Steak, chips and beer anyone? This Paddo pub proves that you don't have to be fancy or complicated to be well loved.
Hemmed into Paddo's cute zone of terraced backstreets, the Grand National Hotel (aka The Nash or G Nash) is a classic joint. More than just a boozer, this place doubles as a second dining room for locals of all ages who live within Five Ways' tangled web of residential laneways.
Wander into this simple little pub and you'll find polished wooden interiors, a plain bar lined with tall stools (usually being kept warm by regulars) and some comfy booth-style seating that's great if you want to loll around on a rainy afternoon. There's no live music (no space for it either) and no trivia. But the footy is always screened and there's Carlton Draught and Stella Artois on tap.
Although lots of people come to The Nash to drink with their mates, it seems like a similar number of people come specifically to dine. Maybe that's because the somewhat posh Grand National restaurant is attached next door and (shhh don't tell everybody) the pub's food comes straight from the professional kitchen next door. Menu options such as the wagyu beef burger and lamb curry with rice are chalked up on the blackboard. And for dessert? Try the vanilla creme brulee. It's good - though in a wicked, thigh-wobbling kind of way.
Andrea Tomaz
