Hunter Escape: Leaves & Fishes

Leaves & Fishes came recommended to us by Dr King and Kiki after having eaten there several times when they’ve visited the Hunter Valley themselves. We stop in on our last day at the Hunter, via somewhat of a detour before heading home. It is a gorgeously sunny day which serves only to enhance the relaxed atmosphere of the covered deck dining area, decorated in country comfort accents and punctuated by bright flowers. There is only the sound of soft chatter amongst patrons and the surrounding lake to act as a backdrop. You definitely feel like you’re at someone’s house rather than at a restaurant.

We start with an entrée-sized ‘Deli plate of house made duck pâté, chicken pistachio terrine, vegetables and prosciutto’ to share. Tart caperberries and gherkins, sundried tomato segments, roasted beetroot wedges and sprigs of watercress are strewn around the cold meat elements of the plate as well as a roasted whole tomato. We are most impressed by the collection of crostini, grissini, toasted flatbread and lavosh presented alongside – the serve is so ample that we have pieces left over long after the contents of the deli plate have been consumed.

We appear to have gone a little overboard and have decided on two mains between us. The ‘Crispy whole fish with ginger, pea sprout salad and seared greens’ is a snapper in this case and rather sizeable. The fish has been dusted in a light coating of flour and chilli powder prior to being deep-fried. The salad and greens provide needed crunch and work well with the tangy, tart (tamarind?) sauce.

The ‘Malay barbecued chicken with corn fritters, pickled red cabbage and lime’ was ordered without knowing what Malay barbecued chicken was admittedly. We are presented with a tender half of a chicken, which has been flattened slightly, sitting atop three corn fritters and the lot dressed with a balanced sauce tasting of sweet chilli, saltiness, spiciness and a subtle nuttiness.

The menu is mixed in a very mod-Oz way, packing in lots of flavour influences. The tranquil, lazy atmosphere setting reminds me of sitting on a friend’s back porch and whiling away the time chatting about nothing in particular. Leaves & Fishes also has four boutique cabins around the back overlooking the lake as an accommodation option as well.

Leaves & Fishes

737 Lovedale Rd (between Majors Lane & Wilderness Rd), Lovedale NSW

Tel: (02) 4930 7400

Opening Hours:  Mon & Tues  CLOSED

Wed & Thurs  lunch only

Fri & Sat  lunch & dinner

Sun  lunch only

happy eating!