I was kind of glad that it came at the end of a day of clumsiness. That is, the entire cocktail spilled on my dress. Yep, there I sat, drenched and sticky and our entrées were about to come. “Well at least I smell good” I said to Mr NQN while I sniffed my hand which smelled like cucumber and elderflower.
It was date night and we were at White Hart in Neutral Bay on Grosvenor Street which has become a hub of activity for Neutral Bay with lots of cute stores including Wild Basket and other restaurants. Neutral Bay’s hipsters are out in full force and it seems many have already zeroed in on the bar at White Hart.
The gastropub’s decor is full of tokens and tributes to Mother England. There are signs saying “Harney carriage, 8 seats”, vintage wooden tennis rackets and cricket bats. The food menu is huge and I mean literally-if you put two side by side it’s almost as big as the table. And even though I’m not a huge drinker, the cocktails and drinks list from mixologist Grant Collins sounds fantastic and I ooh and ahh about several that I want before realising that I could get drunk off the fumes of a tipsy gnat. And for beer enthusiasts, there is a list of rare beers on the very back page.
British Summer garden martini $19
The cocktail itself was the Summer Garden one and it seems there’s a bit of an homage to Heston Blumenthal’s Sounds of the Sea. The cocktail comes out on a thick astroturf with edible chocolate soil, absinthe jelly worms and a little rake to work out any zen moments. You were supposed to sniff the mini watering can, listen to the music on the iPod and then take a sip of the cocktail. Unless of course you spill most of it on you (in my defence, it was wobbling on the very thick grass and Mr NQN had warned that it was going to topple literally before it happened) and it almost toppled several times.
I did get a bit of a sip at the end and it was very cucumbery and floral. It contained London dry gin, fresh pressed cucumbers, devonshire cider, chamomile tea syrup and elderflower cordial. And whilst the iPod was a nice idea, it was so busy this Saturday night that I only got the occasional coo of a bird (or at least I think it was a bird).
Mead sampler
This looked larger than what we were expecting size wise and we ordered this as we had read that they brew their own mead here. And although I don’t have a huge amount of experience with mead, I have to say that this mead was absolutely delicious with the flavour of honey and a bit of lime in it too.
Black pudding, apple pudding and tarte tatin crumble $14
The food came out very quickly as we were dining early. This was my favourite entree as I adore black pudding and this was nicely paired with apple pudding and a fine, crumble topping. The black pudding was peppery and rich with six large slices all with a nice crispy edge to them, a good nubbly texture and a soft centre.
Kingfish ceviche, lime, chilli, coriander and watermelon $17
This was Mr NQN’s favourite as it was fresh and refreshing with the watermelon balls and slices of kingfish ceviche highlighted with lime and a little chilli and coriander.
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and trimmings $29
We had to go with the traditional English roast beef and it was cooked medium rare. Unfortunately my first three bites contained some gristle although Mr NQN told me it was mainly around the outside and it was just bad luck (I wonder how many years bad luck you get for spilling a cocktail on yourself?). The potatoes could have been crispier although the beans were good and the Yorkshire pudding was a nice accompaniment to the meat.
Snapper, mushroom and leek open pie $26
We both liked the pie better of the two mains. Although the filling was quite runny and should have perhaps come with a spoon, the flavours were spot on and perfectly balanced. The puff pastry, well that was almost not needed (did I really say that about pastry?).
Apple and blackberry crumble with vanilla ice cream $13
We didn’t have a great deal of space in the tummy for dessert but the crumble was Mr NQN’s choice. It wasn’t bad but I thought that the crumble topping could have been more buttery and textured and the filling underneath sweeter. The ice cream came with some praline topping which gave it crunch.
Overall, White Hart is the kind of place that is best visited with friends, when you’re not driving and you want to have some cocktails. Service is pleasant enough and the food is good although it feels like the drinks are really the focus here. Just don’t follow my lead and drink the cocktails 
So tell me Dear Reader, are you accident prone? And have you ever spilled an entire drink on yourself? And are cocktails important to you when picking a place or is it mostly about the food?
White Hart
19-21 Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089
Tel: +61 (02) 8021 2115
Mon to Sat 5pm – Midnight
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40 Comments | Add your own
You mentioned hipsters, so I have to ask: What do hipsters do? Do they have jobs?
