A 65-seat Middle Eastern style chicken shop has now opened in Surry Hills, a sister venue of neighbouring Nour on the inner city suburb’s iconic Crown Street. Going by the name of Hanrietta, the dine-in and takeaway concept centres around free range charcoal chicken accompanied by numerous sides like breads, dips, pickles and salads.
Owned and operated by Ibby Moubadder and Jorge Farah, Hanrietta is something new and refreshing on the famous strip, taking over the space once occupied by Pizza E Birra with interiors by Sydney creative agency DS17 built with neon signs, clean lines and modern fittings. A full-service bar will tout Middle Eastern inspired cocktails and an approachable wine list, a separate takeaway window will take of those who need to grab-and-go from a condensed menu.
“I really wanted to elevate the beloved charcoal chicken that brings such a nostalgic comfort,” explained Moubadder. “I grew up in Lebanon and family feasting was such a large part of my culture. We’d have the hero chicken, cooked over hot charcoal and accompanied with all the share plates – breads, dips, pickles and salads.”
Everything is focused on the charcoal chook here. From the wine to the sides, they all seem to be curated to perfectly complement and enhance the flavours of the hero dish, which can be ordered as either a whole for $28 or a half for $15. Side dishes include housemade hummus, tabbouleh, and fattoush salads, as well as chicken tawook spring rolls, lamb kibbeh san choy bow, beef brisket shawrma tacos, and burnt baba ganoush with miso, pomegranate and herbs.
You’ll want to stick around for the dessert too. They’ve got a baklava sundae on the menu, as well as chocolate mousse with honeycomb and rose pistachios.
Henrietta is open 11:30am – until late Monday – Sunday for walk-ins only.
Shop 1, 500 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010 | Instagram | Facebook.
