You know, it is really hard to try to cut down drinking during the week when there are so many awesome little bars popping up around Sydney. I could go on a non-school night, but weekends see these little bars become buzzing hunks of human limbs, and sometimes you just aren’t in the mood the shout at someone over a ‘relaxing’ drink.
Now I am terrible at catching up with people, and York Lane offers the perfect opportunity to catch up with an ex-housemate/colleague; The Socialite. Both of us used to work at a hotel around the corner from this place, and when I first read the address I am a little dubious. The little alleyway this bar nestles in is framed by a stripclub (or brothel, who knows?) and a selection of homeless men. I used to always walk a little quicker past this alley late at night. Creepy-town.
As we approach the alley The Socialite thinks I am taking her to the stripclub. Maybe some other time kitten. Instead I lead her a little further down, past the boob-club and the homeless men, to a tiled, little hole in the wall. Obligatory milk carts are scattered at the entrance, chipboard, moody-coloured tiles and chalk boards take up the wall space. As you walk into the sunken space, which has a single-table mezzanine, you are greeted by a bar/kitchen down the left side and the scattering of tables, chairs and stools at the end of the cosy space.
After being greeted warmly, The Socialite and I sit in the middle of the room with a good view of the bar and kitchen. The menu and drinks list is written on scraps of cardboard. The menu is small nibble plates and a short selection of about 10 wines, a few beers, cider and spirits, including a concktail special. The only issue with the wine list is they fail to list the wine region. I’m sorry, but I’m a cool climate wine lover (SNOB!), I need to know where they are from. Upon asking at the bar, the lovely man behind the bar doesn’t seem sure where the wine is from either, but a quick read of the label and we all learn something today (turns out their pinot is for the Yarra, tasty!).
To nibble we order the belly pork with chilli jam, antipasto plate and duck pancakes. The fat on the pork is beautifully rendered down, leaving the pork tender and juicy. Dipping a chunk of this into the chilli jam; heaven. The antipasto plate contains lovely fresh cured meats, olives, cornichons and some feta, though it was a little light on the meat side for the price tag of $22. Still nice though. The duck pancakes contain flavoursome pieces of duck with crisp spring onion, but are unfortunately served in a burrito tortilla. The tortilla is far too thick and heavy for the filling, leaving you with a chink of leftover bread at the end.
All in all a nice place to have a drink and a light nibble; emphasis on the drink. You certainly don’t want to try to fill an empty stomach here (then again I am a walking stomach so you waifish types might do fine). I will be back for more pinot.
