Steak night is a great deal at Palmer’s. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Gungahlin locals were disappointed when local watering hole Siren Bar sang its last song in February.
But new owners have taken up the mantle and opened Palmer’s in May. It’s the same team that opened The Valley pub in Erindale last year, and they’re on a roll.
I visited with a mate on a Tuesday evening, aka Steak Night.
The steak night special gets you a 250g rump steak with your choice of sauce, two sides and either a beer or wine for $30. Cost of living? Never heard of her.
He picked a rare steak, chips and veg with a Diane sauce and I decided to branch out and get a burger. I was tossing up between a classic cheeseburger or the fried chicken burger when I noticed that they had crispy fried chicken wings as a starter: I could have the best of both worlds!
The crispy chicken wings are a ripper of a starter. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The venue has lots of big screens (at convenient angles and locations), so pretty much anywhere you sit will get you a solid view of whichever sportsball is playing.
Our starter arrived quickly and did not disappoint. Crispy bites of chicken, still juicy and delicious on the inside, were made even more delicious with a dunk first in hot sauce, then in ranch dressing.
Next came the main affair. The steak sat triumphantly atop the chippies, well charred and rare (as requested), tender to eat and tasty with the sauce.
My burger was squat perfection: sometimes burgers don’t need to be fancy; they just need to be satisfying, and this one was satisfying: juicy patty, great sauces, pickles, cheese and, of course, plenty of chippies.
Not complicated, just good. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Tucking into our dinner, we mused about the proliferation of high-end steak joints around town. Yes, there are some truly spectacular steaks on offer (with a price tag to match), but when the $30 option at your local pub is this good, then a steak at twice the price (and then some) better not miss.
We were there on the late side of dinner, but the place still had a decent handful of patrons, and the buzz was comfortable. Staff were friendly and made us feel at ease. The beers on tap aren’t anything fancy, and there are hardly any indie beers available (it’s very much an Asahi-aligned bar).
Palmers took over the space when Siren Bar closed earlier this year. Photo: Palmers/Instagram.
Posters advertised live music on Fridays, and we noted the other weekly specials: burgers on Monday and schnittys on Thursday for $25 a pop (including a drink). We also cast our eye over the impressive glassed-in wine cabinet (climate-controlled, we noted) with a selection of bottles that are definitely above-average for a neighbourhood pub.
The booths and high-tops are comfortable, the atmosphere is convivial and welcoming, and there are plenty of specials and events that give folks a reason to come back.
If you’re looking for a local in Canberra’s North, you could do worse than Palmer’s!
Palmer’s Pub is located at 30 Anthony Rolfe Ave, Gungahlin. They are open seven days a week, from 12 pm on Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 am until late on Friday and Saturday. Follow Palmer’s on Instagram.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
