The Rum Diaries
The food! The cocktails! The service! Repeat visits are doubtless pending for this Bondi dazzler
By Sarah Norris
"Would you like me to take you through the menu?" It's not something you regularly hear as you pull up a seat at your local bar but if those words are music to your ears, you will find Bondi's newie - The Rum Diaries - a welcome addition.
Filed away from the usual tourist traps on Bondi Road - in a block of shops where you'll also find the equally funky Flying Squirrel Tapas Parlour - the rich deep purple and stained glass frontage of The Rum Diaries gives little away of what magic lies inside. Think ambrosial, luscious cocktails, delectable food and service so in harmony with the bar's mood and the needs of the patrons it's as if the owners and staff have had the foresight of actually dining in restaurants and drinking in bars to understand how the transaction should play out.
Quite amazingly, the folks behind the Diaries have masterminded the complex (read: simple) bar equation model that has eluded so manyothers: patron + good service = successful visit. If only more establishments were thusly prudent.
Not that it's been all smooth sailing since they launched last month. They have wisely decided to downscale the planks of wood to which the different food and drinks menus were attached. Sure, it was exciting to finally put all those bicep curls into practice, but it was a little ridiculous to have to lug a log.
Beyond that, the drinks menu is lots of fun, made up of all your rum cocktail favourites like Mai Tais, Hemingway Daiquiris, Cuba Libres complete with a frozen sphere of coke (which was unfortunately topped with warm coke thus eliminating the iciness). And they also do Mules which they've given a floral and delicious makeover, made with Mount Gay Rum, elderberry cordial, mint, lime and ginger beer. We could have drunk four of them. Each. If you're there with a group, try the jugs of Rum Punch, so easy to drink that you'll think you're in the Caribbean.
The food menu continues the relaxed tone, and is made up of bite-sized dishes or meals easily shared, depending on your appetite. Make sure you try ‘The Diaries' ($9), a three-step appetiser for one,
comprising slivers of grilled chorizo which you follow with a shot of dark rum and a chaser of caramelised pear (ours was served with a fig); or the sweet and mouth-watering roasted squash and pumpkin chips ($7.50) as a side. In fact, if you and a friend want to experience the stylised surrounds of The Diaries - complete with recycled dark wood interiors - and walk away with a full belly and keep the bill below $30 a head, try the pumpkin chips, organic rump of lamb served with lentil mash, tomato chutney and rustic bread ($24), all washed down with the very drinkable Diaries House Red ($28). It begs repeat visits.
288 Bondi Rd, Bondi 2026. (02 9300 0440) Mon-Sat 6pm-11.30pm; Sun 6pm-10pm.