Sounding more like a character from Pride and Prejudice than a Mod Oz restaurant in Newtown’s tattoo-central, Spencer Guthrie is full of little surprises. And the buck doesn’t stop at the name.

The seedling of two Sydney thoroughbreds – Troy Spencer ex-L’etoile and Oliver Guthrie from Lucio’s (hence, the name) – this is one King Street sprout you don’t want to step over.

Almost everything has been sourced from recycled materials including the repurposed bentwood chairs and recycled table and bar tops. The produce is locally sourced. The lights are sustainable. And the bathroom is pretty much an eco retreat.

Chew on toasty housemade bread while you peruse the short but solid menu – five entrees, five mains, five desserts – any and all of which you’d happily devour given the chance.

Get things started with knockout entrees like charred chilli squid with smoked tomatoes and puffed rice and the not-to-be-missed roasted heirloom carrots with fennel, coffee and chocolate. Who said chocolate was a dessert?

For mains it’s all about slow cooked lamb shoulder with roasted garlic, silverbeet and chili and pork belly with sweet caramelised peaches, red onion and watercress.

And the surprises doesn’t stop at dessert. Choose from flavour bombs like chocolate with fresh orange and yoghurt; hazelnut cheesecake with salted caramel and almond sorbet; and orange scented ricotta cake with olive oil and thyme ice cream. Or get stuck into the cheese platter if you’ve left your sweet tooth at home.

Newtown’s eat street just got better.

Spencer Guthrie
Open for dinner Tuesday – Sunday, 6 – 9.30pm; lunch Saturday & Sunday, 12 – 2.30pm (BYO – license coming soon)
T: 02 8068 1080