The Fat Canyoners' Good Grub Guide

[FatCanyoner]

G'day folks,
A few months ago a group of us put together a guide to some of the good places to grab a feed on your way back from popular bushwalking / canyoning regions around Sydney. It was basically born out of us being fed up going to places where the food was crap, management didn't like dirty walkers, service was slow, it was too expensive etc. It is broken down by region and gives a quick summary about each place, a star rating, the address and a phone number so you can call ahead and make sure they are open or even order if you're in a hurry. As well as being an online guide, we've now made a PDF version so you can print it out and throw it in the glove box for when your on a trip.
If you want to check it out or download a copy, go to http://fatcanyoners.org/good-grub-guide/
Some of the areas are a bit sparse, and the quality of places do change, so if you use this guide (and find it helpful) I'd ask for one favour in return. Can you flick me an email or comment below if there are other places we should include in the guide (let me know a recommended rating with a quick summary of your experiences there) or give me some updated feedback on some of the ones that are included. While I've personally been to most of them, some are based on other peoples feedback, so I can't be 100%. It's for that reason that I'm always after more guinea pigs to experiment with food places and give me some feedback.
Cheers
T2

[ninjapuppet]

I'm not a big fan of indian in general, so the shiva doesnt rate too highly by me. It was a nice place though.
The gearin hotel gets a thumbs up from me.

each to their own, but thats an excellent effort.

[FatCanyoner]

Are you a bushwalker who also loves a good feed after a hard day in the bush? Then we want your input for the 2013 edition of the Good Grub Guide, which is now under construction.

This guide only exists thanks to the dutiful reconnaissance of dozens of outdoor enthusiasts who've generously shared their food experiences, good and bad. The downside to that hard work has been that in the past twelve months we've all been using the guide to aim us in the right direction, meaning very few bad food experiences and nowhere near enough new places being added. That is why we need your help!

Before we finalise a new, 2013 version of the Good Grub Guide, we need to cast the net wider and increase the collective knowledge that has gone into it. If, like us, you're a lover of both the bush and good food, then please get in touch with your suggestions, additions or corrections.

The basic concept is to organise venues into common geographic regions: the areas bushwalkers from the greater Sydney region are likely to find themselves (we'd like to grow it to anywhere in NSW bushwalkers are likely to find themselves!). Each establishment has an overall star rating and a short summary of people's previous experiences there. Those that are particular favourites get a thumbs up, while those we have vowed never to return to after particularly bad experiences get a skull and crossbones. Best of all, we include the phone numbers for all of them, so you can always call ahead to double check they are open and have room for your group.

Helping build on this collective wisdom can take as little as two minutes. All you need to do is send a short email with the name of a place, the suburb it's in, your suggested star rating and a couple lines explaining your experiences there. If you're really keen why not suggest a whole new region that we've missed out and we'll get to work!

Please send your recommendations to: [email protected].

Thanks in advance.

[Onestepmore]

Picton cafe - r.coffee co and Ryan also runs a fantastic little restaurant called Six Months
Superb Campos coffee, great seasonal produce, groovy atmostphere you'd more likely expect in Newtown or Surry Hills. Ryan sources his ingredients from local producers (including my veg and herb garden)
The restaurant is open Th F S - great sharing plates (think tapas style x degustation menu), innovative, imaginative menu and fantastic fixed price
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/70/1503522/ ... -Co-Picton (ignore the first post you read!! I've never had bad service)

The cafe/bakery called The Common Ground on Razorback (between Picton and Camden) is also well worth a stop

My uncle Kevin Gorman has a great organic veg farm on Berry Mountain (and a guesthouse called Mullingrove Cottage) - and is quite involved with Berry and Kangaroo Valley local producers and the 'slow food' movement - not sure if Berry is too far to be included? It's got a very active foodie contingent.

[FatCanyoner]

G'day folks,

Yep, I know I'm about six weeks late with this (it's been a busy start to the year) but I wanted to let you all know that we've done a 2013 update of the Good Grub Guide.

We've added several new regions, included plenty of new venues, deletes a few that have closed down, and improved the rankings based on greater experience and feedback from others.

For those who don't know, the guide was created about two years back to highlight the good places to grab a feed on your way back from popular canyoning, bushwalking and climbing regions around Sydney. It was basically born out of us being fed up going to places where the food was crap, management didn't like dirty walkers, service was slow, it was too expensive etc.

It is broken down by region and gives a quick summary about each place, a star rating, the address and a phone number so you can call ahead and make sure they are open or even order if you're in a hurry.

As well as being an online guide there is also a fancy PDF version that you can print it out and throw it in the glove box for when your on a trip.

To check out the guide, or download a PDF copy, go to: http://fatcanyoners.org/good-grub-guide/

(P.S. New places open up, old places close, management changes and so does the quality. So our one request is that if you use this guide and find it helpful, then flick us an email from time to time with updates)

[Allchin09]

Nice work on the 2013 edition, it's good to see a fair few more venues over the previous guide!

I can't wait to check out some of the places recommended after a trip out in the mountains. My only problem is that most shops have closed for the night by the time I make it into town

[FatCanyoner]

My only problem is that most shops have closed for the night by the time I make it into town

Yep, that's part of the reason I usually prefer pubs. They can generally be counted on to have the kitchen open to about 9pm. One thing I have found is that a quick phone call can often have them agree to stay back slightly longer. If you are about to order half a dozen meals it more than pays for the kitchen staying open an extra half hour!

[beachcruiser]

Barrengarry pies are awesome, sampled one on the weekend after bailing early on a daywalk due to the persistent drizzle spoiling my photography plans...

Wish I'd read your guide a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for fish and chips for lunch in Nowra

I always love stopping at the Paragon Cafe in Goulburn - although haven't been there for a while, good for a hearty sit down meal and an old fashioned dining experience
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restauran ... Wales.html