Forbes & burton - sunday roast

(as published in Time Out Sydney)

252 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst 2000
(02 9356 8788). Licensed, around $30pp

What?s it like? A chilled spot during the week to sit with a croque monsieur, latte and the paper, Sundays at Forbes and Burton bring a bustling melting pot of the Sydney scene to Darlo. From well-heeled Paddington shoppers to chicly dishevelled neighbours, it?s an even playing field with everyone jostling to get a table at this sandstone-lined-heritage meets perspex-accented-mod cafe. With an all day breakfast plus the lunch line up, there?s heaps on offer, but if you?ve come for the roast, get in early to stake your claim.

What to eat The Sunday roast rotates from week to week, so expect anything from roasted pork belly with asparagus and parsnip to generous slices of sumac and garlic crusted leg?o?lamb with broccolini and toothsome gravy. Whatever the flavour of the week, the mash is almost always present and for good reason; it?s a total winner. Simple, smooth and made with plenty of cream and butter, it?s so good you?ll be tempted to lick the plate. Service is a combination of brief words and flurried movements, and if they forget to introduce the blackboard, check it out for weekly dessert specials geared for the season.

Bang for buck Moderate- $22.50 but very generously proportioned. A glass of Aussie vino for an extra $5 seals the deal.

Inside knowledge Make your Sunday a chilled one ? book a table and mention you?re there to roast. That way, the only thing you?ll have to worry about is whether you can fit in a helping of creamy vanilla rice with ?sexy? pears for dessert.