Builders Arms Hotel
Andrew McConnell's refined pub offers British-inflected fare, a strong wine selection and a lovely little courtyard.
Overview
Under the supervision of acclaimed chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co.), the Builders Arms Hotel's restaurant offering has been an oft-evolving one, debuting as fine diner Moon Under Water in 2012, then dishing up modern Chinese as Ricky & Pinky since 2016. And back in 2018, the public bar and restaurant was given its latest makeover, turning it into a quintessential locals' pub that has enough style to impress your mum.
British Michelin-trained head chef Andy Barkham has designed one venue-wide menu: a contemporary, UK-accented lineup with something for after-work snack sessions in the bar, lazy weekend lunches in the dining room and everything in between.
It's menu changes regularly, but you should expect to find dishes like Barkham's signature scotch eggs, mussels cooked with fermented chilli and pork sausage, and a proper Brit-style fish pie, loaded with rockling, prawn and smoked ocean trout.
Public bar favourites like the legendary cod roe dip and the Builders Arms cheeseburger have stuck around, while the courtyard rotisserie spins a daily changing meat offering to really get excited about.
Like all good neighbourhood pubs, this one's also plating up a solid crop of weekly specials, from the locally loved Monday steak night, to Sunday's generous roast offering, cooked over charcoal and served with all the trimmings.
To match, there's a 12-strong tap beer rotation filled with favourites, and a considered crop of wines to suit just about every palate. Take yours out back to the leafy, secluded courtyard for the ultimate summer arvo pub sesh.
Roberto Pettinau
Top image: Harvard Wang.
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