One of the newest venues to hit the Cross area (opened in April) is New Hampton, conveniently situated right next door to Harajuku Gyoza on Bayswater Road. From the street, it’s not obvious how big New Hampton actually is – it’s an enormous 450 person venue with two bars and a fine dining room area. There’s a few people hanging out at the bar when we arrive but contrasted with the large space makes it feel quite empty. We’re seated in the dining room tonight which isn’t much better (less than 10 diners in total), which sort of detracts from the atmosphere. But enough about that and onto the food!
Seared Scallops, Chorizo Jam, Olives, Tomato & Cucumber Salsa – $20
We start off with the seared scallops for the entree which are cooked to perfection with tasty flavours and a crunchy salsa texture. I’m a bit disappointed by the serving size though as there’s only 4 scallops on the plate (they were quite small as well), and it doesn’t equate to great value for money in my opinion.
Potato Gnocchi, Roasted Cauliflower, Sultanas, Pine Nuts & Parmesan (main serving) – $26
Following this is the gnocchi which is soft and matched well with the crispy cauliflower on the plate. The sultanas scattered throughout provide rich sweetness and are a highlight of the dish, but I find the puree base a bit salty and the dish would taste better without it.
Palmers Island Mulloway, Pea Puree, Zucchini & Buerre Blanc – $30
The last dish we get is the mulloway fish which is cooked perfectly – crispy skin with soft tender flesh. Although cooked really well, I find the dish lacks seasoning and flavour, not only with the fish but also the pea puree as well.
Although our food tonight showed promise with cooking techniques, the flavours at New Hampton aren’t quite there yet. It’s forgivable given that it’s a brand new venue, but it’ll be interesting to see how they fare in the Kings Cross precinct which has seen many restaurants close over the last couple of years. For what is served up, the prices aren’t really justified either as you can get a pretty decent meal elsewhere for less and I hope that they’re able to improve the food quality soon to bring in the crowds.
Excuse Me Waiter dined as guests of New Hampton
New Hampton
15 Bayswater Road, Potts Point
Ph: (02) 9331 1188
That potato gnocchi looks good. And 450 capacity? Wow that’s a huge dining space!
Yep it has plenty of capacity! The gnocchi was lovely – always happy when restaurants get gnocchi right.