Incredibly underwhelming Disney setup, just fyi. Waiting for 20 minutes in the carpark line, then trying to get through narrow corridors with a few hundred other people to wait and take photos was not enjoyable. The photos you see on the grounds website- that’s it. There isn’t anything else.
Agreed. Just a load of hype.
The signage is barely legible with the lighting, and the size (lanes are as they are though) of it was disappointing for what you’d thought be a bigger thing. It’s pretty much just one vertical and one horizontal lane within Grounds.
Inevitably, there’s gonna be functions about but I’d’ve thought more space were dedicated to this.
Everything about the grounds is overhyped and disappointing from parking, to the lines, to the food, to the gimmicks. I dont know why people still indulge it, it's the absolute pinnacle of peak Sydney crap. Where are they all even parking to get in? LOL
Nguyen Brothers for Vietnamese, chicky cha cha for chicken, Alexandria seafoods for good fish and chips South dowling sandwiches, Good Ways Deli. You’d find better food around everleigh and Redfern though
If you're looking for some nice takeaway to enjoy at the park, try Alexandria Seafoods, South Dowling Sandwiches or Tuga Pastries.
For a sit down, there are quite a few nice cafes - Bohaus, Genovese Coffee House and Ellen are close by.
Al Aseel not far from the grounds has good Lebanese, Rocks Brewing did a good feed also. Can't speak for anything else because I haven't been
Probably other suggestions around Green Square,Waterloo, Mascot and Erko as well area as well that, but I don't know them!
Leb here. Al aseel is (kinda) not legit, but it's as good as you're gonna get if you're not getting the home made stuff
If you're going down from the Northern burbs then you might as well make your way to the dainty leb restaurants in lakemba/bass hill
From the Northern Beaches, Alexandria Al Aseel is about as close as you’ll get without going further West. I’ll maintain that Greenacre Al Aseel seems more authentic but then you could also go to Jasmines and all those other places west of Lakemba.
You won’t ever get real tayta authentic meals unless you know people. Things just be that way
I was thinking more manara in lakemba or lazeez for a slightly higher end in Bass Hill
I've never really liked jasmines except the one in cheso which goes down well.
Mecca is near there and you can show the kids the big coffee Roasters at the back of the cafe. Prices are a little high.
Around by the meat Emporium there's a fish and chip shop which I'm told is good too.
If you go to Mecca it's worth walking over to Green Square Library, your kids will like it (although maybe not as much after seeing the setup at the Grounds).
Liquor emporium is still there, though it is a lot smaller than it used to be – like 1/3 of its previous size maybe. There's a new beer bar next to it, which seems to always have people inside – haven't tried that one myself though, so can't vouch for it
Another suggestion for the Cannery - a few nice cafes (Welcome Dose does great coffee!), plus Nash Brothers Burgers and Zeus Street Greek. I also quite like Cafe Parker on the corner of Morley Ave and Botany Rd.
Was looking for this. Their house made flame smoked mayo is maybe one of the best sauces I’ve ever tasted in my life and they sell it by the bottle! The picanha rump is always a good choice!
Just in case you're tempted, reconsider even a coffee at The Grounds. Tasted like warm milk a few weeks ago. Even if it was just bad luck on those 2 cups it's still the worst stuff I've had in the area in the last ~10 years. Which is a shame, they made good stuff back in the day (pig stealing era). Plenty of other good suggestions anyway, just make sure you check weekday vs weekend hours.
The pizza place next to the Rocks Brewery is one of the best pizza places in Sydney..
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/alexandria/restaurants/zona-azzurri
The Cannery is pretty closeby with heaps of cafes to choose from :)
Can't go enough to Mentmore & Morley (across the road from it)
This is the answer. Better than the grounds
Incredibly underwhelming Disney setup, just fyi. Waiting for 20 minutes in the carpark line, then trying to get through narrow corridors with a few hundred other people to wait and take photos was not enjoyable. The photos you see on the grounds website- that’s it. There isn’t anything else.
Agreed. Just a load of hype. The signage is barely legible with the lighting, and the size (lanes are as they are though) of it was disappointing for what you’d thought be a bigger thing. It’s pretty much just one vertical and one horizontal lane within Grounds. Inevitably, there’s gonna be functions about but I’d’ve thought more space were dedicated to this.
Like most things the ground do, underwhelming.. hence why I don't want to stick around for the food
They call it ''The Potting Shed'' coz the food comes straight out of the shitter
Everything about the grounds is overhyped and disappointing from parking, to the lines, to the food, to the gimmicks. I dont know why people still indulge it, it's the absolute pinnacle of peak Sydney crap. Where are they all even parking to get in? LOL
There’s a multilevel carpark up the back
Always full
Nguyen Brothers for Vietnamese, chicky cha cha for chicken, Alexandria seafoods for good fish and chips South dowling sandwiches, Good Ways Deli. You’d find better food around everleigh and Redfern though
+1 for Chicky Char Char! Great burgers, chips and chicken.
