The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry | A Sydney Food Blog

Pocket Bar, Darlinghurst

September 7th, 2009  |  Published in Uncategorized  |  5 Comments

Like a very incriminating receipt you excavate from your pants when doing laundry – timestamping the last time you actually gave the pair a clean – I must admit I’ve had this review scrunched up in my pocket for a while.

It’s kinda silly and I can’t quite explain it (the same way it’s hard to argue your way out of a three-month movie ticket in your jeans), although it seems a sorta adequate segue into this squeezy and very excellent hang-out.

Pocket Bar in Darlinghurst lives up to all the good parts of its namesake (cosy, easy to pack out with fine things, hidden away, and endlessly useful), without any of the downfalls (like vintage lint, for example).

The space avoids the flashy, soulless designer-everything look and instead goes for a decor I’d call “share-house chic”: it’s full of shambolic, nicely worn-in furniture and oddball flourishes (doll’s heads, random book volumes). It’s highly personable and likeable in that way.

As is the menu, which slightly re-tips the balance of Sydney’s lopsided cuisine selection; to counter the 10 million Thai restaurants, Pocket offers something very under-represented in this city: crepes. Crisp, warm and pressed with plenty of melted, stringy cheese inside (all savoury options come with tasty cheddar or the more softer, not-so-stringy goat’s cheese, as well as parent-pleasing servings of salad).

My favourite is the Field Mushroom and Spinach ($9.50), which I could eat repeatedly, but I also like the Ratatouille with Goat’s Cheese ($11.50). Other options include the Spiced Red Capsicum and Creme Fraiche ($13.50) and the Herbed Chicken and Creme Fraiche ($14.50), the latter which Will quite liked.

As a nice bookend, there are also dessert crepes, starting from Honey and Lemon ($7.50), if you feel like being polite and restrained, to the more decadent Berries, Banana and Chocolate ($12), which is, of course, what we hoed right into.

The prices are incredibly reasonable (you could, easily, get a savoury and sweet crepe for around $20 if you feel a bit pursestring-tight), although that’s obviously countered by the drinks bill (I got slugged $5 for a small glass of Lemon, Lime and Bitters on my last visit).

The only other slightly Pocket-critical things I can think of are:
1) the billing system is a little weird (pay as you go – which feels a tad disruptive when you’re dining at a table – or you can leave your credit card with staff to settle the bill right at the end) and 2) it can pack out really quickly and often, which isn’t the bar’s fault, really a sign that you should be an earlybird if you want to get fed there. (In fact, you can go really early: they do pancakes all day, from breakfast.)

Otherwise, I feel pretty happy and grateful that this place exists. This squeezy bar with its comfy sofas and ever-tasty line-up of crepes is an address you need to pocket.

Pocket Bar, 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst (corner of Burton and Crown Streets), NSW (02 9380 7002, www.pocketbar.com.au

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5 Comments

  1. Hannah says:

    This has inspired a savoury crepe dinner some time during the week! I found a tutorial (http://bakingbites.com/2009/08/french-ham-cheese-and-egg-crepes-step-by-step/) on making them the French way, so I can’t wait to try out a few combos. Tomato, egg and goats cheese, or mushroom, butter spinach and onion?! Mmmm, thanks Lee.

  2. i like your ‘share-house chic’ label. i think that’s a great way to describe it. by the way is someone doing a pole dance next to the bar in your photo? the cheese plate is pretty good value too http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com/2009/09/pocket-bar-wine-cheese-olives-and.html 🙂

  3. leetranlam says:

    Hannah, glad it inspired some crepe-flipping! Hope your Frenchy pancakes went deliciously well.
    Simon, I don’t think it’s a pole dance, just some spontaneous exuberance!

  4. getmeashovel says:

    Well, I went to Pocket last Friday night. It was very depressing, to see the staff and owners staring at the door waiting for custom. Unfortunately the atmosphere and attitudes matched that of a failed business. Obviously some unfortunate decisions were made here.

  5. leetranlam says:

    Hey Shovel …. That’s interesting, I walked past last night and it was pretty packed … It’s also been pretty packed every other night I’ve been. Maybe it was an off night?

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About

Hi, I'm Lee Tran Lam. When not blogging with my mouth full, I'm usually writing, presenting Local Fidelity on FBi radio, making zines, producing podcasts or continually breaking promises about how I really am gonna get through my book pile one day.

All the good pictures on this blog are by photography ace (and patient boyfriend), Will Reichelt, (all the dodgy ones can be credited to me)!

The lovely banner is by friend and ultra-talented illustrator Grace Lee.

This site redesign was made possible by the next-level generosity and expertise of Daniel Boud, whose code-tinkering ways are only outranked by his seriously inspired way with a camera.

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This is a blog I do for pure fun and zero influence – there's no sponsorship, sneaky advertorial or advertising. I pay for all the food mentioned, 'cos it seems the ethical thing to do.


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This is a blog about eating and drinking in Sydney, Australia (with the odd cross-border or off-topic detour). BYO appetite.

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