Overview
With the reopening of the Hotel Palisade, the controversial re-do of Durty Nelly's as The Village Inn, the revamp of the Bellevue Hotel, and the recent Vic on the Park-steered reno of The Lord Gladstone, the debate over great and terrible pub renovations is rife in Sydney at present. Now there's another on the table, with Petersham's White Cockatoo reopened as The West Village.
Celebrated as a tried and true 'sham local with a schnitzel worth crossing the city for, the 130-year-old White Cockatoo is now under new ownership — ex-Drink 'n' Dine ownership. Locky Paech, former general manager of the Forresters in Surry Hills, is one of the new co-owners of the Petersham pub. Alongside business partner James Bodel, Paech has created a new Sydney hospitality group, Goodtime Hospitality.
Sitting right across from Petersham station, West Village has been overhauled by lauded design crew Alexander and Co., renowned for such restaurant and bar fitouts as Surly's, Daniel San, The Print Room, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Morrison and the new Village Inn.
If you're worried about the schnitties, Paech is apparently going to keep a version of the dish that made the White Cockatoo famous in Sydney over 12 years of glory (in case you're after the real deal, the original schnitties are now being served at The Goni's Schnitzelria in Marrickville). We're not completely sold, but we'll give it a go. Paech has also recruited former Catalina chef Sam Thomson to create an original, gastropub-style menu for the West Village, with a focus on organic, ethically-produced ingredients. Think kimchi poutine, blue swimmer crab rolls, vegetable tarts, herb-crusted pork loins, and huge seafood platters heaving with tempura prawns, natural oysters and crab claws. There's also a separate bar food menu filled with pub staples like fish and chips, cheeseburgers and the aforementioned schnitties.
Tipple-wise, the whole wine list is Australian, with mainly NSW varieties on the menu. Cocktails are being served in bottles (looks like you started a trend, Dead Ringer), and there's negronis on tap. And of course, a big ol' selection of craft beer is available on tap.
Best bit? They're open for brekkie. Serving 7-11am and ready to launch later this year, the outdoor Patio area will serve as a pub-cafe with coffee and breakfast options available (and yep, they do takeaway).
The West Village is now open at 30 Terminus Street, Petersham. Open Monday through Saturday 10am – midnight, Sundays 10am – 10pm.
Images: Alana Dimou.