Blue Ribbon Bistro

Leichhardt Bowling Club has long been a fixture of Sydney's Inner West, but its latest addition looks beyond the bowling greens. Blue Ribbon Bistro marks a new chapter for the club, pairing a refreshed dining offering with pub classics that generations of Australians have grown up ordering.

Rather than reinventing the format, the menu leans into nostalgia. Chicken parmigiana comes layered with vodka sauce, bocconcini and parmesan, the beef burger arrives "with the lot"—right down to the beetroot—and crumbed calamari, chicken kiev and fish and chips all earn a place alongside pub staples like steaks and schnitzels. Beyond the classics, there's pumpkin gnocchi with sage and burnt butter, grilled New Zealand snapper with tomatoes, olives and butter beans, and a baked vodka pasta finished with mozzarella and parmesan.

The setting is equally geared towards everyday neighbourhood dining. Outside, a newly opened dog-friendly beer garden looks west towards the evening sun, while families can make use of what they attest is the Inner West's only outdoor playground attached to a licensed club. Larger groups are catered for too, with Roman-style pizza slabs and share platters available for birthdays, reunions and community celebrations.

Weekday sessions are also on the cards, with $20 burgers at lunch from Wednesday to Friday, Wednesday night trivia with schnitzel specials, and Thursday pasta paired with a glass of wine. Together, they position Blue Ribbon Bistro as the sort of place locals can drop in to whenever dinner feels easier out than at home.

Image credit: Blue Ribbon Bistro | Instagram