Zucchini Fritters with sour cream and pistachios
Enough cannot be said for taking time out on International Womens day to have lunch with a creative and dynamic woman. I hope that you also had the opportunity to spend some time with another sister!. I met up with Celia from www.figjamandlimecordial. com for lunch, we ventured to the relatively new Hub House Diner, in the rapidly gentrifying Dulwich Hill. It’s one of the many new Amercian inspired cafes popping up around Sydney .
The windows slide open to expose the busy New Canterbury Road, not a terribly inspiring view, but it’s pleasant to be perched next to a porthole. Dramatic black tiles, bare light bulbs, wood and splashes of colour are modern and clean, helping to create a relaxed feel. The staff are helpful and you can see into the new shiny open kitchen. There are some teething problems with the food but I let’s not discourage this kind of clean breezy cafe on a stretch of road not commonly known for fine things.
The open kitchen at Hub House Diner
The menu has something for everyone, including the kids. There’s a Trout Nicoise $16.50 and Caesar salad $10 or $14 with Smoked Salmon or Chicken, sitting beside Meatball Sliders $15 and Popcorn chicken $14. We opt for a bucket of “Southern Fried Chicken Wings” with hot sauce $ 14 and Zucchini Fritters with Sour Cream $12. I have a fetish for Southern Fried Chicken that wasn’t quite fulfilled here. Crispy but sadly no seasoning or spices and a bit of a lack of that fabulous coating that makes this type of chicken irresistible and melting and …..oh stop me…. the Zucchini Fritters were a delightful garden of green and flowers that also did not live up to their alluring appearance. They had an odd sweet savoury flavour and doughy interior.
The Zucchini Fritters with edible flowers and crushed pistachios
Great looking bucket of wings
There’s a great selection of burgers that come with or without fries and the promise of Jack cheese, a wonderful American cheese used with abandon in the US, but rarely seen here until recently. Some come with “slaw” others bacon or smoky sauce and range in price from $15- $19. If burgers aren’t your thing there is a 120 day aged sirloin, or pasta or a 1/2 basted hickory smoked chicken up to around $24. There are sides of salads and sauces that travel from Italy ( Pear and Parmesan) to Portugal (Peri peri aioli)
Chicken Burger with gruyere and slaw
Chicken Burger with Gruyere and slaw
Desserts include a rather interesting sounding Oreo Forest Cheese cake for $10, but there is a counterful of other choices if this sounds a bit exotic. A lot of thought has gone into the look and feel. The presentation of the food is lovely, tableware is thoughtful , staff are good and they make a good coffee. I am sure they will iron out any other kinks.
That burger looks amazing!
What a lovely lunch, to mark a great day…if only it wasn’t for the food! What a pity that didn’t deliver as much as it could. I’m glad you enjoyed the company and occasion though 🙂
What a shame, maybe as you say they will quickly settle the food issues, but it’s no consolation for your wasted money! At least the company was good- I bet you chattered for hours 🙂
Zucchini Fritters look really good! I would probably order another portion!
Maybe to look at Angie
The dish certainly looked delicious and well-presented so it would have been disappointing that it didn’t live up to its first impressions.
Kind of hard to compare place and person here 😉 ! Don’t think I would much look at the menu if I had a chance to spend an hour or two with a certain lady 🙂 !! . . . In an odd way: I normally don’t go for burgers, but quite fancy that chicken burger . . . as long as I could talk to the lady concerned at the same time 😀 !
Yeah, the company is the key!
I must try myself some of this Southern Fried Chicken. My very health conscious step mum said she tried some when last in the states and despite her usual diet preferences she said it was the bomb! I wonder if it tastes the same GF?
Aah, you’ve been kind, love. The venue did look hip and flash, but I thought the food was quite ordinary. The company, however, made it a ridiculously joyous occasion! 😀