The Bourbon

Had pre-​dinner drink on Sunday nite. There is outdoor seating area, but bit noisy being close to the street and you might be surrounded by few smokers. Upstairs interior was nice. Warm lighting and mini stage that might be for entertainment/​live performance, but there wasn’t anything on on Sunday. It would have been nice if they had somthing like jazz performance maybe. Overall good vibe, not too noisy, so it was ideal location for drink & chat. Good selection of cocktails and wines. The only minor side of this place was that there were kids running and playing around on stool. There was a group of mothers looked like and brought two kids in the bar where they are fully exposure to drink, smokers… etc. It was bit disturbing and ruined the vibe when you started to see couple of kids running around and playing on the stools as it should be adult only in the evening unless it is family restaurant. Otherwise good place for casual drink!

I’ve been here a few times while staying in the cross and always had good food here. It has a nice atmosphere and a good menu, I’ve usually gotten a larger main like a steak, which have been very nice, especially the seasoning and sauces with the different dishes. After reading many of the reviews here I will have to try the sandwiches next time.
They have a nice layout and a good stage setup for live music, which I was able to catch one time.

Fun, hip restaurant with average food.
Food: 3 of 5
Atmosphere: 4 of 5
I would recommend this place if: you were looking to grab drinks and socialize
The bourbon features «American» food, with Australian flare. I ordered your typical bacon cheeseburger and my husband ordered brisket. Both items were average. The beef on the cheeseburger was good, but the cheese was odd, the closest thing I could compare it to would be easy cheese. The brisket was also average, cooked well but the sauce wasn’t that great. The atmosphere and vibe of this place however was great. It seemed like a vibrant and fun place to grab drinks and hang out with friends.

People had told me the Bourbon had good steaks, but I was a bit skeptical as the restaurant is smack dab in the middle of King’s Cross, an area I would rather avoid at all costs.
I was pleasantly surprised and whoever told me the steaks were good deserves a gold star– perfectly seasoned, delicious and personally I think a steal ($ 25 for 230 grams… not too shabby in my book). Half of us opted for the scotch filet and half for the porterhouse. The staff recommended the porterhouse (they said it was better but perhaps it was recommended because of the higher pricetag??) but the folks who got the porterhouse were lamenting the fact that their steaks didn’t come with the delicious double fried potatoes that we got with our scotch filet.
I’m looking forward to coming back for brunch and exploring more of the menu– shame that they’re located where they are, but I guess I can’t hold that against them.

great lunch on a weekend. got to sit outside and enjoy the sun
the burger and casear salad were pretty good, but the salad could have used more chicken. We ordered the specialty cocktail so that we could try the beignets– not worth it! The beignets were delicious, but the drink was awful and expensive

I had been here for a late night drink and to enjoy the awesome live music– but after having dinner here I think for my next night at the cross I won’t be going anywhere else.
The place has a good atmosphere– it’s open and welcoming and yet classy at the same time.
I had the chilli beef burger which was great– (I’m pretty sure the standard was consistent across the board anyway) the beef patty was big and juicy enough to be just right, cheese was tasty, chilli mayo was just spicy enough, the bun was lovely– a ¹⁰⁄₁₀ burger and the best I’ve had in a hot minute.
And this place has free popcorn– beats a kebab or maccas any day of the week.

We came here after a disappointing trip to the pop up «Moe’s Tavern» which left us hungry and wanting a burger.
It was State of Origin night, which meant King’s cross was like days of old, when there were 90% less douche bags in the street. All of them were in pubs elsewhere watching the big game at that point.
We sat in the outside seating area and perused the menu. Whoa.
If you like American style huge portions and everything slathered in cheese, bacon and chipotle sauce then you have come to the right place, my foodie brethren.
I ordered the Cheeseburger with bacon and extra sauce. Not only was it the best value, but it was so damn tasty. so. damn. tasty.
There was a live band playing inside and some people boogieing along to the music, which was refreshing also.
Not the cheapest for food and beverages, but honestly worth the $$.

I like this place despite myself.
It’s basically Wetherspoons (for any UK readers). At home, I wouldn’t bother with it, but oddly it fills a niche in an area sorely lacking in places where you can just sit in a corner, mind your own buisness and knock back a decentish glass of wine.
The waiters are not overly attentive or pretentious. Infact, they’ll basically ignore you; you seat yourself, order at the bar, and leave at will. No one pressures you to order more or clear the table.
There are enough well spread out small tables that even at happy hour, you will be free of leering blokes or drunken backpackers trying to start an unwanted ‘conversation’.
Yes; the food didn’t look stellar, the service was skeleton, the wine list had seen better times and ‘trendy’ was the last word that sprung to mind. But if you have had a hard day of ‘hipster’ing and just want somewhere very easy this is for you!
Also; extra star for Excellent live music (Aaron Lyon — much respect for hitting the Cee Loo high notes!)
Tip; don’t touch the free popcorn. The number of hands digging in was upsettingly unhygienic.

