Brown Autumn leaves sweep up suspended in the air collected by a giant gust of wind as if an invisible net had collected them from the sea. Couples, singles and groups walk past us, many carrying vintage purchases in one hand and a dog in another. There’s a light chill in the air when the sun disappears and it’s the day of the annual Garage Sale Trail throughout Sydney and Mr NQN and I are not vintage shopping, but meal shopping, at Watts on Crown in Surry Hills.
Open for just over two months, I had met the chef and owner Hamish Watt when he was the chef for the Botanic Gardens Restaurant. Formerly of Rockpool in Sydney and London’s Kensington Place, he was kind enough to share his recipe for the perfect apricot stuffing (which still remains in our household as our favourite roast stuffing). He still does Sunday roasts here and the emphasis is on value for money with mains less than $30 to attract locals. It is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and during the day everything is cafe style while at night, it turns into a bistro with white tablecloths.
The downstairs room is welcoming and nicely decorated without feeling overwraught and we sit down at a table by the window. Upstairs is chic and sleek and there’s a little grass lined balcony for street watching. Hamish’s wife Tiffany works the floor with a friendly and easygoing manner. Prices are indeed excellent with entrees around the $14 and $15 mark and the mains have fish choices at $24 and the rump steak topping out the menu at $28. Service is very friendly and attentive.
Scotch egg with mustard mayo $7
We started with a couple of items from the “small plates” menu. You don’t often get scotch eggs on a restaurant menu (nor haggis, which was on the website’s menu) so curious to try it, we ordered it. It comes split in half with a pot of mustard mayonnaise. The outside is a satisfyingly crisp and crunchy sausage meat and the inside is a boiled egg and there are crispy pieces of deep fried parsley on top.
Figs and prosciutto
The figs are fat and juicy and come enveloped with crispy prosciutto. On top are deep fried basil leaves and collected at the bottom is a syrupy balsamic glaze. There is a lovely sweet and salty contrast and I can’t help but think that I might put this on a pizza at home.
Ceviche with seaweed and sesame salad, wasabi dressing $15
The ceviche is tangy and fresh with lemon and comes on top of a generous portion of Japanese style seaweed salad which is one of my favourite salads. The seaweed salad balances the tangyness of the ceviche very nicely and around the edge is some wasabi dressing for a little kick.
Char grilled squid with black pudding, rocket and green chilli salsa $15
The char grilled squid comes as a generous portion of squid with a slice of black pudding, a rocket chiffonade and a green chilli salsa. The black pudding and squid go together very nicely and if I could wish for anything, it would be some more of the black pudding for the amount of squid (but I am a black pudding fiend! 
).
Roast kangaroo fillet with rhubarb, braised red cabbage and agro dolce sauce $26
The roast kangaroo fillet is what they are known for and they serve it here with sweet poached rhubarb which imparts a vanilla fragrance, some fabulously food braised red cabbage, wilted spinach and crunchy macadamia nut halves. The kangaroo is served more cooked than I prefer it as it is best served rare or medium rare but it isn’t tough at all and the agro dolce sauce is a nice accompaniment to it giving the lightly gamey meat sweetness.
Eton Mess $11
“Do you have enough room for dessert?” I ask Mr NQN. For Eton Mess, he certainly does and it arrives looking divine. I like it when you still get some crunch from the meringue on an Eton Mess and this one is served with the sweet, stewed rhubarb with vanilla and star anise and little meringue drops and larger swirls. Finishing it off are dollops of rich, whipped cream and sweet syrup. I think that if he weren’t sitting in the window, Mr NQN might have licked the plate
We’ve been busy watching these two adorable French bulldogs playing with their owner outside. The female one loves food and attention jumping up for food and cuddles constantly while the male sits quietly at the owner’s feet. Hmm, no parallels here of course!
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever licked a plate in a restaurant?
