Casey Jones has themes and deals every night to keep you coming back for more. Photo: Zachary Griffith.
It isn’t my local, I rarely drink and yet I find myself at Casey Jones pub heaps. It’s a convenient spot for afternoon tea and dinner catch-ups, and my sons watch UFC fights here.
So when I heard they were about to drop a slew of new cocktails, I arrived quicker than you can say boo to a goose.
There are a couple of additions to the family pub I hadn’t noticed before – a very cool timber cubby house keeps the kids occupied, and there’s a massive portable screen in the beer garden.
Casey Jones feels a bit like a household of teenagers – there is something on every night!
On Mondays, kids eat free; one free kids’ meal for every main ordered. Tuesday is loaded schnitty night, with a big range of flavours to choose from. Wednesday is (you alliteration-savvy have already guessed it) wings night! All you can eat wings.
Thursday is a night that appeals to me. Trivia! No pens or paper involved; everything is electronic and straightforward. Friday means a meat raffle, and the weekends bring live entertainment with the pub’s 10 screens keeping sports fans up to date with live matches.
Aesthetically, Casey Jones is spectacular. It’s spacious and light-filled, with high ceilings, timber and brick finishes, and greenery everywhere. Five unique areas can be booked for functions, including the relatively new and delightfully private Platform Bar upstairs.
Fun food and even more fun drinks! Photo: Kazuri Photography.
We’re keen to taste a cocktail and have a cheeky late lunch to go with the beverages.
Whether you come in for a snack or arrive hangry, the menu covers it all. None of the pastas listed are your run-of-the-mill dishes you could cook at home. There’s a slew of burgers, chicken sides, and pizzas alongside mains that read like an around-the-world ticket! Plus, the schnitty, steak and other comfort dishes you hope your local will serve up.
We order a few dishes to share.
A red-coated and crispy chicken slider. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
The BBQ bourbon wings are finger-lickin’ good, with a sweet and tangy sauce that sticks to your fingers. The wings are juicy and tender. They’re a fun plate to share with friends over drinks.
The brisket slider treats the brisket with the respect it deserves. The gorgeous, rich meat is pulled, but not drenched in sweet sauce that would mask its naturally delicious juices. I love it!
I didn’t think anything could top the brisket slider for me, but the fried chicken slider nearly does. Red-coated and crispy, it sits atop a rich but not-too-sweet slaw. Magnificent.
My jaw doesn’t open wide enough to fit the entire double beef burger, but it’s yum.
The accompanying fries bring a big snap with fluffy potato inside.
The sliders are my favourite!
Ok, let’s get into the drinks.
We try two of the new cocktails:
The Spicy Margarita delivers exactly what its name promises. It’s like a big smack to the taste buds – sweet (just how I like it), with layers of lime and heat, and a scrumptious chilli salt rim. A unique spin on your regular marg!
Then there’s the Ginger S’mores Espresso Martini.
The cocktail of my dreams: Ginger S’mores Espresso Martini Photo: Zachary Griffith.
I don’t usually like ginger in sweet things, but this cocktail is like my childhood Christmas in a glass. The ginger is more like gingerbread, with warm spices perfuming the espresso, and a plump, oversized toasted marshmallow skewered over the espresso foam. I demolish the crushed gingersnap biscuit crust around the cup’s rim.
And it’s the best espresso martini I’ve had!
Casey Jones is located at 15 Kingsland Parade in Casey. It is open from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm (except for Monday and Tuesday, when it opens at 3 pm.) Check out their fabulous menu, and follow Casey Jones on Facebook and Instagram.
