The menu reads: “hemingway’s manly is a small bar and casual dining spot with it’s tongue planted firmly in your cheek… He (chef Ben Pichon) wishes to acknowledge his influences: the colonel, mr. mcdonald, school canteens, ikea hot dogs & carnivals across the globe.”
If there’s one thing I appreciate in any human being it’s a sense of humour. I just cannot bond with you unless you have one. So when I read the above line about the chef’s influences at Hemingway’s in Manly I was tickled pink and had to laugh. It also made me settle right in.
It’s a menu housed in a book, a volume of “Collier’s Junior Classic: Harvest of Holidays” to be exact. The liquor and food are earmarked and the pages feature a neat selection of eight entrees, seven mains and three desserts. There are spins on childhood classics such as “chip degustation”, “2 minute noodles” and “pb &j”. Cocktails features Cottee’s lime cordial and aeroplane jelly and there are drinks from Passion Pop to “rap-video-level champagne” while bar snacks include chip buttys.
Open for eight weeks already Hemingway sits right on the beach facing the water so it’s at a scenic location. Downstairs is the bar which is already abuzz at 7pm on a Saturday night. Upstairs is the restaurant, still noisy, where Louise and Viggo are waiting for us. There’s a warm, homey and quirky atmosphere and black and white pictures of Ernest Hemingway line the walls including a picture of him and his cats. And why Hemingway’s? Did Ernest Hemingway have a bent towards Antipodean childhood food? No, it’s because the three owners admire Hemingway’s lifestyle-he drank, he loved women, he survived two plane crashes and he was a very masculine sort of guy.
‘c o r n ’ charred sweet corn cob, lime butter & manchego cheese $6
We enjoy dining out with Louise and Viggo because they are also of the same thinking-try as much as possible and share. So we go a little wild with the dishes which the waitress explains are meant to be playful and shared. The kitchen is very organised and all of our entrees come within a few minutes of each other. The corn comes as two corn cobettes blanketed with tangy, rich manchego cheese and rolled all over with a delectable lime butter. The corn has just the right amount of char and yet the kernels are still plump and soft and the manchego cheese and lime butter give it a tangyness to offset the sweetness of the corn. If you are a corn freak like I am, order one plate for yourself because it will hurt giving your other half the remainder.
‘c h i p s ’ daily chip degustation, matching sauces $12
How could anyone resist the chip degustation and from watching the other tables, it looks like this is a popular order. Here there are three types of chips (which can change daily) paired with three types of sauces. Today the chips are potato chips, sweet potato chips and onion rings and the three sauces are a tomato & date, home made ranch and a home made bbq sauce. The potato chips that come in a cup are home made and more of a softer wedge variety and aren’t super crisp although they aren’t bad, the sweet potato chips have some soft edges but the onion rings are juuust right. The three sauces are excellent and cover the spectrum of tastes and it’s hard to choose a favourite although the garlicky ranch dressing is a favourite as is the bbq. Louise and Viggo note that the sauces have improved from their first visit here when it first opened.
‘ s c h o o l’ crispy school prawns, green tea salt, citrus mayo $9
I make fast work of the school prawns which come well seasoned, fried and crispy. They’re moreish little buggers and I like the slightly different green tea salt and citrus mayonnaise on the side.
‘ t i n n e d f i s h ’ salmon ceviche, angostura bitters, avocado $12
This was Mr NQN’s favourite as he loves ceviche. The salmon was cured with citrus, salt and angostura bitters and served in a little tin along with avocado and herbs with a little pile of bread. The salmon has a lovely creamy texture to it offset by the bitterness in the angostura bitters. Piling it onto bread wasn’t the best way to eat it though as the bread wasn’t quite right for it and buckled under the moisture of the salmon and I preferred to eat this straight.
‘c o c k t a i l ’ tea smoked king prawns, iceberg, cocktail sauce $11
Who doesn’t love a prawn cocktail? This one comes deconstructed on a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce with a Marie Rose cocktail sauce on the side. There are four prawns, head off which are juicy and fresh although I always find it difficult to stop at one prawn.
c o o l a : gin, cottee’s lime cordial, midori-aeroplane jelly, plastic cup, bendy straw $15
I’m not usually a cocktail person. Well I am but the effects can be disastrous for me but I couldn’t resist this lime green concoction made up of gin, Cottee’s lime cordial and Midori aeroplane jelly. It’s deceptively drinkable and doesn’t taste alcoholic at all and it’s only when I start to feel the familiar flush that I realise how potent it is.