NQN and Mr NQN dined as guests of Watts on Crown
Watts on Crown
368 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: +61 (02) 8068 0461
Open 7 days a week, breakfast, lunch and dinner
http://wattsoncrown.com.au
Bookings recommended for dinner
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45 Comments | Add your own
I have never licked a plate clean but have sent them back to the kitchen almost needing no washing. A lovely piece of bread helps me get the last delicious whatever on the plate.
This is a cute place. Love that they serve Skippy!
Is this in the same building as the chili place that I believe has closed down?
The kangaroo looks so good. And with rhubarb!
:)
So many good places to eat in Surry Hills! I’ve definitely had my fair share of plate-licking, but only when the waiting staff are’t around to giggle at my crassness.
As an aside, I love French bulldogs so much I dream of waking up to five or six of them snuggled around me in bed. I love everything about them – their squishy little faces, their solid little bodies, the PAWS. So, so cute <3
Yes, I lick the plate sometimes when I can’t help myself… in some restaurants the food is so exquisite the urge to lick is stronger than awareness of manners and social graces. lol
Mmm another great restaurant review – I could definitely get used to eating Eton mess every night – scrumptious! Definitely licking the plate clean worthy!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
You make even Scotch Eggs look tempting–not that I don’t like them, but they aren’t usually that photogenic!
I’ve never actually licked the plate, but I have certainly wanted to. I agree with Karen–that’s what good bread is for, getting up the last drop!
Walked past this place last night and decided it looked great and we must try it soon. Then voila my inbox presents your review
love it!
Scotch Eggs! I made them last year for my family and they loved them. You’ve reminded me that I need to make them again. And for dessert I’ll need to have Eton Mess – that looks very inviting. No, I’ve never licked the plate and I don’t think I’ve witnessed anyone licking their plate at a restaurant either xx
Wow kangaroo! It looks very interesting!!! Haha no, I don’t think I would be bold enough to lick a plate clean in public
although when no ones watching… that’s a different story!
Maybe swiped at it with a finger or two before licking that clean hoping no one noticed!
These dishes really do look good, and the flavours sound like they are well thought out and balanced. I’d love to try the squid and kangaroo, and I love a good Eton mess any day yummo
what a beautiful Post…thankyou..I love the way you write about autumn … the eton mess…looks scrumptious..and the french bulldogs…xo I lick my plate…my only in my own home..lol
You had me with the fig and prosciutto….yum!
I have never licked a plate clean but I will admit that I’ve seen my husband do it at home. Why??? I asked him.
“Because it was too good to leave any,” was his reply.
I took that as a compliment.
Loved the dog comparison. No al fresco dining with dogs in Queensland. No taking the dog for a walk along the esplanade and stopping for a coffee before walking back.
I hope they change the law.
I think I’d enjoy eating at Watts.
Not in a restaurant but sometimes at home.
LOL – no, I have never licked a plate in a restaurant. All of this food looks devine and is very reasonably priced. I especially love the look of the scotch egg – how perfect is that!
nope. but i’ll use the bread to do the licking
We’ve been here 3 or 4 times already as we live down the road. Rare to find a great French bistro that is also BYO!! Food always excellent but the chicken liver parfait is particularly heavenly! A huge serve but it always gets polished off!
Oh what a wonderful venue! Another one for my Sydney bucket list! A ‘real’ food place again
! I used to go sailing on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater a lot and often took along Scotch Eggs as my contribution for lunch. Blots the vino really well 
! Love the grilled squid/black pudding dish – two of my fave foods AND that Eton Mess must be the most elegant presentation I have ever seen 
! Lick the plate: no, even tho’ I may have wanted to, but at home I often use my finger to mop up the last traces of moreishness!
Yes, I have. Not classy, I know, but if I were the manager or cook of that restaurant, I would have beamed in pride.
Not in a restaurant… but at home, ALL THE TIME!! I have no shame (or class, it seems).
I love Crown Street – it’s dog paradise! And I never go to Sydney without visiting Bills
This one looks great – I love kangaroo, abnd that one looks fantastic!
oh wow the rhubarb and large plate looks really good! must go back as we only had the shared plates and really enjoyed it!
