This restaurant and cafe sits in one of the prettiest settings in Hunter Valley that I had to spend a good five minutes taking in the view from the carpark. For a suburban queen/city slicker like myself, this is surely one of the more picturesque restaurants that I’ve seen in Australia.
When you think of Hunter Valley you don’t normally associate it as a foodies haven in terms of top-notch restaurant dining. Then along came Rock Restaurant, a joint venture of David Clarke, owner of the adjoining Poole’s Rock Winery Estate and his nephew, Chef Andrew Clarke whose resumé includes Claude’s and Bathers’ Pavilion in Sydney.
From the outside it looks like a lone concrete shed. But come through the large glass door and you’ll find a modern interior, designed with a palette of dark chocolate and cream. Splashes of red adorn the Rock Bar while the far side of the restaurant opens out to views of the winery with its glass panelling. It is minimal chic but lacking a sort of warm country comfort. Thankfully the warmness can be found from the service staff who were both professional and charming.
Firestick Cafe and Rock Restaurant sits on the block of Poole’s Rock Winery Estate in Pokolbin whose wine portfolio also includes Cockfighters Ghost and Firestick. At dinnertime on Thursday to Saturday this is Rock Restaurant, the first Hunter Valley restaurant to score two chef’s hats in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide.
In the day it is Firestick Cafe, offering daygoers a more casual dining experience with woodfire pizzas and light lunches to accompany their extensive wine menu. The daylight also meant that diners can sit and enjoy the view of the winery estate from the al-fresco deck or from the dining room.
All six of us, craving sustenance but eager to get out to the vineyards asap, turned up at Firestick Cafe without a booking. Not the best of plans as we found out when we were politely told that they were fully booked out. However while perusing our Hunter Valley guide for the next option, a waiter approached us and told us a table of six was actually leaving and whether we would like to stay. Happily obliging, we were led to the cocktail area of Rock Bar, to enjoy the views while we waited for our table.
There was a ‘one of everything’ flavour to the menu – fish, pasta, poultry, red meat, pie and a vegetarian tart – most coming in an entree or main size option.
The Braised Lamb Shank Pie served with a mesclun salad was a popular choice. The shreds of lamb in the pie filling were lusciously tender and melted in your mouth and the taste was homely and comforting. The only gripe was there wasn’t enough filling in one pie so as the fork went in, the pastry collapsed on itself in a meat pie black hole. The other lamb pies ordered weren’t complained about however so maybe it was a one-off?
Mr S. chose the Potato, Prosciutto and Rocket Woodfire pizza and it certainly looked mouthwatering. The disappointing thing was the potato slices were cut tissue-paper thin and weren’t layered thickly so when eating the pizza, the potato element was severely lacking.
I, of course, had to choose the Chorizo, Basil and Cherry Tomato pizza. The chorizo pieces I had were a little fatty but bursting with flavour that I just wanted more. I loved how the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes cut through the saltiness of the chorizo while the pizza base was deliciously crunchy just the way I like it.
I can’t speak about the wines as I decided to start the day off slow with a glass of juice (there was plenty more wine to be had after lunch). While the meal at Firestick Cafe didn’t blow me away it certainly warranted further visits and should be a regular feature in anyone’s itinerary. Another lunch on a breezy day on the al-fresco deck is on the agenda as well as a dinner at the lauded Rock Restaurant one night. Which is fine by me as I will need to replenish my Hunter Valley wine supplies soon enough.
Coming soon: More about the food and wine adventures in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Trading Hours:
Firestick Cafe – 7 days a week from 9:30am till 5pm.
Rock Restaurant – Thursday to Sunday from 6:30pm to late.
Website: http://www.rockrestaurant.com.au/
576 Debeyers Road
Pokolbin NSW 2320
(02) 4998 6968
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
last time i was at the hunter valley – i went to rock for dinner; really really enjoyed it and the service was spot on. hope you get to try the place for dinner!
This place sounds like a good choice and I must say that I love the decor there too! :)
Yum, the food looks great (and wonderful pics too!). The potato slices do look very thin. I once made that mistake when I made potato pizza, but a thicker slice and a slightly lower temp ensures deliciously cooked potato-ey goodness!
Hi panda: Agreed – the service here was very good. Can’t wait to try the nighttime sister restaurant!Hi Lorraine: This place warrants a stopover if you’re ever in the region but there are still plenty of other places to try too (in time) :)Hi Helen: Thanks Helen! I’m a potato girl so the thicker the better on anything! I’ve never tried making potato pizza before but that’ll change soon!