Review Vasco - Sydney

Really cool bar and equally great restaurant. The Italian food was delicious, drinks were great, and staff were super friendly and attentive. The place just had an all-around great vibe with good music and a tonne of interesting decor to look at. Super glad I stopped in and will definitely be back!

I had the ragu which was delicious. My friend had the vodka pasta which was divine too. Such a great place for dinner (or even a date!) we went mid week which was chill but I imagine on Friday and Saturday it’s busy and popping off. Didn’t expect to find a rock and roll X Italian restaurant in Surry hills! Food was quick to come out and service was nice

Called by Vasco to try their famous gnocchi but the chef was in iso. Settled for their delicious Antipasti plate and a couple of excellent cocktails. Great service and a long chat about the possibilities for the world with Nicholas the bar manager, rounded out an excellent evening. Definitely gonna head back for the gnocchi sometime Recommended

Good food good service’s good music recommend for dating night out

Fun little bar, make a booking if you don’t want to be turned away. Food is good but the drinks were great, special thanks to Lauren who looked after us with spot on recommendations on cocktails.

Great food and drinks. Staff were super lovely just forgot to come back to us a few times with table water, when we’d asked to order more food/drinks etc but still great atmosphere. Super specific but the chairs are wobbly so wouldn’t recommend bringing your parents if they’re unsteady.

More bar than restaurant. Very slow and non observant staff. Service was friendly but very poor. Didn’t get a chance to try the food as we were forgotten about. An hour of waiting with for no result. Two stars for atmosphere. I hope this review as constructive criticism. Be prepared to wait if you choose to go here.

Definitely some of the best gnocchi in town. Drinks are as good if not even better then in usual 5star hotel. Chef checked on us in person and is very friendly. Atmosphere is great. I will be back.

Whilst I liked the vibe of this bar, the bar staff were aggressive and arrogant which had the usual<br/>consequence of making the me and my friends feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. It made for an unpleasant experience. We will not be returning. The wine list needs work.

Vasco saved the day a few weeks ago after we’d eaten a terrible meal at a once awesome Surry Hills wine bar. They make delicious fresh gnocchi daily and you can definitely tell. The best part is that your typical Eastern Suburbs show pony doesn’t hang out here. It’s definitely for locals which make me love it all the more 👏🏼

The gnocchi is legit! Great cocktails and vibe, awesome music. Lovely little neighbourhood joint! I love the garlic prawns :) :) :) ........oh and they do Gluten Free gnocchi too

We entered the bar 15 minutes before it was about to close. The bouncer let us in. Nice cocktails, decor, great metal/rock and didn't have any of that long bearded hipster s-hit "crafty" looking do uche crowd. Our bartender was this long haired sweaty mofo who made some kick ass cocktails. The bald bartender seemed angry and tired. But overall a good place to be. Only bad part - EXPENSIVE! 38 dollars for 2 whisky sours. Come on!

Food: The bowls of gnocchi were warming and comforting. Went pretty traditional and tried the Bosciola and beef ragu, bosciola was my favorite. Chunks of delicious smoked speck abc perfectly cooked mushrooms. <br/>Cocktails were great, well balanced and inventive. <br/>Decor/ambiance: The music is loud, patrons are there for a good time. Don't come here if your looking for deep conversation or romance. Love the rock and roll memorabilia on the walls, plenty to look at. <br/>Service : Can be slow at times as the barmen are making cocktails and taking food orders in between. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time.

I think Vasco Bar in Surry Hills should be renamed- Good Times Bar. Actually, that’s a pretty shit name for a bar so let’s stick with Vasco but let it be known that this is a bar where good times roll. Behind the spirit and vibrato of this small bar with big energy is Max Greco. You may remember him from Eau De Vie in Darlinghurst where he was shaking and stirring (even door bitching) for a number of years. Towards the end of 2012 Greco traded in his bow-tie and suspenders, rolled up his sleeves flashing his tattoo covered arms and opened his dream bar.

Vasco also offers a decent list of meals and nibbles. The food is simple, honest Italian cooking, like I imagine my Nonna would make if I had even the slightest bit of Italian in me. The gnocchi is especially worth trying, soft, light and fluffy and drowning in sauce. I wouldn’t have picked it beforehand but the Italian food and the rock and roll theme somehow fit perfectly and match the generally great feel of the place. Recently named Small Bar of the Year, drop in and see what you think.

Vasco is a rock and roll bar that’s loud, in your face and an alternative to the more serene small bars in nearby Surry Hills.

