee.

PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA
One of an ever-dwindling number of hotels in the east that hasn’t given itself over to the “pimp my pub” brigade, the Duke Of Gloucester (The DOG for short) is a local drinking hole of the old fashioned kind. It’s a cosy warren of communal rooms, tucked away lounges and inviting outdoor spaces including a beer garden and an expansive balcony. Decked out in warm wood panelled walls and old time black and white photos of prominent eastern suburbs locales, it has an undeniable Brit pub charm. It’s packed most nights, seeing loyal locals mixing convivially with a sizeable contingent of backpacker types. One thing you do notice is that most people are here for the food.

A sign outside announces that The Duke’s Bistro has the best steaks in Sydney. While I’ve yet to find any sort of governing body able to validate this claim, a taste test reveals that the steaks are, at the very least, pretty hot to trot. They’re certainly big to be sure, some of the thickest pub steaks I've seen, served up on sizzling plates that end up being flooded with juices as you cut into the meat, soaking your chips, and... I’ll stop there. But they are fabulous, served with lush sauces and your pick of vegies from the old school salad bar. If New York cuts, scotch fillets and even the monstrous Bronto steak don’t catch your eye, there’s plenty of other tasty pub fare to be found; think lamb shanks and mash, home-made beef and kidney pie and chicken schnitzel with mushroom gravy.

Fiona Davies