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The Henson, Marrickville

January 15, 2014 by Tania 12 Comments

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The Henson Hotel, Marrickville

Maple miso grilled king salmon fillet, sesame, spinach,      edamame & ginger

Maple miso grilled king salmon fillet, sesame, spinach,
edamame & ginger

I have 3 sisters and we grew up doing everything together. Our Mother was fond of saying that she had 4 children so they could all play together and never need friends from “outside”. While this is fascinating and ensured we each had at least 3 friends it was also essentially flawed. We certainly did stick together, we managed to combine all of our “outside” friends in our family group and we went everywhere together.

Brown rice & kim chee goreng, free-range pork belly, fried egg & sambal $25

Brown rice & kim chee goreng, free-range pork belly, fried egg & sambal $25

Now that we have families of our own we don’t see each other enough. Every so often we ditch the outer circle, to be with each other, to reconnect and to become kids again.  Fortunately we have replaced a big night out in the mosh pit with dinner and a couple of drinks. It’s just as much fun for us now as it was way back then, “outside” friends or not.

The Hensen Park hotel

The Hensen hotel

The other night we headed to The Henson in Marrickville. ( drinking, dining and revelry) Then on wards to The Gasoline Pony in the same suburb. We were warned to arrive by about 6 or 6.30pm We really tried, but getting ready together is chaotic. Although we never intend it, there is lots of trying on of clothes and drinks and ridiculous chatter and this time was no exception. We pulled up outside the Henson at around 7 pm. This pub is in a very quiet spot on the corner of Illawarra Rd and Chapel st, it’s features have changed little since it was built and the outside still sports the bathroom style tiles of a past era and posters from a more innocent and male dominated time. It’s atmospheric and has for many years sat idol and tonight, from the outside still looks idle if it weren’t for the illuminated “front bar” sign.

tside of the Hensen park Hotel

outside of the Henson Hotel a little blurred

So we enter via the front bar to find a hub of activity, it’s far from being idle or deserted. Every table is occupied and there is a pool table fully in use. The Front bar is as quaintly unchanged as the outside of the building. It has new carpet and an old style games room but it features fresh music on the stereo and craft beer on tap. Around the back of the bar a doorway leads outside to a beer garden or what is now a kind of outdoor dining room. The beer garden and the main dining area has been transformed into an open modern space with a bar and a station where you can order food. Down side is you have to find a table before you order.

The beer garden

The beer garden

Every table is occupied and if every chair is not occupied it is being studiously saved for a mysterious friend who is yet to arrive. There are families with kids who claim large tables with toys and bags and we split up to search for some place to perch for sustenance. When we can’t find a table we decide to stand in the bistro line and order any way, this is a brazen move we hope will pay off.  The girl taking the order is surprised and tells us she will try to help locate a place we can eat and with that encouraging promise we buy some drinks. Two sips into our drinks and we swoop on a table that has suddenly been vacated and it just seems like everything has taken a turn for the better. We tell stories, laugh and chat and we sit and watch the zoo of people around us. Many of those people are parents who don’t really seem to notice that the kids are running amok.  Still it’s a warm night and sitting outside, its pleasantly relaxed i an outdoor BBQ kind of way.

Posters from a bygone era

Posters from a bygone era

The menu has an eclectic mix of food most of which is locally sourced with some of it grown in the garden. Much of the menu is made in house and although we only had mains we saw Ribs, Karaage chicken burgers, sweet potato fries, pulled pork tacos and great looking desserts go by. Prices range from $15 for something substantial and from $9 for desserts. Wines by the glass from $7,  bottles between $30-40, cocktails from $10 . Lots of gluten free options too.