‘ 2 m i n u t e n o o d l e s ’ noodles, poached chicken, kimchi, broth $14
The two minute noodles are vermicelli noodles with pieces of chicken and kim chi served with a light broth poured at the table. Although there are pieces of kim chi it’s not particularly spicy although it has a good flavour to the soup. The serve is on the small side for a main and I would consider this more entree sized.
‘n u g g e t s’ chicken nuggets, chilli, sweet paprika mayo $12
The nuggets were a big hit with the table and were served to us in a white cardboard takeaway box with a smear of sweet paprika mayonnaise. The meat is juicy breast meat, slightly spicy and moreish and there are about seven pieces of nuggets in the box.
‘ s l i d e r s ’ beef, cheese, bacon, bbq, mayo, pickles 4 for-$22
The sliders were mini beef burgers and these also seemed to be a popular choice. They are mini beef burgers on a sesame seed bun with a slightly crunchy toasted top and came with the sweet tangy bbq sauce and bacon as well as pickles and mayonnaise. They were quite good indeed with just the right amount of sauce and a good quality patty but I was getting very full at this stage so Mr NQN gets half of mine.
‘ p a n c a k e s ’ pork belly, apple chutney, coleslaw $18
There were four pancakes to the serve and four pieces of jellied, steamed pork belly along with a side of moreish, creamy coleslaw and a jar of apple chutney. Whilst the flavour and texture of these pancakes was great and it was one of my favourite dishes, I didn’t think that it was great value when you compare it to the pancake party at The Duke or other similar establishments.
‘ r i b s ’ cherry cola, baby back ribs $19
Now infusing ribs with cherry cola doesn’t make them taste like cherry cola but it does give them a strong sweet aspect to it which suits pork so well. The ribs are tender and easily come off the bone and the serve has about six rib pieces on it.
Hemingway’s cup
I try a little of Louise’s Hemingway’s Cup cocktail which comprises of Hendricks gin, rose & apple tea, cucumber, “sugar, spice & all things nice” and agree that it is another eminently drinkable cocktail strong in refreshing cucumber.
‘ p b & j ’ peanut butter parfait, brioche, aeroplane jelly, peanut brittle $10
Louise and Viggo had had this dessert before and loved it so it was a given that we’d try this and we thought why not share all three desserts while we were at it! The pb & j is a roll of frozen peanut butter parfait ice cream with little crunchy brioche crumbs, raspberry Aeroplane jelly, rubbly chunks of peanut brittle, freeze dried raspberries and raspberry powder. My oh my…it’s SO good. I’m sure I don’t have to sell you on the concept of peanut butter and jam and this is just adult sized childhood fun on a plate.
‘ p i e ’ lemon curd, crumbs, meringue $10
The pie comes deconstructed looking like a giant egg with the tangy lemon curd in the centre. There are meringue and biscuit bits around the outside and they explain that you scoop a bit of the crunchy outer and pull it towards the centre to combine it on the spoon with the lemon curd. It’s crunchy and smooth but I have eyes only for pb&j.
‘ h o t f u d g e s u n d a e ’ vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles & other naughty stuff
The hot fudge sundae consists of house made vanilla ice cream, chocolate hot fudge sauce, sprinkles, wafer biscuits, glace cherries, chocolate coated honeycomb, white chocolate pieces and whatever you may fish out in the lucky dip. “I got a glace cherry!” Mr NQN exclaims while I go fishing down the bottom to get a piece of white chocolate. ”You look about two years old” Louise laughs as I stab at the glass with a spoon trying to break up the honeycomb.
And the lesson learnt today? It is fun to act like a kid again.
So tell me Dear Reader, what foods do you remember fondly from childhood? And do you ever act like a kid?
Hemingway’s
48 North Steyne, Manly, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9976 3030
Open 7 days: Monday-Saturday 9am-12am; Sunday 9am-10pm
http://www.hemingwaysmanly.com.au/
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61 Comments | Add your own
This looks like a fantastic concept – I imagine it is going to be super popular! But better yet, the food looks delicious and like it lives up to hype and expectations! I could easily see a place like this working in New York, although with more US childhood influences of course!
What a fun and fabulous place!!!
I love joints like this – so quirky and interesting. 
That looks like a fun and cute restaurant!! Hehe I still am a kid!!!
Ohhh Lorraine… you have me at chip degustation… this has now been added onto my list of places to visit in Sydney…
I loooove Aeroplane jelly and have actually started buying it again – had some last night after dinner (yummy!)… and chocolate crackles
And yes, I act like a child. Frequently. You can get older, but you don’t have to get more mature! hehe
Oh I always act like a kid! My favourite food as a kid was my Mums but also golden gaytime ice-creams. Hey, you can still get them now and I’m sure they still taste great.
