In my 60yrs of living in glebe and my 40+years of working with food and being a food critic all I can say is I've never tried more Under satisfying food and rude, conceited And arrogant staff. My meal was less than average and for the price of high restaurant quality food. I was utterly mortified at how rude the staff were to the customers. The beer was flat like the food. In the atmosphere has definitely gone to shit are you still like to sit around have a meal and check out all the new things that I had not seen to my prior visit now is empty And lifeless Very disappointing I would not go back here for a pub grub feed nor to socialise very shameful for an iconic Glebe pub. read more

I have to admit that this pub is unique, but then again each and every pub seems to have its own unique qualities. However, this pub in particular is unique in and of itself namely because of all the weird and wonderful things that seems to full each and every nook and cranny of the place. It seems that the owner has this habit (one that I know only too well) of keeping pretty much everything that comes his way, and then finding some random part of the pub to put it up on display. The other thing about this pub is that it has its own pet cockatoo that tends to wander about the back area. There is also a bistro part of the pub that has its own character, however it is the front bar that makes this place cool. Oh, don't expect any craft beers though - it is purely traditional beers here. read more

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It's Thursday night and I've booked a spot at the Mic In Hand, a weekly comedy night that is run from within the Friend In Hand, an old fashioned pub with scores of memorabilia adorning the walls. The restaurant attached to the hotel assures the patrons are well fed and the spaghetti bolognese here is a classic and clearly my recommendation should you attend. The front of the bar seats all the regulars and bar flies and the upstairs area, with its own bar, showcases the comedy each Thursday night. This is the first stand up show that my parents have attended, so I get some food downstairs before the gig. I'm, as per usual, extremely nervous and I have trouble eating my dinner. I get through about five mouthfuls before I give up and get a plastic container to eat it later. The last time my parents came to see me do something for the first time, (Rugby) I broke my arm. Hopefully this would involve less pain. I down the waters and eagerly await the stage. I've asked to be on early as I have rehearsals later and opening night is in only two weeks time. The room upstairs has filled up and it feels like a warm room as the MC for the evening Dain Hedgpeth performs his routine. A heckler claims he can tell better jokes and he is shortly humiliated before further heckling and taking the stage gets him ejected from the room. I go on second and stick around for as long as I can to see the following sets, but know that I have to leave very soon. It's a great room for comics as the audience is full and very willing to laugh, the MC bears the brunt from the hecklers as is tradition and the open mikers get a chance to clock some stage time and see what works and what plummets to a slow and painful, silent death on stage. read more

Friend in Hand Hotel - Bars Near Me - Glebe, NSW

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Great selection of beers, great food and really friendly staff. This has been a standout pub lunch venue for our work team for the last four years. We go here at least twice a month and they never dissapoint. Fancy a work function? These guys go the extra mile to help your event succeed. read more

This place is truly one of a kind. They have darts, slot machines, holla hoop contests, six pack contests, salty chocolate ball eating contests and of course their famous crab races. The best part about this place is all of the contests other than the crab races are free and have awesome prizes... liquor! The crab races cost two dollars per crab. I noticed most of the customers were from all over the world, and this helped create a great multicultural vibe. Lots of great stories to hear throughout the night. One downside to this place was that the staff sprayed us with water repeatedly throughout the night. I guess this is a normal practice at this establishment. read more

