Hartsyard, Newtown - Sydney

New year, more healthy eating?

Hartsyard's fried chicken with biscuit and gravy

Does more healthy eating mean less fried chicken?

Less fried chicken??

I don't think so.

Screw new year's resolution, I'm still getting my fried chicken fix. Hartsyard it is.

Hartsyard, Newtown

Hartsyard is one of the restaurants that is widely talked about last year, and I won't be surprised if their popularity continues to soar this year. It's a lovely small eatery with elegant, slightly romantic, and somewhat rustic appearance, and whose tables and sits fill up too quickly.

Interior

Make a booking or prepare to dine on the bar area or walk-in area, which is actually no less delightful.

Bar

Table setting

I was there with a handful of hungry ladies, and as we were doing a food crawl that night, we didn't end up ordering everything off the menu although I would really like to.

The foreplay was school prawn popcorn, which was self-explanatory. It was a heaping bowl of literally school prawns and popcorn, with a generous dollop of sour cream speckled with pepper and a wedge of grilled lemon. The prawns were crunchy without being to sharp, and we found ourselves digging deep for more prawns instead of being satisfied with the popcorn.

School prawn popcorn (with sour cream, Espelette pepper, lemon) - $16

Our craving for more prawns immediately vanished upon the arrival of the extremely beautiful fried chicken. On the plate were also buttermilk biscuit that was not too dense and was perfectly paired by the creamy and very savoury sausage gravy.

But the spotlight fell on the golden pieces of fried chook, of course.

The batter was light enough but still preserved satisfying crispiness, and the huge cuts of succulent and juicy chicken were fried into perfection without being too greasy.

Fried chicken (with buttermilk biscuit and low country sausage gravy) - $29

The fried chicken made a sexy twosome with the hot sauce available on every table. Don't be shy on pouring it.

Close up of the fried chicken. You're welcome.

We climaxed with the heavy serve of poutine, which was everything I dreamed about and more. The hot chips were made slightly soggy by the creamy beef & cheese sauce, in a good way. The pieces of beef shin themselves were very tender and were provided in an adequate amount. Had they been a wee bit easier on the salt in the sauce, it would be perfect.

Poutine (fried potato, braised beef shin, beer + cheese sauce) - $26

We didn't order dessert that night because we had something else in mind, but you can't just rock up to Hartsyard and not try their soft serve at least once! I had the pleasure of meeting the special watermelon and rose soft serve (collaboration with Black Star Pastry) and it was as refreshing and appealing to the tastebuds as it was to the eyes.

I heard the sundae is to die for too!

Hartsyard soft serve - watermelon and rose (special) - $16

Apart from a few hiccups and eyebrows raised upon the service that night, overall it was a great start of our food crawl.

New year or not, fried chicken is and always will be on my list!

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Currency: $1 = IDR 10,200


Rating: 4/5 (Recommended)
Despite the slightly concerning service (on that day), food is amazing (especially the fried chicken), and the ambiance is lovely and comfortable, price is reasonable.








Address:

HARTSYARD

33 Enmore Rd
Newtown, NSW 2042

Phone: (02) 8068 1473

Web: Hartsyard
Facebook: Hartsyard