Sounds like fun….chip degustation, ‘tinned’ salmon hehe and everything looked yummy.
Such an interesting restaurant. I don’t think i’ve read about hemingway before!
This place looks like such a fun experience – I think that enhances the food even more
You’re adding to my rapidly growing list of places to eat on a hypothetical Sydney food tour!
Love this place!!! Want to go so badly and eat everything. As a kid, I remember KFC quite fondly – though don’t go near it now.
the restaurant sounds really quirky and fun..now to childhood food..where do i start? homemade sausage rolls and pasties,donuts made rarely but amazingly good, apricot ices from homegrown fruit served in little square cones..there were so many more lovely things..me act like a kid?
you betcha! jane
Okay, I am officially freaking out. I used to have that Golden Book Encyclopedia! Talk about a flash back.
My childhood food memory is the frozen iceblocks that came in a funny triangle shape that you had to cut one side off to get into them. I can’t remember what they are called and I haven’t seen them in a long time. I used to get too excited though and pop them out too fast. MANY of them ended on the floor…..ahhh the memories.
Each photo outdoes the next!
How very interesting Lorraine … love quirky places … will be on my to visit list now
What a fun place. I love how the menu comes inside of a book. And that deconstructed pie is just wild looking.
What a brilliant concept! Anyone who has childhood memories of ‘special’ food is a potential customer, love it…
Dear, L.
I would have imagined “Hemingway’s, Manly” would have been a place of MANLY MEN, bull-fights, Writers, BIG FOOD, & BIG strong drinks.
I would go just because of the name.
The f u d g e s u n d a e ’ w/ vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles & other naughty stuff…looks so incredibly naughty…just like Hemingway. That naughty, bad boy. xxxx
Oh. My. Gosh.
Im sitting at work and salivating into the keyboard… This is just the coolest place I cant wait to get up to Sydney again so I can try it! This post has made my week! Thanks so much Lorraine : ) x
Looks like lots of fun food, though since when were vermicelli noodles known as 2-minute noodles…?! Not sure about all the deconstructing, but it looks like my kinda place
far out – i want to eat EVERYTHING there!! Get in my belly!!
i love how food can invoke such special memories, not just from one’s childhood
Love the quirkiness and the Hemingway association. What a cool idea to have a chip degustation dish! Although I’m not sure how onion rings can be called chips …. and those ribs look great!
You got to love a place that has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek. Looks fun.
Chip degustation and sliders did it for me. Clever concept!
Why am I reading this at dinner?
Looking at the full house, obviously you and I and your other readers are not the only ones to look and laugh and want to go too!
! What a great take on childhood food of yesteryear and the fast food of today: ‘tinned fish’, sliders, ‘nuggets’, cola ribs and ’2 minute noodles’ etc. Innovative thinking, innovative serving! 
! All in quite an original setting! I think this will do v well indeed! Won’t bother the poor readers with my rather outlandish c’hood food likes – have been prev published anyways. But being a child – Oh, yes, quite an incorrigible one, I am afraid, and can’t see myself ever changing!!! 
!
That looks like such a novel place to dine. Love the special twists they put on everything!
This place looks delightful. I can’t wait to try it
Another reason we’ll get along well, Lorraine: a sense of humor is top in my character list too.
My nostalgic childhood dish is actually assam laksa and chee cheong fun. I used to eat them (together for one meal!) for every single lunch!
Oh, have to visit this place soon… everything looks sooo delicious
Chips in newspaper! I remember when the first take away shop opened in town – I was about 8 and the enjoyment of buying chips on a Saturday was immensurable! Hemingways sounds delectable – I just love the school crispy school prawns which combined with the daily chip degustation menu would make any heart soar. A slight uptake on crispy chips in newspaper, but the times, they are a-changing…. xx
What another “Fun Food” experience this is, TRUE!
Life’s too short NOT to have fun, remembering the carefree ways of childhood too!
Fried Baked Mac and Cheese Balls, childhood it brought back,
Remembering when I used to request them to be slices so I could topple and stack!!! WHOO HOO!
What a great idea! Love places who dont take themselves too seriously but still deliver the goods. The P B & J looks freakin amazing!
Eating out at this new joint sounds like a blast! I only wish I was back in Sydney so I could go visit
BuBbles
x.
Em – I also had that Golden Book, what a flashback! And yes, they were Sunny boys and you can still get them in supermarkets.
Now this is my kind of food. Love the twists of quirkiness to each dish. I’m always a kid at heart
My daughter and I danced around her bedroom to the spice girls last night, while the dog yapped at us. Yep, I’m a big kid at times! And I want a sundae like that!