You know those days when you're too lazy to get out of your comfy tracksuit bottoms with "JERSEY GIRL" emblazoned across your rear, but still fancy a schooner? Look no further than the character-oozing, rough-as-guts Friend in Hand. Ever been to a TGI Friday's or Cracker Barrel in the States where they have mismatched, fake-ass cheesy vintage crap everywhere? Well Friend In Hand is kinda like that, except completely authentic and unapologetically in-your-face with the chintz. This place looks like the Village People had an orgy with the BeeGees and Mick Dundee. And if the Aussie Christmas Santa or the scuba diving mannequin aren't enough to hold your attention, they have activities every night of the week, apparently. Not just activities; just your normal pub stuff. Like poetry reading. And still life painting (adults only!). And CRAB races. You know, the usual. Honestly, I walked in feeling a bit self-conscious of my lazy attire and felt instantly at home; in fact, I felt like I belonged. After taking in the over-the-top decor and comfy seats, BF and I went over to the restaurant to place an order. Just an FYI, the $10 steak is only for lunch now. BF's attempts to order the lasagne went something like this: BF: Lasagne please Waitress: Na. BF: Na? Waitress: Got no bechamel. Needs bechamel, in my opinion. Well then! She did have a point. After ordering a steak sandwich ($11) to share with a schooner of Fat Yak ($6.70), we sat down at a table and started chatting when we heard a mighty SQQQQUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAKKKK!! Thinking it was a bird who had just flown in and was causing trouble, we started talking again only to be interrupted by another SSSSQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQUUUUUUUAAAAAKKK!!! and a barmaid saying in soothing tones, "What's wrong, George?" I got up to have a look and perched on the bar was a massive white cockatoo with what only can be described as a scowl on its face. George, I've come to know, is the unofficial mascot of the Friend in Hand. I was tempted to try and give him a cuddle, but he looked like he wanted to peck my eyes out. Our steak sandwich and chips was a big portion, and fairly standard quality, but priced amazingly well. So excited to go back for the crab races. I can already taste the chocolate salty donuts!!!! Mmmmm.... donuts.... read more

I really like this establishment! I had a great time here last night. The comedy night, even though at times painfully awkward, was hilarious and super fun. This needs to be on someone's date night list! A Friend In Hand also has a lot of other activities on during the week, which I think sets it a part from other pubs. read more

HOLY HELL this place is mad! I had heard about the Friend in Hand's famous sand crab races on Wednesday nights, so I suggested it as a fun blind date spot. We arrived there early enough to get a pre-insanity drink. I was instantly taken by the bric-a-brac decorations, including wildly dressed manikins and various other odds and ends tacked to the walls. So the festivities began and it seemed all in good fun. Both my date and I tossed our gold coins forward and named our crabs. As we waited in anticipation, the lights dimmed, the "Rocky" theme song came on and low and behold, a man dressed in a full head-to-toe crab costume emerged running through the crowd. Much to my dismay, the bartenders took this as cue to SOAK everyone in the pub with their water guns. Horrendous! The races started and when the poor little crabs were dumped on the round bar table everyone started to cheer passionately. My date's crab actually won so that automatically catapulted him into round two: chocolate salty balls. In this round, the poor guy had to eat chocolate-covered, salted doughnuts without the help of his hands and lick the plate clean. As a good attentive date, I stood there cheering him on. When he finished FIRST, the announcer yelled "He must have a clean face, get your girlfriend to help you with your face!" So enter: our first kiss. In all, it was pretty hilarious and I would consider going back with mates, but it really couldn't have been a more embarrassing and inappropriate spot for a first date... unless of course you NEVER care to see that person again. read more

Maybe a little scary to step into your first time around, but the Friend in Hand is a great local pub. It's always filled with regulars downstairs and puts on a great range of entertainment. Monday nights is Life Drawing. $10 cover (to pay the model) and BYO drawing supplies. Get in early for a good spot, and don't expect it to be a chatty casual affair. This is for serious arty types only. There will be silence during the poses. There will be other artists wandering around in breaks judging your work. There will be glares until you've proved yourself worthy. I love it!!! read more

