Armory Wharf Cafe, Newington

Keeping with the theme of exploring all things local at the moment, we make a visit to the Armory Wharf Café at Newington with Dave’s family. We’re there to celebrate his brother’s birthday with a spot of Segwaying around the Armory, followed by lunch at the café.

For the record, Segwaying is AWESOME fun. If these things ever become street legal in NSW (they are not at the moment so anyone you see not on private property is breaking the law) I’m giving up walking and replacing my legs with a Segway...

Now, onto the food. After seeing everyone else’s meals I think I could’ve been more adventurous with my ordering. I NEED to stop order things based solely on whether or not they come with chips or not. Nevertheless my grilled scotch fillet ciabatta roll (toasted), with caramelised onion, gruyere cheese, Smoky BBQ sauce, roquette slaw ($18.50) hit the spot. As did the chunky chips.

My father-in-law wanted something light and ordered the Beetroot Cured Atlantic Salmon on a nicoise salad of potato, green beans, onion, capers. and olives ($22.00). This was topped with a poached egg.

The crispy battered flathead fillets with chunky chips with a side of lemon, caper and garlic sauce ($20.00) was a pretty popular choice at the table. The fish pieces were HUGE, totally eclipsing the decently sized serve of chips. The batter was as crispy and cracking and is looks. The inclusion of a token salad ensures you don't feel like a total fat blob eating this. Food envy.

The salt and pepper squid with orange and fennel salad and served with aioli ($21.00) was another popular choice. The red onion rings were pretty tasty (I may have stolen one...or two).

Dave was carb-loading post our Segwaying adventure and ordered the Trio of Dawgs ($22.00). Each of the the three soft brioche buns showcased a different type of "dog".  We have the traditional American Frankfurt, mustard and onion; a Bratwurst and Sauerkraut; and for the French want-to-be in all of us a Toulouse sausage w/ five-spice marmalade, and goats cheese. In case you're still peckish after all of this rest assured this dish comes with a serve of chunky chips.

More food envy with this dish...in fact this is the dish I really REALLY wished I'd ordered.  Here we have VERY large ravioli filled with pumpkin, potato and pine nuts finished in the pan with a sage and beurre noisette and pine nut sauce ($22.00). Served with a side radicchio salad...as you do. I stared longingly at this dish for the ENTIRE meal and my niece finally! offered me a taste. Excellent.

Overall we had a pretty nice lunch at  The Armory Wharf Cafe.  We were a big group and I think we were well looked after given how busy and chaotic this place was on the day we visited. I'd be keen to visit again on a much more sunny (and warmer) day.

The Armory Wharf Cafe can be found in the Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson Street, Newington. Phone them on 9714 7513.