This week North Sydney spruced its nightlife with the launch of new bar and eatery, Hunter Gatherer, adding to the few options the area offers for the “make a night of it” crowd. It seems the ambient splendour and quality of canape and cocktail served up at Hunter Gatherer’s opening night, may hint at a new lease on life for the area.
Located on Greenwood Plaza’s rooftop, the venue has been dreamed up by owners who have already proven their ability to pull off decent culinary essentials with The Corner House and Panama house in Bondi. Run by Michelin trained chef Paul “Mick” Micklewright the menu is themed around ‘hunted’ and ‘gathered’ modern Australian fare built on local, sustainable and ethically sourced fresh produce direct from farm and complemented by ingredients lovingly picked out of Mick’s garden.
Designed by the talented folk at sonaracrhitecture the restaurant is quite slick and welcoming. Rustic farmhouse meets bursts of luminous colour thanks to a beautifully designed landscape feature wall lit up with rotating shades. Different spaces are carved out indoor and outdoor with an eclectic mix of couches, stools and bench spaces allowing guests to feel at ease in their own little niches strewn about the joint. Kudos needs to be doled out for a great job of seamlessly generating a very funky ‘bar’ vibe with a hip eatery component.
Having sampled two of the deceptively strong yet refreshing signature cocktails put together by Tom the lovely barkeep – Burnt By The Storm: Bundaberg rum, in-house made salted caramel ginger beer and lime and Cobbled Together: Tanqueray gin, Fino sherry, in-house made preserved nectarines and lemon – it’s easy enough to warrant a casual drink and hang at the venue any day of the week. An extensive ‘natural’ beverage list includes Mad Hatter wines and Sydney Brewery beers and ciders as well as an eye opening range of PS sodas (smoked lemonade, grapefruit gentian tonic and wattle cola), making Hunter Gatherer’s bar game pretty strong.
Showcasing their fare via a range of decadent canapes, a completely indulgent Thirlmere free range chicken liver parfait with brioche and onion jam, a flavoursome version of a cheese toastie with Ford farm cheddar and crunchy house picalili, a sticky fall apart Junee free range lamb riblets grilled with salsa verde and a creamy quenelle of freshly churned ice-cream on a chewy crisp chocolate biscuit proved to be culinary highlights.
Luke Robinson, of Oysters Unplugged a locally operated family business out of Bateman’s Bay, was also on hand at the launch event, buckets of freshly shucked oysters slung on each hip, dishing out some of the finest oysters Australia has to offer (appreciated even by those who aren’t the biggest of oyster fans).
Trading Monday – Friday, with a license until midnight from Wednesday – Friday, Hunter Gatherer is definitely worth a look-in for locals and visitors to the North Sydney area. Available for weekend functions and events, there’s no doubt it’ll be a catalyst for a growth in North Sydney’s dining culture.
Hunter Gatherer
Address: Greenwood Plaza Rooftop, 36 Blue Street North Sydney
Contact: 0459 555 816
Website: http://www.thehuntergatherer.net/
Photos supplied and used with permission
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