Macarthur Tavern

Take a trip to South West Sydney and you'll discover Macarthur region highlights such as the Campbelltown Arts Centre and the delightful Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. Here at Sydney Scoop we tested some of the best of the region, and returned to the Macarthur Tavern to see out a sunny Campbelltown evening.

The spacious, summery venue features a number of different drinking and dining areas, with the outdoor Verandah bar a solid favourite for whiling away an evening. It's a fresh, open-air feel with modern beach-like decor, an abundance of plants and plenty of comfy group seating. Perfect for a casual after-work catchup or a large gathering, there's space for all sorts of functions. Order and pick up your food and drink inside.

On tap you'll find some familiar faces plus a couple of more interesting rotating beers, and a decent wine list at delightful pub prices. There's a short hit list of cocktails, all $15 and mostly a little on the sweeter side, with a classic Cosmopolitan, Dark & Stormy or Espresso Martini, or the more creative Honey Berry Sour (JD honey, chambord, berry puree and lemonade) and Toffee Apple Martini (apple vodka, butterscotch schnapps, apple and grenadine).

Turning to the edibles, Filippo's kitchen provides a reliable list of pub bistro classics (think burgers, pizzas and parmies, $14-$20) as well as a selection of restaurant quality mains. An entree of Prawn Hot Pot (tiger prawns in napolitana sauce with sourdough, $25) is generous and warming, and the oven baked Garlic Chilli Barramundi (served with salad and chips, $27) is an great value recommendation. Other options include Chicken Pistachio (with garlic, bacon, figs, brandy cream sauce, chips and salad, $28), Veal funghi (with mixed wild mushrooms, chips and salad, $26) and a selection of pastas.

Our unexpected pick of the menu, however, comes from the salad menu - the Angel Salad of chicken breast, avocado, bacon, and mushroom with mesclun and honey mustard dressing ($22). It is a meal in itself and it is absolutely delicious.

Thursday to Sunday nights sees the resident Burger Van open up with an extended burger menu, operating till late and with options including pulled pork and a mushroom & haloumi burger ($14-$20 with fries).

Weekly specials include $11 pizza and pasta on Mondays and Sundays, $11 steak, schnitzel and fish'n'chips on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and $15 surf'n'turf on Thursdays. Check out the live music events on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Macarthur Tavern trades until midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and 3am Thursday to Saturday.

Find it on the corner of Gilchrist Drive & Kellicar Road, Campbelltown NSW