Baramundi and chips $24

Baramundi and chips $24

and a look at that fried egg

and a look at that fried egg

Beer garden with real craft beer on tap

Beer garden with real craft beer- Young Henry’s  on tap

The beer in the Bistro

The bar in the Bistro

The sign

the new entrance to the bistro

the new entrance to the bistro

My Salmon was fresh and well cooked, and that means not dried out from too long on the grill. The crunchy vegetables had a gingery sauce that lapped at the fish with enticing sesame seeds and slivers of cucumber. The exotic sounding Free range Pork belly, sambal rice, perfectly cooked egg and a fresh salad was a compelling reason to return. If you like to keep it simple, a crispy skinned Baramundi with fat chips & crunchy well dressed salad is probably what you will be looking for. This family atmosphere was kind of fitting for us on a sisters excursion, if you don’t like a family or community atmosphere go later. We left a little merry, hence the blurry pictures. I will return for more of the fresh imaginative pub food, but next time I’m going at 6 pm.

signiture

The Henson on Urbanspoon

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Filed Under: reviews Tagged With: Australian Koalas, cheap eats marrickville, eating out, Marrickville, Pub food sydney, pubs in marrickville, restaurants marrickville, the henson hotel

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nancy@jamjnr

    January 20, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    When the evening’s all about chatter and catching up the food becomes secondary so I’m glad you got a serve of both. Prices look really reasonable for such a popular place.
    nancy@jamjnr recently posted..January Cookbook Guru: Falling CloudberriesMy Profile

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  2. Hotly Spiced

    January 20, 2014 at 11:24 am

    I grew up with four sisters so I understand! I know exactly how much fun it is and how close the relationships can be. Unfortunately the five of us have recently had so few times together as one sister lives in Beijing and another in LA. We have to work on more reunions so we can have fun nights out just like this xx

    Reply
  3. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic

    January 19, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    What a fun time with your sisters. The food looks delicious. I would love that pork belly dish!
    Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic recently posted..Mango White Chocolate Oatmeal CookiesMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Mary @ beyondjelly

    January 19, 2014 at 9:11 am

    Wow! Are they bonito flakes I can see on the salmon dish?! It certainly does sound imaginative for pub grub!
    Mary @ beyondjelly recently posted..In My Kitchen, January ’14My Profile

    Reply
  5. Liz

    January 18, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    I have 3 sisters, too…and there’s nothing better than gathering together over a good meal!!!
    Liz recently posted..Simple Party Soups #FrenchFridayswithDorieMy Profile

    Reply
  6. yummychunklet

    January 18, 2014 at 11:54 am

    Thanks for sharing this great review.
    yummychunklet recently posted..ffwD: Christine’s simple party soupsMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    January 18, 2014 at 11:14 am

    I knew that you had a sister but I didn’t realise that you had three! I like the sound of hte pork belly dish!
    Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Akvavit Eating House & Bar, WoolloomoolooMy Profile

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  8. InTolerant Chef

    January 18, 2014 at 10:48 am

    By the look of the blurry photos you must have had a great night Tania! The pork belly dish looks great, and there’s a real art to cooking salmon just right. I wish my sisters lived closer instead of having to rely on the telephone for catch ups. Xox
    InTolerant Chef recently posted..Tropical Lemongrass Fruit SaladMy Profile

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  9. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    January 17, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    I only have one sister and when she was here several months ago we talked nonstop the whole time. What a treat to have them close by!
    Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Double Dark Chocolate Cake with Chocolate GanacheMy Profile

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  10. Joanne

    January 16, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    What a fun sisters lunch!!
    Joanne recently posted..Wheat Berry and White Bean Soup with Savoy CabbageMy Profile

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  11. Claire @ Claire K Creations

    January 16, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Looks like a great place for some sisterly fun. Prices seem really reasonable too!
    Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..A grey and yellow nurseryMy Profile

    Reply
  12. 3outa4

    January 16, 2014 at 11:44 am

    Always have fun when I go out with my sisters xxxx

    Reply

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Tania Cusack Hi, I'm Tania and this is My Kitchen Stories. I share all kinds of recipes here. Most recipes are quick and easy, just perfect for families. BUT, you could also find vegan, cakes and desserts too. Come and have a look around Read More
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