The Butchers Apprentice

Where on earth do I start with this one? Entertain me for a moment — the Butchers Block is like that 70 yo who has lived his whole life living and breathing meats, years of experience has taught him what works and what doesnt. The Butchers Apprentice on the other hand is just that … the apprentice, the young kid eager to learn the classics from dad but with his own spin on how to «butcher».
For me, the look and feel of this place was outstanding from that first moment we walked in. George kindly greeted us and walked us to our table outside in the garden section of the Butchers Block — this of course is standard practice given its such a busy restaurant. There is so much around for your eyes to focus on … the most outstanding piece of course is the handle to the bathroom door made from the original meat cleaver from 1882 used in the butcher that resided here prior to George and Anthony setting up shop themselves.
The food and service was exceptional … Candied bacon (on the house), Persian baked feta, dry chips (sweet potato, potato, taro), honey candied walnut carrots, oven roasted potatoes (on the house), salmon belly with beetroot meringue OHMY, pork cheek with fairy floss, marscapone broccoli, caprese salad with a basil jelly — A BASIL JELLY YO !!! I just about died !!!
And the kicker? All 3 desserts ON THE HOUSE … yes this night was practically free. chocolate panacotta, smashed macaron and some gorgeous pear dessert. For a birthday dinner, yes, I may have left a year older, but I tell you what, I left EONS happier.

Outstanding shared plate restaurant in leafy Wahroonga. Run by the same folks as Butchers Block this place does high end dinners whilst the Block does brekky and lunch.
GHB had crispy bacon in maple syrup and was unable to speak for several minutes. Communal tables and very very good service. The food is sensational and easily the best thing the Upper North Shore has seen since Cooks Garden and the late great Ad Lib.
The menu is really interesting. It reminded me of Nomad — even had a carrot and dukkha dish, but this was even better. We had inter alia, prawns, feta salad, and a lamb cutlet dish. Luckily there were five of us because there was so many beautiful little cutlets that five people could barely finish them all, luckily I was on hand to make sure that didn’t happen.
The fit out is great and all in all this place scores everywhere!
Five stars.