Newmarket Hotel

When I first saw the Newmarket Hotel menu online, my mouth started to salivate.  I told Spuey 'Let's hit this place' and he obliged.  The parentals decided they also wanted a bit of food action and came along for the ride too.

The restaurant is a slick bit of space and in the Summer, the outdoor bar area would be an excellent place to sit and enjoy a jug or two of sangria.  But we were here for the food and once seated within the Mad Men-esque decor, our hipster waiter arrived to take our order.  It was suggested that we begin with a few shared starters (as I intended) and then go on to a few larger dishes to share.

Starters:

(L-R)  Guacamole with native lime salsa fresca, taro, jicama & tortilla chips $12, Soft tacos with prawns, fragrant herbs and jicama slaw $16, Crispy chicken wing tacos, cucumber slaw and spicy peanut mole $14, Pork carnitas with soft tacos, baby gem, spicy pineapple salsa and hot adobe sauce $16.  

Ok so not all of the pictures are there but I will say this.  We ordered two rounds of three different taco plates.  Each plate of 'tacos' had two tacos on it.  That's right - TWO tacos on six plates - 12 tacos to be shared between four people.  That equates to... hmmmm, each individual taco costing $7-8.  You've got to be kidding me.  When they brought the plate out, I had been expecting three, maybe four tacos on a plate given that it was priced at $14-16.  But only two?  C'mon people!  That being said, they were tasty but not $7-8 worth of tasty and especially when each taco can be consumed in one and a half bites.  

Larger dishes to share (they weren't actually that large at all): 

(L-R) Wood roasted octopus salad with chorizo, pumpkin, lime & olives $18, Today’s fish seasonally garnished - can't recall what fish it was $30-something, Spring quinoa, lemon & broad beans $9

Tasty?  Yes.  Happy?  No.  All up, lunch was about $47 a head.  For that amount of money, one should feel full from lunch.  However, what stopped me from 'becoming full by ordering more' was knowing that it would end up be about $60+ a head in order to achieve so.  Who pays $60+ a head for a 'casual' lunch which is not in a fine dining restaurant?  That's dinner prices!  

The parentals weren't complaining but I more or less felt that this was an extortion racket.  I'm not the only one who thinks so, just read a few of the more negative reviews.  I put a stop to Newmarket hustling us - no more food to be ordered!  Our stomachs were settled but for $47 a head for lunch, I expect to be overstuffed.  Service was pleasant but hipster-haters could easily be offended by the mere wannabe vibe of the whole joint.

So yeah, go if want, but I suggest going at dinner time when you may feel a bit more inclined to spend more. As we left the restaurant, Spu and I agreed 'Yeah, let's go get a pork roll.'