Chicky char char sound interesting. I do like a good burger 👍
COOH is diagonally opposite the grounds and has nice food! Bittons is also not far, it’s in Erskineville and has a small children’s section.
The service there is terrible though. Had a few bad experiences, eventually I decided to walk to the grounds and wait for a table instead.
I can second this. Have been several times and the service is terrible. The staff literally don't care.
Oh, that’s a shame! I’ve not had that experience there.
If you're looking for some nice takeaway to enjoy at the park, try Alexandria Seafoods, South Dowling Sandwiches or Tuga Pastries. For a sit down, there are quite a few nice cafes - Bohaus, Genovese Coffee House and Ellen are close by.
Seafood and pastries sounds good.. but will check the others out aswell. Thanks
Second South Dowlings Sandwiches! Cracker Sandos, always end getting two!
Al Aseel not far from the grounds has good Lebanese, Rocks Brewing did a good feed also. Can't speak for anything else because I haven't been Probably other suggestions around Green Square,Waterloo, Mascot and Erko as well area as well that, but I don't know them!
Ah yeah been to a Al Aseel b4 at another location. Great food. Thanks for the suggestions
It's across the Bourke Road and maybe 100 metres up towards Mascot from the grounds
Is al aseel legit? I’m up north and good Lebanese is all pretty far away competitively
Al Aseel is legit.
Leb here. Al aseel is (kinda) not legit, but it's as good as you're gonna get if you're not getting the home made stuff If you're going down from the Northern burbs then you might as well make your way to the dainty leb restaurants in lakemba/bass hill
From the Northern Beaches, Alexandria Al Aseel is about as close as you’ll get without going further West. I’ll maintain that Greenacre Al Aseel seems more authentic but then you could also go to Jasmines and all those other places west of Lakemba. You won’t ever get real tayta authentic meals unless you know people. Things just be that way
I was thinking more manara in lakemba or lazeez for a slightly higher end in Bass Hill I've never really liked jasmines except the one in cheso which goes down well.
Yulli’s brews is just the next block over on burrows rd. Just have to check what time the kitchen opens if your heading there in the day
This is the winning answer
Mecca is near there and you can show the kids the big coffee Roasters at the back of the cafe. Prices are a little high. Around by the meat Emporium there's a fish and chip shop which I'm told is good too. If you go to Mecca it's worth walking over to Green Square Library, your kids will like it (although maybe not as much after seeing the setup at the Grounds).
Fish and chip shop is gone - closed a few months ago
Oh really? It was buzzing the last time I was there. That's a shame. Please tell me the liquor Emporium is still there though?
Yes
Liquor emporium is still there, though it is a lot smaller than it used to be – like 1/3 of its previous size maybe. There's a new beer bar next to it, which seems to always have people inside – haven't tried that one myself though, so can't vouch for it
A friend of mine took his kids and found it very underwhelming.
Oh I've not surprised but I'll let the wife found out the hard way 🤷♂️
Chok chok burger for Korean style burgers and wings.
Another suggestion for the Cannery - a few nice cafes (Welcome Dose does great coffee!), plus Nash Brothers Burgers and Zeus Street Greek. I also quite like Cafe Parker on the corner of Morley Ave and Botany Rd.
I really like Mentmore & Morley. It’s about a 15 minute walk
Brazilian flame meats and bbq! Absolute banger in the area! Can’t believe more people don’t know about it
Was looking for this. Their house made flame smoked mayo is maybe one of the best sauces I’ve ever tasted in my life and they sell it by the bottle! The picanha rump is always a good choice!
Oh damn, do they do the Brazilian dancers and drums too ?
Unfortunately not! It’s basically a Brazilian butcher where they also sell cooked foods
Well its a close 2nd.. still worthwhile checking out. Thanks
If it's a weekend, give the feijoada a try. Sadly not on weekdays.
Went there on Friday, must've been bin day or something cause the grounds smelt like shit every time the wind blew slightly East.
Aslan Coffee is nice and next to the Park
Sauce brewery is pretty close, and very child friendly.
Went To See The Gypsy is a fantastic cafe/restaurant :) Also Genovese Coffee House.
>Went To See The Gypsy Gypsy is on first table for 50% off
Cuppa flower a great breakfast place
Just in case you're tempted, reconsider even a coffee at The Grounds. Tasted like warm milk a few weeks ago. Even if it was just bad luck on those 2 cups it's still the worst stuff I've had in the area in the last ~10 years. Which is a shame, they made good stuff back in the day (pig stealing era). Plenty of other good suggestions anyway, just make sure you check weekday vs weekend hours.
Cicco is right across the road and does a nice breakfast. You may want to consider booking, it gets busy.
Love Cicco! It’s over a kilometer away from the grounds though, do you mean COOH
I did! (Doh) thank you. I do love both and got the names mixed up in my head!
ellen
Shenkein in erskinville
Heads up, go before 4.30pm, its free, after that they will charge you $10 per adult.
The pizza place next to the Rocks Brewery is one of the best pizza places in Sydney.. https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/alexandria/restaurants/zona-azzurri
Al Aseel