I have a list. It’s frequently updated and broken up into five sections: City, East, North, South and West. It’s my “to eat” list and I consult it on a regular basis when friends ask me where we are going to eat. Hartsyard has sat on that list ever since it opened.
Hartsyard sits on Enmore Road, slightly away from the madness of King Street but that seems to matter not one jot as it has been buzzing since it opened. There is a front bar area and the restaurant itself has painted pipes, topographical maps of the Mid West of America graduating from most densely crowded to least. It’s masculine enough but not overtly so. The service is knowledgeable and warm and they bring us our drinks menu. Craft beer enthusiast Mystery Guy goes for the honey beer while I go for the Pisco Punch because I love Pisco. American born chef Gregory Llewellyn and his Australian wife Naomi Hart are the duo behind Hartsyard.
The menu shows that there is a sense of fun too with items like roulette peppers where one pepper out of the ten is hot. Our friendly waiter (called “Sparky Sparrow” on the bill) tells us that the menu is broken up into seed (the lighter meals) and feed (the heavier) and surprisingly, suggests starting with two seeds and one feed. A surprise as it sounds restrained and usually one is encouraged to order a lot. However after discussion and because we were unable to decide, we opted for two seeds and two feeds. Prices are reasonable with no main over $31. A nice touch is the price of $4 per person for unlimited Hartsyard sparkling or still water.
Pickles
A plate of pickles comes out first and they’ve got a nice burst of salty pickling flavour to them and the celery is a favourite amongst the carrot, onion and paper thin slices radish.
Pisco Punch $17.50
The Pisco Punch is a refreshing mix of Pisco, smoked pineapple, lemon juice and tiki bitters and I cocktails like this because they’re refreshing without being overly sweet, much like a fresh squeeze lemonade would be.
Oyster Po’ Boy English muffin, Old Bay mayo, coleslaw $17
Mystery Guy is a travel writer and one that was besotted with New Orleans so I asked for his opinion of the oyster po’ boy and he gave it a big thumbs up. The deep fried crumbed Tasmanian oysters were served in soft cornmeal dusted house made English muffins. Underneath the oysters is a creamy Old Bay coleslaw (and this gives me ideas with the Old Bay seasoning that I bought on my recent trip to the U.S., an ingredient often used in crab cakes among other foods). Oh and a plate of these are not safe around me. It comes with their hot sauce and I enjoyed the po’ boys both with and without it.
Roulette Peppers Romesco, fetta, lemon jam $16
We survey the roulette peppers, some burnished darker in a two layered pile along with Bulgarian fetta, some terrifically good romesco sauce and holy-heck-what-is-this-lemon-jam-because-I-need-to-make-some? It’s a new item to the menu and there are several kinds of peppers including Shisito, Rocoto, Stavros and d’Anglets. I pick up one and bite into it. “Umm is your pepper really hot?” I ask Mystery Guy because after my first bite, I am huffing quite a bit. “Nope” he answers forking bites of mild peppers into his mouth. It turns out that my first pepper was indeed the hot one. The rest are fine, they’re good especially when paired with the garlicky Romesco and sweet lemon jam. “What are the chances that your first pepper would be the hot one?” Mystery Guy muses aloud.
Poutine: Hand cut beef chilli, cheddar, ranch, hot pepper vinegar $20
There are some meals that when brought to the table, cause a bit of a sensation. This was one of them and our dining neighbours craned their necks for a closer look. It’s no secret I’m a nut for poutine after my visits to Canada and this is an homage to poutine. The base is layered with a bechamel and then the fries are seasoned in coriander, citric acid and lime zest. On top of this is chilli made up of chunks of diced beef shin (not mince), onion, tomato and chilli, three Mexican chillies (Cascabel, Ancho and Guajillo).
On top of this (and you can see why it caused such a sensation as it was enormous and multi layered!), was melted cheddar, smoked bacon powder, clouds of ranch dressing and onion on top. The whole shebang is something that you just have to attack with abandon and vigour. There are layers upon layers and it is obviously rich but oh so moreish. Whilst you may not eat this on every visit on doctor’s advice, it may as well be one like this.
Pulled pork maple bacon, yoghurt, apple $29
We were tossing up between this and the beef brisket and although we ended up with two rather meat heavy dishes, we saw some lighter fare-it was just going to other tables and not ours! 
The pulled pork has been brined for 24 hours and then hickory smoked for 10 hours and is served as a square of soft, fall apart meat. It comes with smoked maple glazed bacon cut as a thick pork belly slice, all sticky and sweet and melting. To the side is labne (yogurt cheese) with chilli cider soaked apple pieces which still retains a good texture to it and is the perfect counterpoint to the rich meat. On top of that is popped pork rind.
