The Cocktail Terrace - Royal Exhibition Hotel

We have been here twice, once in downstairs bar and another time upstairs terrace. The old stained carpet, the pokies, the miserable looking bar area where VB, XXXX Gold, Tooheys New were served didn't draw much resembrance to rest of Surry Hills.  We only came in to change scenery but left in a haste after one drink. It was a dive bar and no reason to go back ever again. thernbdiary.com

Bad food, bad service, rude manager, exaggerated. Give this place a wide berth. Decor outdated, friends had the next day a very bad reaction to the food, rank manager, rude and completely dismissed us.

Went there for dinner tonight. Friend ordered the T-bone steak with mushroom sauce and chips ($ 18.50), I ordered the crispy pork belly ($ 18.50). Grief Grief Went upwards where it was for non-smoking / nutritional area. Grief It was impressed by the size of the meals. Belly was a big piece with 3 half potatoes and red carbon mix with like a spiced apple sauce Grief If you remember that you remember your knife and your fork from the table near the door.

Stayed overnight on business found the staff very obliging, room was small but clean and certainly very central to Sydney CBD but it was a Tuesday night and I went to the bistro at about 7 pm, they had sold out on a lot of the menu so I opted for the salt and pepper squid. It was terrible, soggy and rolling in grease, so even though I recommend the Hotel for accommodation but not the bistro.

This pub is a favourite, even if we don't go often. Apparently it's under new management. This hasn't detracted from the place at all. If you're looking for a comfortable pub/eatery away from a very busy and crowded Circular Quay, on a big event day, this is the place. The prices are reasonable. The menu while not large is varied enough not to be boring. I suppose the only draw back is they don't have deserts. The drinks are reasonably priced as well. It's close to public transport, so getting there and getting home is easy.