I went here a couple of weeks ago with my girlfriends. We had too much fun which resulted in too much wine (or vice versa?) We really loved it although one of my friends was disappointed in the “simpleness” of the menu (i.e. 2 minute noodles and curly fries)for a night out. I think if she’d seen your pics she may would have changed her mind though.
This place looks like SO much fun…exactly the sort of fun food that I love…adding it to my wishlist now…
You go to the best places! This is so quirky and the chefs must have an awesome time developing those recipes. I love going places where the food is also the entertainment!
I just don’t know which I love the most, the gin teacup, the PBJ, the 70′s prawns…
I loved getting a 20c bag of mixed lollies when I was little- the bag was HUGE, or at least it seemed that way to little me.
Yes, a sense of humour is vital! How do people get by without one?
That PB&J looks divine – I have yet to try this sort of food though. My favourite food as a child was a slice of devon, with a kraft singles on top, smothered in tomato sauce
That Hot Fudge Sundae looks divine. As a kiddie, my favourite eat was a sandwich with devon, cheese, mustard sauce and vegemite. Not sure what that says about my growing palate
*stamps foot like a little child*
Peanut butter *and* lemon curd pie? And multiple chips and sauces that appeal to my obsession with snack plates and mixing and matchign flavours?
Lorraine, can’t we go here instead?
Omg I can’t wait to go try everything there! Everything looks very innovative..in an old-school way.
This looks like such a fun place! I mainly remember lollies, ice-cream & chips from my childhood like Monster Munch & the ice-cream that had a bubble gum stick
ooooh I saw this when I was in Manly about 2 weeks ago – but now I’ve seen this I’m going BACK. For a DATE with my HUSBAND. I think it’s RIGHT up my alley! Thanks LLL <3 xxx
i am having a foodgasm! that chip degustation…omg…and hot fudge sundae…
A chef with a sense of humor is a pearl and food spiced with humor can only be great! This places looks like a super fun place (but I would have to go with you as husband does not like to share). Mmmm I love the more upscale stuff (ceviche? yes!) but love the chefly nuggets and burgers… and the desserts are wow!
Had to say–love the cold pound cake!
Looks awesome and heaps of fun. Hubby is keen to go and so am I so we’ll grab some friends and I’ll let them know you sent us.
Hi Louise-Yes it could have just been a gimmick but the food is good too which is a relief!
Haha yes! I know what you mean! 
Hi Krista-isn’t it cute?
Me too!
Hi Kimberley-hehe me too!
Hi jess-I know, that was what sold it to me
Great! I hope you like it 
Oh really, what a coincidence! You could make your own cocktail! Haha yes you definitely don’t need to be mature 
Hi Angela-it’s fun isn’t it!
Oh yes Golden Gaytimes! Before we even knew that there could be another meaning! They do!
Hi Linda-it’s was so much fun
Hi Michelle-It’s very quirky isn’t it. he has quite an interesting life story!
Hi Amber-I agree, having fun is so important and adds to the enjoyment of food
Good stuff! 
Hi Cakelaw-next Sydney visit perhaps!
Hehe yes it’s been a long time!
Hi Jane-Oooh yes sausage rolls were my favourite. I still love them to this day:D The apricot ices sound amazing!
haha good, especially when you have stuff like that! 
Hi Em-haha how funny is that!
Ooh yes Razzy and Sunny boys! I lived on those during Summer 
haha yes I know, you could definitely pop them out too quickly trying to get at it too quickly. I lost many to a school concrete playground! 
Hi Maris-hehe thank you!
Hi Monica-Cool! I hope that you like it!
Hi Carolyn-I know, I love leafing through books. and hey if you’re having a bad date or eating alone, you could always just read!
Hi stroudover gourmet-I agree! It’s loads of fun. I’ve seen restaurants do it for certain nights but to have it on a permanent menu is great!
Hi kim-Haha I know what you mean! It’s masculine in a quirky, booky way
I know! he certainly lived life! xxx
Hi Claire-Oh next time perhaps?!
You’re so very welcome! 
x
Hi Tina-hehe well I’m glad they weren’t the 2 minute noodles!
Hi Leanne-haha very well put!
I could talk about my favourite childhood foods all day long 
Hi joey-yes it’s such a cute idea
Oh that’s a technicality-although they were my favourite! 
Hi Victoria-Haha yes or as it turns out our cheek!
Hi Maureen-Yes I think many thought along the same lines as you!
Hi Blond Duck-haha!