I wouldn’t say I am accident prone but my boyfriend did just describe me as clumsy. On leaving a restaurant last week, I got up from my seat and the chair went over backwards and then down two steps on wooden floors making a pretty good noise and drawing a lot of attention. In my defence they were very light chairs and a heavier chair would never have done that
MANY years ago, while in high school, we went to “town” for lunch. I ordered a malted milk and promptly spilled it all over my dress. I had to stay that way the rest of the day as we were bussed 10 miles to school each day. It remains as one of the less spectacular moments of my high school memories. I still get that sick feeling in my stomach when I think about it!
I went there with a friend and we left after the mains. We had decided earlier to skip the entree and have a dessert but that changed as we couldn’t hear ourselves think. The food was indeed good but as you said, it appears to be more about those who want to have a drink and talk loudly about their day and plans for the next.
I know mixology and presentation are all the rage, but that astro-turf cocktail surely wins a prize. Odd. The runny fish pie looks moreish, even if a spoon is required.
I’m not a big drinker, heavier on aperitifs than hard liquor. But I do have to admire all that is happening in that area of the food world.
That garden martini is wild! That’s like a mini meal in itself. Sorry about the spillage incident. But I can feel your pain. I can be rather clumsy at times, too. Just ask my husband.
Sometimes I am accident prone, seems to go in waves. But at a friend 40th not to long ago my husband spilt a whole glass of red wine down the front of my gorgeous cream dress within 10 min of arriving at the party. Hence he was overly attentive and felt very bad. I didn’t get to upset, I know he didn’t mean it
Very nice! It’s mainly about food for us although a good cocktail is always a bonus. Looks good
Cucumber and Elderflower..mmmm there are worse things you could have spilled down your front I guess.. This place is in my neighbourhood and I am yet to try it- I will suggest it for my next girls night out!
Embarrassingly YES!! When it was fashionable, (a hundred years ago), to wear platform shoes and smoke – there I was with drink in one hand propped up by a wall, and with a ciggy in the other in a room full of elegant party folk. My platforms went from under me and I slid down the wall, pouring the drink over my head as I went, the synosure of all eyes!!
It does look like a fun restaurant!!
although I’m with you, just the name absinthe scares me :0
What a shame you didn’t get the opportunity to drink the cocktail
The meals did look nice, the watermelon would have been my pick too!
I’m not accident prone I don’t think but in my past life as a 16 year old I dumped a tray full of glasses of water down some poor guy’s back. He was as surprised as I was.
Loved the photos. I haven’t had breakfast and I want dinner now.
I once went to a restaurant in the East and it was a get-together with everyone in my family so as there were about 20 of us we had a private upstairs dining room. The waiter came up the stairs carrying a huge tray of the drinks we had ordered and as he went to set down my wine he tipped a glass of coke right down my back. I’d been at the restaurant less than a few minutes and I had to get through the night not only wet but sticky. xx
Dining with children comes with its hazards. I can promise you that every single time, without fail, when we dine out with the kids somebody spills a dring and/or breaks a glass. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
I really must check this place out with the husband – SANS KIDS!
Hmmm? It LOOKS an attractive place, but, to me, is making too much of an effort to be different! I have never been fond of cocktails, am strictly a wine and straight spirits gal – so the first spanner in the works
! What bothered me was your roast beef: I like mine English-style: rare, almost blue and finely sliced. This looked more like medium rare steak? And deconstructed food like the apple tart crumble to me is a hopefully brief foodie fad 
!! Am I clumsy: yes, there have been ‘incidents’, more with food than drink: tomatoey and curryish spots are the worst to remove after 
!
I’m definitely accident prone i’m always spilling a million things over myself and it’s crazy…sighhh
but i’m slowly learning to be more careful hehe
Looks like a great place I know not many people like British food but I actually quite like it hehe ~
That was a seriously fancy cocktail but I’m all about the food. If a place has good drinks then that’s a bonus.
YUM! Haha I almost can’t believe you said the pastry wasn’t needed! A pie without pastry :O
I like to think i’m quite coordinated but I have spilt a drink on myself before!
