Harvest Bar, Majestic Gourmet Grocer – Petersham

Vanessa:  The Majestic Gourmet Grocer, situated on Petersham’s main thoroughfare, has recently broadened its horizons with its launch of The Harvest Bar. Perched above the gourmet eatery, sits the Harvest bar, an intimate space that is ideal for a pre-meal beverage.

You may know the venue is steeped in local history having changed its face numerous times over the decades. Originally a cinema, which is evident from its structural layout, to a   skating-rink, apartments and now its final facade – a modern European eatery serving up tapas style dishes that have wide appeal.

The Majestic Harvest has recently launched its Autumn menu and is now also open for dinner, conveniently appealing to patrons wanting to literally wine and dine under the one roof!

I recently attended the launch of their Autumn menu along with my cousin Veronica (not the usual FFS crew but still kept it in the family!) .  It was also the first dinner service for the chefs and wait staff which was possibly a little overwhelming as it turned out.

Seated on a table of six we settled in and let the wait staff do their thing, bringing out various dishes in varying succession.  There were a few stand outs for me that were echoed across the table.

Starting off with a bowl of fries is as good a start as any. When the fries are loaded with chilli, salt and herbs it’s a cracking start! The Majestic herb fries ($7) are a must, don’t even think about it just order them!

The roasted pimientos de patron with sherry vinegar and sea salt($11) were delicious and reminded me very much of the peppers my nonno cooks from his garden. As luck would have it, I managed to eat a spicy one, which is very rare with these type of peppers!

Another favourite of the night was the ricotta, silverbeet, parmesan and chilli flatbread ($12). This a very substantial serve for a tapas dish and the flavour combination of the spinach with the two cheese varieties mixed with a chilli kick is gold.  It’s a good option, particularly for vegetarians.

The stand out and winning dish for me was the Wagyu Rump Cap marble 6+ ($18). Served with roast pepper, herb oil and black sesame seeds, the meat was cooked to perfection allowing you to really taste the marbling throughout.  It was simply delicious and it got the tick of approval from the entire table.

A single serve of the crispy skin pork belly ($13) was set down on the table in front of us.  We tried to strategies a way in which all six of us could taste equal parts of the pork but alas it proved difficult. I did end up with a tiny morsel of the crackling and I can indeed vouch that it was extremely crispy!  Given the portion size, I’d recommend it between two people.

Beef cheeks ($14) are not my food of choice but Veronica was certainly very pleased when this dish arrived at the table. The cheeks were served alongside a celeriac puree, herb oil and gremolata and were braised in a thick sauce.  Well cooked and tasty , this dish that makes for a substantial serve.

Being fully licensed means that drinks are widely available throughout the venue, both in the Harvest bar and the Majestic Harvest. We sipped on a delightful cocktail known as “The Majestic” (fitting) which was well-balanced with a mix of sweetness and tang, very refreshing.

Unfortunately the Mercado is not open at night, but it’s another reason to return and check out the breakfast/lunch menu.  The food at the Majestic Harvest was well priced, diverse and overall very good. The tapas menu has been carefully curated to appeal to a wide audience with all tastes accounted for.  There were some kinks in the service that need ironing out but understandable as it was opening night, I’m sure its all running smoothly now.  If you live in or around the inner west, it’s an ideal place for a drinks and bite in a casual, relaxed setting.

Enjoy!

Vanessa

*Our thoughts on our last visit https://forfoodssake.net/2015/08/17/majestic-gourmet-grocer-petersham/

*For Foods Sake were invited as guests of Wasamedia. All opinions however are independent and our own