Bloodwood, Newtown

Bloodwood has been a feature of Newtown's dining scene for a few years now and it's easy to see why it remains as popular as ever. The restaurant has a cool vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating on the terrace.

I was told that whatever we order, don't miss out on the Polenta chips. I normally find polenta quite bland and boring, but even I was a convert after tasting this. Freshly cooked, these chips were crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, and matched so well with the creamy Gorgonzola sauce, 

Polenta chips with gorgonzola sauce $10

The Fried chicken ​was succulent and moist, with a hint of spice form the Szechuan pepper and sweetness from the maple syrup. Not my favourite fried chicken of all time, but definitely no complaints.

Fried chicken, szechuan, maple, iceberg, cucumber $22

Bloodwood offers a wide array of vegetarian options, including the Socca - a chickpea pancake topped with zucchini, dukkah, kale and persian feta. The base had a lovely crunch, and the toppings were aromatic, creamy and full of flavour. It's a dish that I would definitely return for.

Socca: chickpea pancake, zucchini, dukkah, kale, persian feta $18

Continuing with the vegetarian theme, the Sesame mushrooms with seaweed, smoked eggplant and daikon was a simply, humble dish done well. It was a very textural dish and had a real depth of flavour.

Sesame mushrooms, wakame, smoked eggplant, daikon, chilli $24

The Sticky Fried Beef brisket fell apart at the slightly touch and the enoki, heirloom carrots and quinoa made for a great combination.

Sticky fried brisket, heirloom carrots, enoki, celery, seeds, quinoa $27

The food at Bloodwood is very impressive and definitely some of the best you can have in Newtown. The food is original, without being pretentious. It's a great place to come with a group, since everything is designed to be shared.