Hemingway was known for his quote: “I drink to make other people more interesting”; indeed he knew how to throw down a good strong drink or three.
In the spirit of this great writer, I sat down with Manly Observer’s editor Kim Smee to wash down a few strong cocktails at the venue of his namesake (Hemingway’s Manly) before settling down to a delicious feast last week.
Situated right on the Steyne, this cosy restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a hearty meal and several exotic cocktails like a Lychee Margarita or Hemingway’s Daiquiri.
Run by French couple Sonia and Emmanuel since 2014, you can enjoy French inspired dishes such as seared scallops with cauliflower purée; serrano and chorizo crumbs or chicken liver parfait baked in cognac and Grand Tawny Porto and served with cornichons, fig jam and baguette for entrees.
Beautifully presented with high quality ingredients, Kim and I were scoffing down the food with such gusto, we almost forgot there were mains to follow.
Next up we tucked into a pork belly on roasted fennel, braised beef cheek served with truffled potato purée, roasted carrots and beef jus and confit duck leg served with beans, Toulouse sausage, tomato sauce, thyme, shallot and garlic.
The beef cheek was easily one of the best dishes of the night, with melt-in-the-mouth meat and a rich gravy.
The pork belly was also a winner with soft tender meat, crispy crackling served on a delightful fennel base.
The duck was fairly tasty too, and washed down with several glasses of their French reds was even better.
Conversation flowed as we tucked into our meals and before we knew it several hours had passed, always a good sign of a seamless meal.
Dessert was also impressive with one of the best creme brulees ever. Crunchy topping and an oozy creamy centre, we demolished it in seconds.
Overall, the night was memorable. Great food, fantastic wine, atmosphere and impeccable service.
Hemingway’s Manly
48 N Steyne, Manly NSW 2095
Tel: (02) 9976 3030
Transparency check ✓ This is a non-sponsored, genuine review, but the meal was provided free for the purposes of assessment and it was not anonymous.
