Down the quiet end of Newtown sits Hartsyard, buzzing from open ‘til close five nights a week. It’s run by a husband and wife team, Gregory in the kitchen and Naomi front of house.

There is an inner west warehouse feel to the décor, with white walls, low hanging lights and twisted piping.

When you arrive, prepare to be greeted and seated by the lovely Naomi. We suggest starting with a glass of their locally brewed Hartsyard red ale or try the Hartsyard Caesar for a bit of a pick-me-up: horseradish vodka, clamato juice, lemon, Worcestershire and HY hot sauce.

The menu is split into two sections, ‘Seed’ being the lighter dishes and ‘Feed’ being the heavier option, all are designed to share. The food has a clear American influence, but don’t expect greasy and oversized. Expect the unexpected.

There’s the traditional fare from the South like the Cold Smoked Fried Chicken (which comes with soft biscuits and a sausage gravy) or the Oyster Po’boy — battered Pacific oysters with coleslaw and mayo on two English muffins. For a more sophisticated plate, try the melt-in-your-mouth, aptly named Salmon Cooked in a Jar, served in a jar with crisp breads, sorrel side salad, cornichons and a lovely dollop of crème fraiche.

The dessert… oh the dessert! On our visit we tried the peanut butter and banana sundae. What came was a huge mount of pretzel ice cream, banana doughnuts, salted fudge and sliced banana. A delicious balance of sweet, salty, soft and chewy, but be warned, don’t attempt this on your own.

A cross between fine dining and casual eatery, Hartsyard is an exciting new edition to Newtown.

Where: 33 Enmore Road, Newtown
Phone: 02 8068 1473 (bookings recommended)
Hours: Wed-Sun 5:30pm-late
Details: hartsyard.com.au