The Bootlegger Bar Katoomba

Awesome Texan barbecue kind of place with really good gluten free options. Staff were lovely, knowledgeable and diligent with our coeliac members in our family. They went above and beyond to bake the fries instead of deep frying them as the fryer had been used to cook some gluten food items. Loved the fermented pickles that came with the meat share plate. Would definitely recommend for sensitive coeliacs.

We had high expectations for our dinner at Bootlegger, but unfortunately, it was the most disappointing meal of our trip to Katoomba. For a $85 for a rack of ribs, the quality was simply not there. The ribs were served cold, tough, and dry with very little meat on the bone. They lacked flavor and appeared to have only a thin layer of sauce painted on rather than being properly marinated or smoked. The service was also a major issue. We waited 1 hour for our drinks to arrive and 1.5 hours for our food. While the female server was friendly and doing her best, it appeared the restaurant was severely understaffed with only one person working the floor. The venue was also uncomfortably cold. It feels like corners are being cut at the expense of the customer experience. I would not recommend this place given the price point and poor execution.

I was exploring Katoomba and decided to grab lunch at the bootlegger, and I’m glad I did! The staff were very friendly and nice to chat to, the interior design of the bar gives it a “cozy cabin” feeling, which is perfect after lots of walking around I ordered the beef brisket loaded fries and the “Alice in wonderland” mocktail. The brisket was perfection!!! Juicy, broke apart and plenty of it. Quite a big serving for the loaded fries so I would recommend sharing it. The mocktail was quite nice, a bit more on the bitter side than I was expecting but still nice and refreshing. I saw on signs they have live music and drag bi go regularly at their establishment. If I was a Katoomba local this would be my go to Pub. 😊

Me and my friend had the share platter for two and we were very disappointed, we added extra brisket and it was still not enough, for $110 this was not worth the price . Also, When we tried to make an order for three drinks the staff member completely ignored what I was trying to order and cut me off, they then proceeded to return back with a drink I never ordered. I was really looking forward to this as it was supposed to be a surprise for my birthday Unfortunately I don’t think we will be returning.

My partner and I went to Bootleggers for dinner and had the meat share plate with two cocktails — everything was amazing! 😍 The chicken was honestly the best I’ve ever had — super crispy on the outside but still juicy and tender inside. It’s so hard to find places that cook chicken this perfectly! The pork slices were also juicy and full of flavour. My cocktail (I think it was called Liquid Smoke) had the perfect balance of sweet and smoky, so good! The staff were all really friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. I also loved the vibe of the place, especially The Secret Garden area — such a nice spot to chill and enjoy the food. Definitely a place worth checking out — I’ll 100% be coming back! 🙌