Peanut Butter + Banana Sundae Pretzel ice cream, banana doughnut, salted fudge $16
A saner person would have had a rest and chosen a digestive herb tea with leaves picked from the Hartsyard Greenhouse but it was getting late so we decided to share a dessert. Having been here before, Mystery Guy suggested that the Peanut Butter and Banana Sundae on the basis that it was absolutely epic and that sounded like a good enough reason for me. When it was brought to us, the front of house manager goes through it blow by blow and layer by layer and if ever there was a dessert equivalent of the poutine, this would be it. It’s pure Americana with banana cream filled doughnuts, pretzel ice cream, salted chocolate fudge and crunchy crumble topped with two maraschino cherries. Every spoonful gives you a generous topping of glossy, thick chocolate fudge-the bowl is even anchored to the plate below with the fudge. Madness undoubtedly, but in a good way and I think it could feed at least three or four people.
I returned a few weeks later with friends Teena and Gina. Just because sometimes, you bang on about a place so much that your friends insist on visiting. Teena booked online and we had a seat at the front of the restaurant. It was a hot evening so salads and lighter foods were on the menu.
Nappa Cabbage Tahini, soy, cashew butter, dried seaweed $15
This was the item I had seen brought to other tables. It was a wedge of nappa cabbage or wombok dressed between each layer with a tahini, soy and cashew butter dressing. Sprinkled on top of it were sesame seeds and dried seaweed and the whole dish has a distinct wasabi flavour to it. It was crunchy and fresh although I must admit that I’m not a huge wasabi lover so I left this mostly to the other gals.
Salmon Cooked in a Jar Creme fraiche, young lettuce, cornichon $19
The salmon was my kind of dish. It was a filleted piece of salmon cooked in a jar set in a water bath for forty five minutes. Underneath the salmon is a piece of serrano ham and the salmon itself is so soft and light that you could spread it like a pate. To go with this are home made rye sourdough crackers, home made cornichons and an assortment of young lettuce. To finish it off is some crème fraîche with fennel seed salt. I particularly liked the lighter option and the fennel crème fraîche, crackers and salad are crunchy against the silky salmon.
Fried Chicken Buttermilk biscuit, low country sausage gravy $28
I couldn’t resist the fried chicken. Oh how I love it so. This serve has a rib, thigh and drumstick coated in the crunchiest batter. The process for this chicken is long and involves a water bath, something I don’t really have the patience or bench space for so I figure to order it here is prudent. It comes with a low country sausage gravy which is like a white sauce gravy with sausage mince in it and a hot buttermilk biscuit. It’s served with their hot sauce and I think that I ate most of this!
Pie of the Week $18
Forget the id and the ego fighting, there was a part of my brain that was fighting itself. Do we go for the Pie of The Week or the deep fried Oreo? Neither are going to do my diet any good and if we know Hartsyard servings, they’re hearty, especially the desserts which could feed a small family. But given my previous career baking pies, I was swayed more towards the pie and when it was described as a chocolate on chocolate crust pie with chocolate sauce and salted caramel then well, of course you go for it. There are small chunks of candied pecans inside the pie which comes out as a gargantuan slice drizzled with chocolate sauce with a scoop of ice cream and little pats of thick salted caramel. It was rich, decadent, sweet and undeniably chocolatey.
Maple Brulee, palmier pastry, cherry ice-cream, walnut coffee crunch $16
By comparison the maple brulee was more modest. Gina’s choice (she’s a Canadian eh! ), it appeared more as a half orb with a crunchy layer on top, a sweet, strong maple flavour to it and with crunchy deconstructed palmier crescent moons. It sits in a rich chocolate and dark cherry ganache with two petite scoop of cherry ice cream.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is on your list of “must eat” restaurants? And have you ever tried poutine?
Hartsyard
33 Enmore Road Newtown NSW 2042, Australia
Tel: +61 2 8068 1473
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43 Comments | Add your own
Oh yum!!! All the meals o look delicious! Love the look of the burgers and dessert!
I’ve heard so much about this place, glad to know it’s up to scratch! The po’boys look amazing!
The peppers look delicious and I would try that cabbage, I like wasabi
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But really they dressed each layer (and then put it back together?) I guess that they dripped the dressing through while it was whole (opening the top leaves), or do you know how they did it? That is something I would like to try as I am not a big fan of raw cabbage (cannot digest it well) but it seems quite a good way to serve it!
Ciao
Alessandra
I love the new small bars and restaurants popping up on Enmore Road. I’ve been wanting to try Hartsyard, but it always seems to be packed every time I walk by. The food looks scrumptious!
Those desserts look ridiculously amazing!
Ooh I have only been here once and you have reminded me how fantastic this place is!
Fried chicken here in the US is easy to do at home providing you have a deep fryer. My mother made the best fried chicken by placing a little bit of cayenne pepper in the flour she dusted on the chicken prior to frying. Adding some garlic to the flour mixture takes it to another level. Sadly I can not have any more of my mother;s cooking since she passed away on New Year’s Eve of 2003.
Love your daily emails, however the new background makes it very hard to read. Please please go back to original background.i am sure a heap of your readers with troublesome eyes will also agree
A big hug
Jt
Lorraine…..what is poutine ? no i have never tryed or heard of it.