Hi EHA-yes it was so busy! Lucky we booked or…
I know yours, they sound so interesting! 
Hi Lucy-I know, they’re so creative!
Hi The Food Mentalist-fabulous! I hope you like it!
Hi sophia-Absolutely! I love to laugh and find it hard to take serious people seriously
Oh really? They’re good together? 
Hi Isya-Wonderful! I’d love to hear what you think of it!
Hi Merryn-Oh yes they used to do that-I remember that but they stopped it!
Mm yes I loved those prawns-I ate so many 
xx
Hi Joanne-Absolutely agree there with you Joanne! Ooh fried ones? No way! They sound amazing!
Hi Nic-I know! It so could have not worked but it does
Hi BuBbles-Aww perhaps when you’re back!?
x
Hi Jo-Isn’t that funny!
Yes they are so good still! Plus they don’t seem to have shrunk unlike McDonalds burgers 
Hi Shanks-Cute isn’t it!
Me too!
Hi bronnie-Aww that sounds so cute! Your kids must have so much fun
I’d like one now too 
Hi Cass-Hehe I know, I don’t think you could help but have fun with those drinks and eats
Ooh curly fries? No way! I only have those if I go to the Easter show 
Haha!
Hi MelbaToast-Fantastic! I hope you like it!
Hi Rebecca-I know, it looks like a lot of fun working there
Imagine trawling through your memory and making modern versions of things! 
Oh yes what 20c could buy way back when! 
Hi JasmyneTea-I know, some people don’t have one! I’ve met them!
I love the fact that you and Corrie below have such similar favourite childhood foods! 
Hi Corrie-When your comment came through just after jasmyne I had to do a double take!
Hi Hannah-Sure! but this is in Sydney darlin’!
Hi Phunk-Oh what was Monster Munch? I missed that I think!
Oh I loved Bubble O Bill-he had a bubble gum nose 
Hi Liss-You absolutely should! And it’s nearby ish too!
You’re very welcome! xxx
Hi sugarpuffi-haha you’re too funny!
Hi Jamie-I couldn’t agree more
of course I would love to go with you! 
Hi Blond Duck-Hehe cool!
Hi Jadey-Oh that’s fabulous! Let us know what you think. Aww that’s very sweet of you to say that!
Late night laugh! Wouldnt talk about my s’what peculiar c’hood food loves in the am – then one of them, SALSIFY, came up on Mchef tonight as an oddity!
! Don’t know how it was prepped in our kitchens, but I seem to remember oodles of black butter! Can taste it now!! lol, have fun making cake!
Lorraine… I can imagine this would be a great hit in NYC. A little humor with food is a good thing when the food is good. Restaurants often take themselves far too seriously. You know, I get so many good ideas from your restaurant posts and that shrimp with mayo and hemingway cup will be on my experiment list soon!
What a ‘playful’ menu, it’s the sort of place you’d go with people that don’t take life too seriously! I’ll have one of those Coola cocktails , it’s purty , green and reminds me of real Lime thickshakes from the corner Milk Bar .
I have two daughters in their early twenties but sometimes I can be just as crazy ( in a fun way)
as they are. I really believe in the adage that “laughter is the best medicine”.
you did not just say chip degustation!!! totally taking my chip loving boyfriend here to eat.. along with those cute desserts!
rap video leven champagne??? sign me up! Oh and those prawns! I’m dying to crunch into one of those. I so wish I lived down there so I could check this place out. It’s my kind of chow spot!
What a find Lorraine!! Yet another fabulous place in Manly, I’m loving this little corner of the world these days
The first image that pops into mind is fairy bread. Oh how I loved (still do) fairy bread. Then I’d have to say tea cake, sausage rolls, roll ups, tiny teddies, honey jumbles and 100s & 1000s biscuits.
Wow I was a good eater back then!
Salivating just by looking at those pictures, its soooo on my next list. Thanks L!
As an ex Manlyite -I now live 10 mins away just wanna point out This place is at North Steyne on the beachfront not the the Corso which runs from Manly Wharf to the beach to the right is South Steyne, the left is North Steyne
Just so no one gets lost
Yet another reason to visit Manly! So many fantastic places to eat. This place looks so fun
I’m curious about the crispy prawns… Do you eat the shell and heads?? Hehe.
We went to Hemingways on our trip to Manly in July and found it really really great. The guys, the atmosphere, food and coffee – all tops. The concept of the food is fantastic and delicious. It became our ‘local’ while we were in Manly.
Can’t wait to get back!
knew you would love hemingway’s lorraine… I went for the first time last week and shall be back very soon.
gorgeous place.
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