This pub has more character in its doorway than most pubs do in their entire establishment. From man-sized scuba divers and firemen to a fully operational miniature train that chugs its way around its ceiling track, ancient poker machines and telephone boxes, framed photos and street signs and a police station light box, this pub has been serving beer since the 1800's and it looks as though it's saved a little bit of every year along the way. Friend in Hand also comes with its own resident squawking cockatoo that, whilst it does have it's own cage, spends most of its time perched atop someone's arm or stepping its was across the beer taps. It's amazing the way that a red velvet curtain can transform a space. Especially if there's a mic stand in front of it. The Friend In Hand runs a weekly open-mic comedy night in their upstairs bar, "Mic In Hand", and unlike many open-mic comedy nights, it's not at all awkward. In fact, it's actually funny. Whilst there's always the possibility for cringing in these situations, more often than not "Mic in Hand" talent make it through their five minute skits unscathed, finishing to the raucous laughter of their appreciative crowd. Although if you start making racist or any kind of prejudiced jokes, be warned - you will be heckled and the crowd will more than happily put you in your place. There's a reason why Friend In Hand was shortlisted for TimeOut's Best Live Entertainment Pub in Sydney. This place fills out, and with good reason - for $10 you're never too sure what you're getting, but it often ends up being something pretty good. Their restaurant, A Fork In Hand, is probably the least impressive element of Friend In Hand and even so it's not too bad ($10 steak, $16 schnitty). I wouldn't venture here just for the food, but it's A.O.K for a pre-comedy feed. This would be my ideal local. With no pretense whatsoever, the only negative I can see in this hotel is that you should be prepared for your stories to go unheard amidst the sea of distractions provided by The Friend In Hand's paraphernalia. Next time you don't have enough for a drink, try trading your left boot/Grandad's portrait/snorkel/salt and pepper shakers. I have a feeling that it may just work. read more

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So I headed down here on a Wednesday night for the Friend In Hands' very special night time activity...Crab Racing! It's a simple concept - get a bowl of hermit crabs with numbers stuck on their shells, choose a name (filthier the better - I'll spare you my lucky crustaceans pseudonyms), own up to your crabs name, get sprayed with water, bowl of crabs gets turned over in the middle of a round table, crabs scuttle towards outer ring of table, then they scuttle sideways and eventually they reach the outside and the race is over. See, simple! Odd? Yes, very! But all good fun. Some slightly bizarre games for those that finish in the top 5/6 (eat a chocolate/salt covered donut, eat a cracker then try and whistle) in order to win a T-shirt. As I said, a little odd, but it makes for an interesting night out, and if you haven't been to the FiH yet, you should really check it out, if not for the walls adorned with all sorts of bric n brac, then for the big cockatoo sitting on the bar. They also have a decent bistro with the always inviting $10 steak on offer. This is a character-filled pub that is for locals and visitors alike, so don't be put off by the seasoned drinkers holding up the bar, they won't bite! Probably. read more

Friend in Hand Hotel - Bars Near Me - Glebe, NSW

Totally forgot about this pub! Glebe back streets are a bit of a time warp. The Friend in Hand hasn't changed in years, and that's a great, great thing. It's Sydney's form of a dive bar, I guess. Loads of flotsam and jetsam (including an old Police sign) fill the walls and ceiling of the bar. Locals stare at you when you walk in (and are particularly keen to stare at the ladies...) but no one means you any harm. Solid old wooden furniture rings the bar. You know those big old bar stools with a u-shape back? Really heavy stuff. The pub also has a TAB, so there's the not-so-nice brightly lit betting area, but the rest of the bar reminded me of a US dive bar, except in other ways it's very very Aussie. Friendly staff, cheap grog. It's hard to find the ladies toilets, but persevere, they'll show up eventually, around one little corner or another. read more

If you want the proper Aussie pub experience then look no further, The Friend In Hand has got you sorted. A pet bird who strolls around, crab racing, dart board, plenty of tv for footy watching. What more could you ask for? Actually, I'd ask for one or two taps doing craft beer, but other than that you really can't complain. read more

Had a drink here with a group of friends on a late Saturday afternoon and enjoyed this strange pub. I love that they have a pet cockatoo and the hermit crabs. It's a very casual place with friendly locals. I'd come back again. read more

One of the worst place I've ever been in terms of the taste. The waitress at the restaurant is very friendly but please don't eat dinner here. I for a daily deal that they offer but they said they ran out of it at 7:50pm, which is not a late time for dinner. I ordered fish of the day and rump steak. Both of them are not cooked well and low quality ingredients for the price. Chips are not fried well and the dressing for the salad is also cheap store bought. Just for beer only, it is just standard. read more