The Henson
Your hipster pub life needn’t stop when you have kids! You can bring your beard, your Kindle, your tatts, your children, yes, even your dog (true story) and save on funky Mac & Cheese ($14). It’s rippled with silver beet, cauliflower and leek, and baked in an old-fashioned enamel-coated tin plate (very on-trend), making it super tasty and vegetarian-friendly. The rest of the menu is eclectic but inviting, with more effort put into flavour than fancy plating. There’s everything from Duck Shepherd’s Pie ($23) to the most expensive item – Brown Rice Kim Chee Goreng, Pork Belly, Fried Egg and Sambal ($24) – a curious collision of Indonesian and Korean that actually works. Partake of this bounty in The Backyard, my favourite part of a sensitive refit that allows the Art Nouveau meets Art Deco pub architecture to shine. Besides pot plants and a lemon tree, there’s a genius old garage converted into a kid pen with ball pit and a window where you can watch them without the rest of the pub hearing ‘em scream. If you’re into craft brews, the on-tap Stone & Wood Summer Ale ($5.80) is a beauty, and if you’re not, quaffing a bottle of 2011 Belgravia ‘Apex’ Chardonnay ($40) will get you into the friendly backyard vibe.
The Henson
91 Illawarra Road, Marrickville
Ph: (02) 9569 5858 thehenson.com.au
Pub Bistro $$-$$$