Question: How many ways can you bake an egg?
Answer: Why bother, The Bourbon will bake a KICK-​BUTT egg for you!
They’ll even throw in the honey+ricotta or chorizo, pending your choice of poison. Served in a metal wok, a la all hipster cafes circa 2012, the baked egg literally put a smile on my face. I took it with the mixed juice featuring passionfruit and a small flat white. The perfect combination for a Bourbon brunch.
I never dreamed that I’d one day be eating brunch at The Bourbon, once a club on the KX strip. I’d spent the odd night bustin’ a poorly thought out move there, but now a live smooth musician isn’t even a little out of place in this new groovy cocktail bar and eatery.
The service needs polishing. Staff are distracted in a nearly empty café, standing in hidden corners and staring off into the early morning gloom.
The bill figuratively stopped my heart. Eating for one is expensive, I wouldn’t recommend trying to feed 3 kids and a puppy on your easy Sunday morning.
The menu is also extremely boutique (read: limited), and not necessarily child appropriate.
Definitely not the place to go for a greasy big breakfast and a coke, but the food packs a punch.

I am shocked this place only has two stars but maybe we got it on a good night and we also only went there for a drink and not to eat. We stumbled across this place on a Friday night and they had a really cool live band planning. I loved the atmosphere and the vibe of the place. The band were amazing and playing really old school cover songs to sing along to. Me and my boyfriend really enjoyed this place and would definitely go back there for drinks– but maybe not food from all the other reviews of the place!

Been here twice and I am not impressed.
Not only is this an incredibly overpriced brunch spot, but they also have very few brunch options available (there are only about three dishes with eggs!)
I paid $ 18 for a bacon hash and my boyfriend paid $ 21 for two poached eggs, toast, and a side of bacon. Way overpriced!
I didn’t even get a chance to try a Bloody Mary because they cost $ 17. Not to mention the fact that my friend ordered an apple juice and got something almost undrinkable back.
Also, the service is subpar, took at least 15 minutes for our coffee and we were told that they had to check with the kitchen to see if they could make a food swap (more than half the tables were empty). I’d hate to see what this was like when it was full.
Overall, won’t be going back unless its for live music. The place is cute but the prices and mediocre service are more than enough to keep me from going back.

Nach einem sehr gelungenen Frühstück am Samstag Morgen war ich zunächst über die teils sehr negativen Rezensionen verwundert. Am Tag darauf verstehe ich jetzt, was gemeint ist. Ich habe noch nie ein derartiges Ausmaß an Inkonstanz in einem Restaurant erlebt.
Obwohl nur halb gefüllt, war das — zumindest im Service reichlich erkennbare — Personal mit der Gesamtsituation überfordert. Die Wartezeiten waren inadäquat. Auch die Qualität der Speisen unterschied sich nach nur einem Tag deutlich, offenbar hatte in der Küche eine andere Schicht Dienst. Insbesondere die seasonal fruit platter für AUD 14 war nicht wiederzuerkennen… Samstags mit allerlei saftigen Melonen und Ananas gab’s am Sonntag ein paar Scheibchen Apfel und Banane, dabei etwa die halbe Menge…
Sehr schade, denn aus diesem Lokal in dieser Location könnte man durch konstant gute Leistung mehr herausholen. Man kann es ja schließlich — siehe Samstag…
Was die Preise betrifft bleibe ich dabei — für Kings Cross angemessen.

Waited over an hour for our meals, had 2 almost undrinkable cocktails whilst we waited. Took the waiters over 10 minutes to even give us menus. Judging by the desperation of the clientele to pick up, the signs in the toilets reminding patrons not to use illicit drugs on the premises and wait staff with the charm of ike turner after 7 campari’s this place is destined to remain a townie bar trying way too hard

I think this is supposed to be a New Orleans style bistro… if it was one that was opened in New Jersey. Not very authentic (a little too polished in a bland way), but the music was pretty good.

Ate here tonight with a group of friends. who tell me the place used to be a complete dive… The décor makes the place look swank and impressive… unfortunately the service and the food was neither…
My jambalaya was lacking in flavour, the rotisserie chicken was succulent but greasy. the ribs were alright and the scotch fillet although looked like someone had barfed on it was surprisingly tasty and quite well cooked.
The wedges were ok although again rather greasy and the fried green tomatoes were bland and. you guessed it… greasy!
We got the crackling as a snack but they were SEVERELY salty and really rather sickening…
Service was a bit sporadic. we had to try a few times to wave down service staff on a couple of occasions and after we got the bill, noone came to take payment, so we ended up taking it up ourselves…
There was entertainment just starting when we decided to leave but it was a bit croony and slightly loud for conversation…
I walked out feeling slightly ill from my meal. don’t think my any of my friends will be in a hurry to go back either.

Endroit très sympa pour sortir à Sydney, manger ou boire un verre
Le cadre est assez sympa, et les clients de toutes les nationalités (le bar est situé à Kings Cross, point de chute des backpackers).
Happy Hour, et menu steak-​purée délicieux et pas cher tous les soirs (non négligeable pour les backpackers après des semaines ou mois passés sur la route, et l’envie de retrouiver une alimentation normale sans se ruiner).

Happy Hour tous les jours de 6pm à 9pm.
Steak-​Frites/​purée pour $ 10 tous les jours.
Bref un bon endroit pour debuter une petite soirée sans se ruiner.
En revanche, né vous attendez pas à un service quelconque.
En effet, pour aller commander votre plat, vous devez vous rendre à un comptoir, le serveur vous donnera ensuite un petit boitier qui sonnera quand il sera temps d’aller chercher votre assiette.
Une adresse à noter je pense pour tous les backpackers.