It looks great and I like how prices are quite reasonable
and if Mr NQN licked the plate it’s gotta be pretty good hehe 
I ve definitely licked a plate or two before lol especially really good desserts ~
Mum and I yelled at Dad, I’m not kidding, at least four times each last night at Sage because he kept swiping our plates with his finger. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE DAD.
Mmm mmm Scotch eggs in today’s cold weather for Sunday lunch…would have me licking my fork so it’s clean and ready to dig into one of those Eton Mess desserts!
that scotch egg looks so interesting! the food all seems very well priced too.
Surry Hills, so many memories!
No would not lick a plate in a restaurant, but I can do it at home
.
Booked my hotel in Sydney, the Swiss, if it is good I can write about it
.
Ciao
Alessandra
~~Ceviche with seaweed and sesame salad. OOoh, My!
Licked a plate at a restaurant? Um, do you think I’m a Hillbilly or something? Come on…
Btw, you guys eat kangaroo? I did not know this, Lorraine. I feel bad for those poor little things. Xxx
Thanks for the view – I have a travelzoo voucher for this place that I’m keen to use ASAP. I really want to try Scotch Eggs. I don’t like the plate keen…but I do use my finger to ensure all the tasty drops/sauce makes it off the plate & into my mouth.
The faces on the wall look kind of scary..:P But the food looks gorgeous, especially the Eton Mess! So inviting…
Haha no I can safely say I’ve never licked the plate in a restaurant but I have wanted too. I can get it pretty clean with a fork though!
Another great review Lorraine!
I especially like the look of the ceviche & seaweed salad here – yum!
The food looks great I cant wait to go and try it
Eton mess looks to die for. Have never licked the plate but recently my niece did at our local Italian. She is a notoriously fussy eater so we were shocked to look over and see her face down licking the plate!:)
I’ve never had kangaroo.. From your comments I guess Kangaroo meat is cooked similarly to steak eh? That picture just looks so amazing though! Can’t wait to try! Lucky you!! Looks like you had a great time!
Have never tried scotch eggs before! they look so good, esp coming from someone who loves egg!
Yummo! I’ve licked at home, and used bread to sop in fancy restaurants. Now to the scotch egg – it looked great, and normally I don’t like them but in London in 2010 we ate at Roast at the Borough Market and the egg inside was runny and absolutely fabulous, and you bet I licked the plate there. I was an Aussie after all and we’re all ex-convicts, when it covers for bad behavior! I yearn for a good scotch egg. Must move to Sydney? Maybe not – my search goes on in Adelaide, or I will go to London!
Ah.. that occasionally happens at home! Lovely post, Lorraine!
There is actually an Italian world that describes the wipeing clean of a plate of delicious sauce or bits of food, admittedly with the help of bread not a tongue.The word is “scarpetta” or puccia(pronounced pu-cha) depending where you come from in Italy ie north or south.All I can say is trust the Italians to have a dedicated word for that action!!!Lorraine I love your work & you do visit the most wonderful places…
Hi Tina-Oh wow, I had no idea that was scarpetta meant but I agree, love the fact that the Italians have a word for it! Thank you for letting me know!
Oooh.. This looks good. I was wondering what had moved into this space, as it’s one of those locations that businesses seem to have trouble staying in.
Here’s hoping Watts manages to buck the trend and be there for the long haul. I’ll have to pop down ASAP and try it for myself.
I have never. My dad is a total plate licker though, so embarrassing. Never in a restaurant though…..oh lordy I think not. But you know what…if a dish is that GOOD that it makes you do that in public, then maybe it’s totally warranted
I’m going to sydney in september, your blog gets me so excited for sydney eats!!
Heidi xo
ps my dad is in love with black pudding too! I can’t say I love it…
Much to Ben’s dismay, yes.
Thanks for the great recipes.
Can the cheesecake in the mug recipe be baked in the oven and for how long?
Hi Vanessa-Sure you can bake it in the oven. I haven’t tried one that small so perhaps 20 minutes or so? Just check it for done-ness after that time
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