Culinary Seduction at Henrietta’s Melbourne

A stroll down the famous Chapel Street in Prahran (Windsor) is a must for anyone wanting to experience the city of coffee and food. Lined with eateries and bars from the sleek to the grungy, intercepted by clubs, burger joints, charismatic pubs behind traditional facades, and shops, anything, from a 7/11 to boutiques, salons, and fashion stores.

Famed for its sought-after eateries it is the strip to come to for dining, meeting friends, and going out for tasty delights and drinks. Not surprising then that Melbourne’s newest restaurant Henrietta’s opened shop here. Move over, Mr Miyagi and Cafe E Cucina, in less than three weeks ‘H’ already earned itself a place among the best… read on.

The Experience

The latest instalment by the ESCA group which has eateries all over Sydney, Henrietta’s, a sister restaurant to its namesake in Surry Hills, is the first Melbourne restaurant for the group, expertly run by restaurant manager Maria and bar manager Raphael, with the experience starting as soon as the ‘touch’ glass door slides open. 

As unseemingly as it appears from the street, where you can see the kitchen staff in full swing through the large glass windows, once you step inside you are transported to a different world altogether. Literally taking you from the bustling street vibe of Chapel Street to a calm and sophisticated sleek eatery oozing with warmth and professionalism.

Instantly, we were greeted by forthcoming staff and taken to our spot, a high-set natural timber bench with rather comfy cushioned stools. We were facing the textured shiny chrome wall panels that frame the large open bar offset by terracotta tiles and illuminated by warm lighting. The clean lines of the light-grey panelling against a backdrop of high white walls with black punctuations felt like a soft ultra-modern interior that was surprisingly warm in atmosphere despite its uncluttered zen-style feel, emitting a worldly charm without ever feeling industrial or cold. 

The Food
Notable was how quiet it was although there wasn’t a vacant seat or empty table in the house. Waiters were attentive, calm, confident, nicely spoken, and knew absolutely everything about the unique menu, its ingredients, and why the flavours made every dish a must-try. And, it was neither contrived nor salesly. Literally, everything made our mouths water and we found it hard to decide where to start and which choice to settle on.

Think cured Kingfish with Baharat and rhubarb; Labneh with charcoaled greens and walnuts; or the hot seller of prawn Fatteh roll with pine nuts, burnt butter, and yoghourt, all sounded amazing. Yet we opted for the charcoaled eggplant with Chuma and spring herbs – which was absolutely to live for! Melting the smoky eggplant flavour with the rich capsicum coolie, fresh herbs, and crisp, a combination that saw us scrape every last little bit from its dish.

We also could not go past the warm octopus and potato salata with its rich flavours (probably our favourite), plus the raw lamb Kibbeh Nayyeh served with radish slices, fresh herbs, and crisp pita sprinkled with spices. Against all skepticism, it was a light cocktail of subtle flavours and rolled nicely off the tongue. 

The entrees met their match with a bottle of well-priced Alpine Valleys-grown 2022 Billy Button ‘The Chameleon’ Pinot Gris with its crisp flavour, subtle tones, and gentle body, which carried us forward to the main – the Barramundi fillet served with saffron marqa and caviar. A generously-sized dish that married the flavours so well we couldn’t stop eating despite the fact that by now we were just indulging for pleasure, not hunger.

Accompanied by a serving of spiced cauliflower with cashew tarator and sultanas, which was divine, and a dish of the charged Brussels sprouts served with tahini, date molasses and Pomegranate – absolutely delicious and definitely the best way to have Brussels sprouts.

In between we soaked up the relaxing atmosphere and warm hospitality which kept us well tended to, our glasses constantly filled, and came with a kind un-rushed tempt. Even the bar, despite the constant flow of cocktails and beverages that never stopped rolling off its pristine stainless steel counter, was kept absolutely spotless. As was the whole restaurant. Something one seldom sees these days.

Likewise, the restrooms greeted us with a subtle scent of middle eastern incense and were just as sleek and clean as the rest of the venue. (always a good sign)

We were granted time to let the flavours linger and let the food settle before our highly-recommended dessert appeared. A cast-iron skillet filled with Basbousa, a scrumptious cake-like affair of rich colour and even richer coconut flavours served hot. It wasn’t too sweet and blended well with the Jersey milk ice cream that melted in front of our eyes. It was so good, that despite our saturated appetite we couldn’t leave even the smallest bit of it on the plate.

We were tantalised by the experience, yet absolutely calm and relaxed. Seduced by the unique mix of flavours and felt nurtured to our core by both, the culinary delights and the faultless professional service that made us feel welcome and valued. We were already talking about returning before we had even left.

Henrietta’s is a dining experience like no other, unmatched by any of the sophisticated restaurants or Middle Eastern eateries Melbourne has to offer. The concept of a modern fusion of traditional flavours infused with innovative combinations against a backdrop of beautiful clean design, chilled tunes, real, attentive, and professional staff, and all this in the heart of Melbourne’s food hub that is Chapel Street made this a culinary highlight of Melbourne.

In fact, it was perfect! 

If curiosity has gotten the better of you by now or you can’t wait to experience Henrietta’s yourself, log onto their website to book. We were lucky to get a reservation at short notice, but should you not be as fortunate, trust me it is definitely worth the wait.

Our Rating: Five out of Five Forks (which we don’t give lightly) 

www.henriettachicken.com 75A Chapel Street, Windsor, Melbourne