Dining / Trying to pick winners ‘pub side’

WHEN Sub-Urban first opened around 2010, I was attracted to its striking art deco-inspired presence.

It was one of Dickson’s newest dining establishments at the time and I loved the attention to detail that had gone into every square metre of the place – checkerboard flooring; vintage, detailed cornices and amazing light fittings.

The website still claims the place brings “flair and a metropolitan feel” to Dickson, but we thought the placed looked tired and in need of a bit of love. I understand things are a-changing and look forward to the next chapter.

In the meantime, it was a sunny Sunday. We wanted to enjoy the outdoors and the first Dickson establishment we selected was closed (even though signage said it wasn’t). So Sub-Urban ended up being our destination.

Sub-Urban is divided into three areas. The first is the bar/pub. The second – my favourite – is a small, cosy lounge area with a fireplace. The third is the restaurant.

It was later in the afternoon and we wanted to dine alfresco so opted for the pub side (place orders at the bar). Although “pub side”, we agreed the menu could be more exciting. Burgers, pizza, your basic chicken schnitzel, fish and chips and a rib eye all feature. But nothing more than that.

I opted for the Wagyu beef burger, which was the winner dish of the day. It was $20 and a generous patty (cooked perfectly rare, as ordered) and decorated with bacon, cheddar and condiments. It was juicy and delicious. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

A friend ordered the chicken schnitzel ($23) served with roast potatoes and a garden salad with the option of pepper sauce, mushroom sauce or jalapeno butter. It wasn’t top notch but hit the spot and there were no complaints.

My other friend couldn’t win no matter how hard she tried. After a bit of a kick of chilli, this friend ordered a main dish (note “main”) of linguine with prawn, crab, pipi, parsley and cherry tomato. It was $32 but when it arrived our jaws dropped. It looked far more like an entrée than a main – indeed, was dangerously small for the price – and it wasn’t hot, or warm. It was cold.

The dish was returned to the kitchen. Once heated up, the staff plunked it on the table without an apology and took off into the distance. No one ever did ask if the “substitute” dish was acceptable. What a shame. It doesn’t cost a pub anything to check on customer satisfaction.

White wines at Sub-Urban range from $40 to $70; reds $40 to $65. Cocktails start at $16.

Sub-Urban, corner of Cape and Woolley Streets, Dickson. Open seven days. Call 6257 7788.