Scratchleys On The Wharf

After four months in Newcastle, we I finally got to one of the town's better restaurants - Scratchleys. Mum is up visiting, and she treated Kate and I to a fantastic evening. See dishes below.

Prawn & Oyster Plate
King Prawns & Natural Oysters with Seasonal Fruit, Dressed with Red Wine & Seeded Mustard Vinaigrette

I asked for the oil on the side - they served without any dressing. I don't want to sound like a total baby, but at $20 for 3 prawns and 3 oysters, I expected more work. The fruit was not peeled or even partially. The crap vein wasn't cleaned out, the prawns weren't properly shelled, and the oysters still had grit in them. Very so so.


XL Hervey Bay Scallops
Served on the half shell, grilled with a black truffle and basil butter - $20 for 5

Kate thought they maybe frozen - I think they were fresh, but a tad over-cooked. The butter was a mess though - the truffle was 1) too strong for scallop and 2) muddy and lacking flavour. Maybe this would work better slightly smoked instead of grilled - and with fresh truffle.


Scratchleys Seafood Chowder
This was mums - I didn't really taste it, but mum said it was good - with lots of seafood. $14

THE MAIN COURSES - ALL EXCELLENT
(all from the daily special list)

Swordfish Steak
Dusted in cajun spices on a chunky mash of kipler potatoes and chargrilled marinated vegetables with straw potato and a carrot and ginger Raitha $35

Kingfish fillet
With sauteed bacon and shallots on potato wedges roasted in seeded mustard and herbs with a basil aioli and sweet soy drizzle $29


Certified Grainge Angus beef sirloin
300g Pan roasted in tuscan spices on mini potato pancakes and glazed winter vegetables with an olive vinaigrette and cabernet syrup $40

Fantastic! This was my main meal. I apologise the photograph is such poor quality, it was the best I could get with the camera at hand. The vegetables included eschallots, beans, and a couple of roasted root vegetables. I felt the potato pancakes were not necessary - they provided good texture, but they did not add to the flavour, and the oil was too much for the dish. The beef (medium rare) was outstanding. Maybe the best beefsteak I have ever had... the supplied knife was dull and worn out, but it cut through the steak like butter. Outstanding.


Overall it was very good - but not a fine dining experience. It was a noisy family restaurant with quite good service. The wine list (by the bottle) was overly expensive, whilst the dishes were pricey too, the mains justified the price. Not sure about the entree's though.

If they allowed BYO, I would definitely go back for blackboard mains again.