Boisterous, fun, unapologetically loud, and a bit rough around the edges. Not really a place for conversation, quite likely somewhere you'll do shots and definitely somewhere you'll leave with ears ringing. The mischievous Italian bar tenders are insistent that you have a good time. In a few words: Italian Rock n' Roll bar.

Vasco Bar in Cleveland St, Surry Hills is the latest cool Sydney bar – location wise, Cleveland St is not the place that immediately jumps to mind for a cool bar but maybe that’s changing? But Vasco has a strong bar heritage – Max comes most recently from Eau De Vie and Luke from Roosevelt and it shows in their professionalism not in the style of this bar.  

Prohibition is so over - the new era in Sydney is rock! Park your arse on red glitter Fendi barstools as owner (former Eau De Vie head bartender) Max Greco clashes the cymbal above the bar. Head bartender Luke Ashcon (ex-Roosevelt) asks your preference. Cocktails (all $17.50) created by Max and Luke, like Coffee and Cigarettes and Judas Kiss, rock it too, as the cocktail playlist sits inside 45 covers. Table numbers are on the 45s and scattered with guitar plectrums.

For Forks Sake! Get a Grip!. Great tunes, loved the décor, energetic cocktail making staff. Fun and interesting night had by all!<br/>Owner seemed be having an angry night as he verbally attacked a group of ladies, who not only were putting hundreds of dollars over the bar but seemed polite and friendly, the owner was convinced for some reason that they had possibly 'removed' a $2 Ikea cutlery holder from the table (not even from the venue... just the table)? How do I know it was $2 and from Ikea... we heard him from space advising them of this... Really dude? Surely that's classified as first world problems? Not only did they have no intention or desire to acquire a cutlery holder (I checked with them after the 'performance') but they positively chose not to react to this fury of obscene accusations and continued to have a great night. Would I go back? If I knew someone was going to be 'asked' about touching his stuff I'd pay to see the show again I'd even throw in some jelly and let it really kick off! Go on... Pretend to knick something and you'll have a night you'll never forget!<br/>What a dick.

Great small bar with lots of love and detail put into the decoration. Love the Fender chairs. They have some awesome cocktails. Food was good, however the portions were very small.

Surry Hills Rock @ Vasco. Vasco’s, a small hole-in-the-wall in Surry Hills, is perfect for rock ’n’ roll fans who enjoy simple yet tasty food, and a good stiff drink. The interior cleverly mixes band posters and pictures of rock icons alongside high timber bar tables and retro Fender vinyl bar stools, whilst the small outdoor area is all about the astro-turf and couches for a relaxing drink and cigarette. The vibe is raw and rustic, yet also quite refined. Perhaps this is due to the background of owners Max Greco and Luke Ashton (formerly of Eau de Vie and The Roosevelt respectively). Some may love that the edge has been taken off for a more polished look, yet I felt it lacked the same character that places like Frankie’s Pizza have. Rock ‘n’ Roll should be dingy and a bit dirty, so whilst the aesthetics of Vasco’s was spot on, it was missing that little something extra.<br/><br/>However, in saying this, the food menu was short, simple and everything was full of flavour. Having taken a Brazilian friend along, he was quick to note (and appreciate) that the polenta chips were covered in a gorgonzola sauce, something which is difficult to come by in Australia. The arancini balls were beautifully cooked, with that crisp bite on the outside and a softer, more textured centre. Each dish was easy to share, which was perfect for our small group.<br/><br/>The drinks menu was, again, short but spot on. Having come from such respected bar backgrounds it was inevitable that the cocktails would be a must-try, with a couple of signature cocktails such as the Vasco Spritzer or the Hendrix Experience packing a real punch. The wine list if very succinct, with only a couple of reds and whites, but good ones nonetheless.<br/><br/>Aside from the overly polished interior, which I could easily excuse, there was two other things which frustrated me- the service and the noise. Considering we went on a weeknight and the bar was not particularly busy, it took us forever to get served. Originally ordering took quite a while, but we then had to wait at the empty bar for over 5 minutes just to ask to get another glass for our wine. On top of this, the music was quite loud, and although we all sat in close proximity to one another, it made it very difficult to carry a conversation, and considering Vasco’s isn’t exactly a nightclub, being able to talk to the people you are with is important.<br/><br/>Overall, Vasco’s is an interesting change for Greco and Ashton, and whilst I appreciate what they were trying to achieve, I don’t think that have quite hit the nail on the head yet. Perhaps with time they will find their groove, or perhaps I just went on the wrong night, either way, I’m willing to give Vasco’s another try.

Because i like it. Rock'n'roll, good selection of booze and one hell of a good hot dog. will be going back here again.