It turns out the power of the fish finger sandwich is strong enough to mend fences and strained relations.

At the Annandale Hotel, it has proved an early menu winner. The fish sambo has segued and morphed, its latest a fried fish version tucked in between soft brioche.

When Neil and Amy Thompson, both ex-Four in Hand, took over the Annandale Hotel last year, they already had some impressive runs on the board, at The Little Kitchen in Coogee (which they still operate).

What they didn't expect was the community backlash when they innocently put some music memorabilia outside the pub – which has a rich tradition as a live performance venue – for locals to take.

The couple were quickly schooled about the pub's history, and set about retrieving the items.

Amy says they've worked hard to make it up to the pub's loyal following since, and while there's now a strong food focus at the gastro pub, there is a longer-term plan to introduce "vinyl Sundays" and acoustic music sessions.

For now, it's about the food. After a COVID-stalled start pre-Christmas, the renovated and expanded dining room rebooted this year, dishing up eggplant parmigiana with braised silverbeet and tomato sugo, and braised pork belly with black pudding.

The menu includes plenty of pub favourites too – a steak sanga and dry-aged cheeseburger, plus gluten-free and children's options.

"Now we've opened we feel like we're giving back to community with a family-run independent pub," Thompson says.

Open daily lunch and dinner.

17 Parramatta Road, Annandale, theannandalehotel.com