(Dinner at) The Baron, Castle Hill

Often I find myself describing a cafe (or person) as "hipster". When The Boy asked me what exactly a hipster was I couldn't actually tell him (and Google isn't much help). I'm sure I know a hipster (cafe and/or person) when I see them, but generally it's just anyone younger + thinner than me that looks good in skinny jeans with lace up broques. It's an overarching term for young people that dress...not like me, and who like cold-drip coffee.

One thing I do know is that there are hipsters to be found at Castle Hill's favourite hipster hangout, The Baron. Although now that I think about it some of those young-uns look more grungy and skaterish - but they do drink cold drip coffee so they must be hipsters, right? Geez, I'm old aren't it!

And old people (like me) love nothing more than an early dinner which is how Tara + I found oursleves to be seated bright and early for The Baron's dinner.  We booked for such an early time our cute little reservation card doesn't even have a time on it and the places was totally empty - staff not included of course.

The Baron is a buzzing (and totally excellent) cafe that operates as a small bar and restaurant on Thursday + Friday nights (shut by 11pm as we like to go to bed early out here). As far as I know this is the ONLY small bar in the West and I hope more open ASAP. The food during the day leans a little towards Dude Food and this note is carried into their dinner menu that is also peppered with lots of hearty, local fare.

There were lots of tempting meaty dishes to be had (pulled pork sliders!!!) but as I'm dining with VegeTARAian we decide to order all the veggie options on the menu and share them. We order a couple of cocktails to kick things off and ponder the menu over a bowl of mixed Gibson Grove olives ($6.00) from the "smalls" section of the menu.

I really like eating out with Tara as it's a good motivation to explore the veggie options on a menu. Sadly there are no vegetarian main meals (I hope that changes) so we hit up the "mediums" and are pretty happy with our feast. Things kick of with an American diner-style basket of corn fritters with housemade aoili ($11.00). These are not oily at all and are incredibly moreish. They are well seasoned too which is good to see (or taste).

The Macaroni + Cheese ($14.00) made me really sad that we'd decided to share as I wanted this all to myself as soon as I took my first mouthful! Oh. My. God. Creamy, al dente macaroni was topped with a gooey mound shredded cheese, chives + diced chills. Again this dish was really well seasoned which just helps to elevate the flavours.

We couldn't pass up the rosemary salt smashed potatoes with a scrumptious house made aioli ($11). The potatoes have a lovely crisp outer with innards that are softer and fluffier than a bunny rabbit and I think rosemary and potatoes is a match made in heaven! A little salad helps offset any carb/deep-fried food guilt (though the buttermilk dressing is a tad on the naughty side). The salad ($15) is a medley of baby gem lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, Persian feta with that naughty butter milk dressing I just mentioned.

This Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownie is TO DIE FOR! Literally!!!  It's so naughty that if you eat the whole thing yourself you might just keel over from pure happiness (or a heart attack)...so it's best to share it if you can bare it. This wasn't on the dessert menu, but as we are sort-of-semi-regular at The Baron we knew if was on offer during the day and they thankfully caved in to our pleading to hand over the brownie. THANKS!

We left The Baron full, happy and pleased that we didn't have to battle the M4/M2/Parramatta Road/Victoria Road to get home. What a great night out in The Hills.

The Baron is at Shop 461, 4-16 Castle Street (Castle Towers Shopping Center), Castle Hill.  You'll find them down on Old Castle Hill Road, next to Games Workshop.