Massively clumsy – sometimes by my own hand and sometimes by others. On holiday in Italy last year I fell off my bike, hard, on the first day. Pain and major swelling ensued. On the second day I fell of my bike, hard, on exactly the same spot. Pain and swelling increased. At our group’s dinner that night, as I was trying to find some relief from pain and swelling, someone sitting across from me dropped a bottle of red wine – nano-seconds later I was wiping red wine from my face, chest, dress and dinner. The people sitting either side of me didn’t get a drop. Mildly hilarious at best!
LOL at “Neutral Bay’s hipsters are out in full force”! Love it
I’m very clumsy at times. I haven’t spilt a whole drink on myself, but I shattered & dropped my powder foundation all down my black top on the way to Chiswick recently
I’d be keen to try their mead, and the roast! I rarely order cocktails as I’d rather drink wine with dinner.
The cocktail looks really amazing! Not sure how I’d go though if I was drenched in it.
I was at the White Hart last weekend and LOVED the cocktails. Didn’t even realise they did food (it was pretty late when we arrived and no one was eating) but I’d def go for that black pudding dish.
Shame about the gristle as the beef looks sublime.
For me it’s always about the food. I do love a good cocktail and I’m always willing to give something I’ve never tried before a go.
I would have loved to try that British Summer Garden Martini… yumm! Mind you as I was reading this to my hubby he chuckled and said “gee that’s sound familiar”. I’m very accident prone too.
Oooops a Daisy! My sister and I had high tea at a 5 star hotel once and the waitress stumbled and literally dumped a glass of chilled champagne in our lap. We were lucky to be comped the meals and promised dry cleaning recompense. It was actually really funny!
I like the sound of the king fish and watermelon, but all the dishes look presented beautifully.
This place looks classy and a half my friend!
Mmm clumsy, how bout spilling a newly naked tray of cookies? Not cool!
But that’s me
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Yum – I love a good roast! Sorry about your cocktail – an excuse to go back, perhaps?
i love the open pie concept! i think if i went here id want to order the entire cocktail menu!
I am the spill the drink type of person! I love Devon cider and mead
Great review, and a nice date night!
I won’t dismiss a place if it’s got a bad and/or overpriced cocktail list – it’s all about the food for me – however, a place that does great cocktails at a reasonable price AND good food will definitely get a thumbs up from me!
Love the presentation of the British summer garden martini though – too cute!
I love these sensory cocktails, and everyone seems to be doing chocolate dirt lately. But I think the crowds would be turn-off for me.
I admit to feeling a little black pudding envy right now. Sounds like a delicious night. Neutral Bay certainly wasn’t so gastronomically adventurous when i lived there. Thanks for pointing me back there!
All that talk about English-style food made me want to run straight to my favorite Brit-style pub after hours! And the cucumber-and elderflower cocktail sounds heavenly – like the perfect thing to sip on a summery evening.
There are far, far worse things to smell like than cucumber and elderflower. Imagine if you’d spilled a cocktail with Cointreau in it! Ugh, orange, ugh!!
I have not spilled a drink on myself before but i’ve watched hot soup spilled on a boy before.
Hi Lorraine, I am very accident prone. On many occasions I have been known to pour most of the contents of my glass on myself as I have taken a sip of a drink (might mention I am sober at the time!). Also, I always trip over myself and once while shopping on holiday walked not once but twice into a mirrored wall!! Love a good cocktail but it’s all about the food for me.
Great review! I’ve been meaning to get to The White Hart for a while now. Your cocktail mishap brought back memories of one of my first dates with my hubby. I was trying to be sexy and ordered something called “naked beer” which turned out to be beer served in a special glass with a picture of a burlesque lady on the side. As I drank, her clothes disappeared. At least my husband liked it!
LOVE THE WHITE HART & THAT DRINK LOOKS AMAZING!
I have eaten there a few times and love the food also
Franky B
Oh yes, most times drinks have been spilled here and there on tabletops and dresses. Disaster strucks true when it’s on white fabrics! The White Hart is my next Neutral Bay spot to check out, I think!
This place is on the list. Cant wait to go! Note to self: be careful when cocktails are placed on unstabe grass
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