A tasteful, old-fashioned bar and bistro, Annabelle's is housed in an elegant 1913 building with high ceilings, tiled walls, a mosaic floor and a pleasant vibe. Although the service is friendly and attentive once you are seated, the staff seem to struggle with bookings for large parties and they don't like to sit more than a dozen around one table. The menu has an Italian flavour, featuring pizzas, lobster and mascarpone ravioli ($25), rigatoni pasta, rack of lamb and other meaty dishes. Among the starters, the soup of the day might be stingy for $8. For a main course, the half roast chicken ($20), served with cheesy mash and sprouts with bacon, is reminiscent of a Christmas dinner. Still, it is succulent and generous - if anything, there is probably too much chicken and not enough mash. Annabelle's also serves a selection of Californian wines by the glass (starting at $8) and an array of draught beers, such as Sam Adams ($5) and Guinness ($6). 7/10
