For the ultimate in steak, ribs and lobster, Teddy Larkins at Harbord Diggers has everything you could possibly want.
Restaurant reviews are always fun, scouring the menu before you go, pretty much deciding on what to eat… and then you get there and there’s a spanner in the works on the specials board.
In this case, it was lobster mash. Fresh, succulent, buttery lobster, tingling with lemon and creamed with mashed potato.
But I digress…
Since its $160 million redevelopment, the Harbord Diggers is a hotbed of activity, live music and fine food. It was our first foray into the family-run Teddy Larkins, and restaurant manager Jess Thomas was there to greet us.
This 22-year-old Freshwater local is going places. Her enthusiasm, zeal, customer service, knowledge of every dish on the menu and each ingredient is impressive.
For entrees, we opted for baked Hervey Bay scallops with prosciutto, creme fraiche, pecorino and eight-hour braised beef cheek with parsnip puree.
The chorizo meatballs with roasted garlic and tomato sauce were tempting, but we decided to leave room for mains. The clam linguine – also known as vongole – tossed in garlic, chilli, parsley and white wine, drizzled with lemon oil was a solid choice, while the boyfriend went for the 450 day grain-fed black opal Wagyu rump cooked medium rare – a proper melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Side dishes were sauteed broccolini with shaved ricotta lemon and sumac dressing, shoestring fries and lobster mash, served in a half lobster shell.
For dessert, we chose warm date cake with butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice-cream, and chocolate fondant with Frangelico butterscotch, vanilla ice-cream and candied hazelnuts, washed down with a 2021 Barossa Valley Hewitson Belle Ville Rose.
Teddy Larkins has a vast menu, with lots of gluten-free and dairy-free options, and huge sharing boards. Wednesdays are $20 steak nights, from 5pm. Reservations are always recommended at this popular eatery.
Teddy Larkins Seafood & Steakhouse Harbord Diggers 80 Evans Street, Freshwater Ph: 8592 4276 I teddylarkins.com.au
By Niki Waldegrave