….id go for the maple brulee at that place hartsyard nice photo……..katrina……
Thank you for being my food guru
I wish I was in Sydney right now. I would be quite happy to go here. Great post!
What a fun concept for a restaurant. Love the roulette peppers and the idea of smoked pineapple in the pisco. Of course, I love fried chicken as well and that dish looked so inviting! I always have a list of must-try restaurants. I fear I live for food.
I love poutine too but it’s hard to find in Australia I think
I have a list too but it’s hard to keep up especially since there are so many new places popping up all the time hahaha
I like the look and sound of Hartyard! I’d love to try that peanut butter and banana sundae with pretzels!!
I ate there not long after it opened! Agree with your friend on the po boys, I couldn’t get enough of them.
I’m hanging out for those po boys, poutine and fried chicken – so basically half the menu. I think a visit here will have to precede a salad diet week though
Sorry to disagree… But I just wanted to mention I actually love the colours (including the background)of your blogs/website.
WOW.
As I’m reading I’m already contemplating how much one could eat in one sitting (and when to go).
Thanks for the post.
Oh how I remember poutine. I did a 3 month working trip to Canada with friends and one worked in an outdoor place that made poutines. Lets just say we all came home rather chubby.
What an absolutely fun place! The food has a different look about it and is quite calling out to me. Love those peppers and would like to taste the poutine!! No, haven’t had it to the best of my knowledge, but being on quite a few Canadian blogs, have read about it and seen lots of photos; don’t mean to be rude to the others, but yours looks the most appetizing so far
! List of ‘must eat’ restaurants – huh: well, what I have been writing down from your blog for ages ready for the next trip N > Sydney 
!
I am so glad this Americana trend isn’t going anywhere for a while! Or at least I hope it isn’t. The food is just too good.
I can sure make use of some of those Roulette Peppers right about now. Looks so delicious
There is so much on this menu that I adore that I would have to go more than once too, just so I could try all my favourites. I love fried chicken and pork belly and that dish with the fries looks decadent but truly I would have to go there for parfait! xx
Authentic poutine is on the list to try,
Just another fun food first would be why!
LOVE Old bay Seasoning, create some unusual dishes here too!
Never REALLY have a “must eat” restaurant…am more of a spontaneous…thinking the restaurant experience will come to me in its own time too!
I absolutely love Hartsyard!! Though I didn’t manage to order their poutine last time, the fried chicken and that gravy was so good! Also have to try their oyster po’ boys next time
Love the look of the dishes. The Po’boys remind of a entree that I had down the coast on saturday which was battered oysters with wasabi and mayo similar to a kaki-fry. Definately recommend going to The Pickled Octopus in Tuross Heads on the south coast if you head that way. It’s all seafood and it is fantastic.
I don’t even know what a poutine is but I really want to eat that whole platter! All I heard was chili.
Lorraine, the pulled pork looks really great. Poutine has recently only been introduced in KL, so far we only have one place which serves decent poutine. Other places just pour disgusting sauce over fries and call it poutine.
Thank you for that sundae picture my friend – I’m in heaven!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I’ve never tried poutine no! um this place looks good haha, and that peanut butter dessert- omg i could so demolish that on my own
SO good! Why do you do this to me?
Oh I will have to try this place! I have lots of friend’s around newtown. Sounds awesome!
Ah you’ve discovered my favourite restaurant. the fried chicken is the best i’ve ever had but we just went this weekend and had the handmade burrata and the new scallop dish absolutely beautiful. there is always something new to enjoy which keeps us coming back!
I always have a really, really long list of must eat restaurants – I never like to be caught out!
Eaten there 4-5 times as we are locals and its love. Now the area is Sydney’s answer to “Brooklyn” without doubt. Very excited for the future of Newtown/Enmore. Cool with a capital C. Love my hood : )
You live the best foodie life! Will have to try this as I’m in Balmain and Newtown for uni. Love your post, as usual! I’m going to try your banana jam this week x
ive heard so much abt this place esp the fried chicken! cant wait to visit!
I love pisco too and that punch looks so good. The rest of the dishes look intense. I’d especially like to try that sundae!
The meals look amazing, and the prices seem great for the price as well. I like the element of fun and the plating up looks good. Such a shame the hot chili was your first one, but maybe that’s better than it being the last one?
I haven’t tried poutine yet, but I think this version with the meat sounds amazing!
This does look like a great restaurant that I would love to check out. Too bad it’s so ‘far far away’, lol!
Hartsyard is just one of those places where everyone needs to go, at least once. The menu is always changing but they never fail to keep to their values. Good food and good use of produce. Definitely a hats off to the duo.
This place will definitely be on my “must go to restaurant” list. Oh I can’t wait! Everything looks divine! That’s great you got to visit a second time for dinner, lucky you! I have not tried poutine but it it’s calling my name
I feel like I left Australia and all the pickles came out of hiding. PICKLES.
OMG that dessert! I had a heart attack just looking at it. And now I want one
I’ve got to get my hands on those Po Boys!
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