Supper Lane – Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Posted on Jan 17, 2016 in Restaurants

This space has been home to a few restaurants in recent years so I was sceptical about another incarnation but after hearing about the players behind the scenes I was keen to give it a go.

The room is open, light filled and comfortable. It’s a small space so still cosy but it’s welcoming rather than poky. There are a few tables outside but unfortunately it was a little cool on the night we visited however I’m sure they would be snapped up quickly on a warm evening. Hopefully they’ll also be able to make full use of the lane at the side sometime soon. Our table was small (for 3 people) but it worked. I have to say, I do love the napkins which I suspect are actually tea towels! Terrific idea for those of us who are challenged when it comes to food meeting mouth.

So, the food…. love it! We ordered way too much but we were keen to try as much as possible. As soon as we looked at the menu, the bread and butter pudding was a must and it was delicious – a bit like a prawn mornay but way better! Not as heavy as I expected. I was intrigued by the steamed lettuce option which turned out to be two plump lettuce parcels containing red rice, peas, currants and almonds. I can’t say I’ve ever had anything like it before but I would definitely have it again. And then there was the panzanella – yum! I’ve always assumed panzanella would be a bit of a bore so I’ve never ordered it but this was a real surprise. The tomatoes were super tasty, the bread remained just a little crunchy as it soaked up the juices, there was just enough mozzarella and basil – it all came together beautifully. We finished our meal with the plates… I’m a sucker for a good charcuterie plate and both that and the cheese were outstanding. The selections were varied, all carefully chosen to complement each other and portions were generous. As with everything we tried, the quality and presentation were both outstanding.

The team seems happy and cohesive making service efficient and friendly. I’m sure they’re working their butts off at this early stage but they still seem genuinely happy to be there.

Pleased to hear that their liquor licence appears to be imminent as I expect they’ll choose some crackers making a ‘Friday afternoon glass of wine with a platter’ a very pleasant prospect.

It’s encouraging to see more talented young people staying local. I think this one might be here to say.

We ate:
Bread & Butter Pudding
Steamed Lettuce
Panzanella
Charcuterie Plate
Cheese Plate

We drank:
BYO (for now)

Gallery:  https://www.princessintransit.com/gallery/supper-lane/