You can't have driven through Petersham and not wondered what goes on at the Oxford Tavern. Now you can wonder no more. Gone are the strippers and jelly wrestling. Not a pokie in sight. The makeover has turned this dubious icon into a relaxed local, oozing a laidback cool vibe.
A dude bar with the appropriate menu, offering daily specials of Schnitzels, Tacos and Burgers, it's worth a visit to explore the quirky interior. The bistro area is huge, so getting a table shouldn't be an issue. The wall booths bring a cute retro atmosphere to the room, as does the bottle cap mural.
The cocktail list makes it hard to choose, and worth noting the Margarita specials are on Friday, though I am a fan of their Sundowner.
There is a large 'outdoor' section (code for you smokers) that has plenty of tables but was also packed with the mingling party crowd the night we dropped by.
I'm keen to go back and test out the menu, as the food looks very tempting, but if nothing else, it's great to have a new local in the Inner West. In memory of it's former incarnation, there is still a pole in the bar - but just for decoration.