London Eats: Dickie Fitz

I am always wary when I hear a restaurant labelled as ‘Australian’.

As an Australian it causes both panic and curiosity. First of all, please let it not be somewhere serving overcooked ‘themed’ food (hello Outback Steakhouse, Walkabout…), second, how have they defined ‘Australian’ cuisine? Our national menu is so hard to quantify you’re never quite sure what to expect. Chicken parmigiana and a lamb chop? Steak and seafood? Stir fries, curries, dim sims, packets of Tim Tams, a meat pie?

Needless to say, curiosity was high when I heard Dickie Fitz was opening in Fitzrovia with an  Australian inspired menu. I scoured the internet in the weeks leading up to the opening, looking to see what would be on offer. What I found suitably satisfied my definition of Australian food, going for a contemporary take on what is a country with a vast mix of cuisines, solidifying the Australian feel with classics including barramundi, Asian fusion and a few very Aussie treats including Tim Tam martinis and lamingtons.

I headed in for lunch with my Aussie compatriot to taste test this new representative from our homeland. On the menu for us:

Looks can be deceiving! Truffle 'macancini'

A shared starter of Truffle ‘macancini’ (which seems to have since departed to only the Dinner menu) which were little nuggets of mac and cheese fried with a coating of black truffles. The truffle taste was spot on, not too overwhelming, but I could have upped the cheese taste (I love a cheesy mac ‘n’ cheese). They were just enough to get us going though, leaving lots of room for the dishes to follow.

Mine: The true Aussie classic- barramundi

Compatriot: Pork Belly & Fennel Kimchi

I opted for the Aussie classic, barramundi, for my main where Aussie No.2 went for the Pork Belly.  The fish dish was perfectly light yet delicious, with steamed fish,  grilled cabbage and perfect daikon served with a dashi broth. The compatriot's pork belly was perfectly cooked and just a little spicy, paired with fennel kimchi and a bacon broth. We both agreed these dishes caught the modern Aussie/Asian feel that’s so popular at home. For a bonus side we grabbed a side of the chicken salt chips, an Aussie classic, which were spot on with their flavour. Chicken salt is a thing everyone needs to get on board with.

We were of course tempted into trying out some of the Australian inspired cocktails on offer, getting a good giggle at the  Goon Bag Caipirinha, the U Beaut and the She’ll Be Apples though perhaps the Honey Badger should be called the Drop Bear? Our choices were swayed by the accompaniments- a Tim Tam Martini for the compatriot, and the Caramello Koala for me. Served with a Tim Tam and a Caramello Koala respectively (Australia’s best biscuit and a caramel filled koala shaped chocolate, for those not in the know) we couldn’t pass up the chance to indulge in a treat from home along with a lunch time drink.

Unsurprisingly they were both delicious although how much our opinion was influenced by our childlike glee I cannot say. Compatriot did as an any Aussie would and went with a Tim Tam Slam to get a start on her martini (vodka, espresso, Kahlua and honey syrup), while I greedily nibbled away at my koala while sipping my cocktail, a mix of Amaretto, Kahlua, Butterscotch Schnapps, Baileys, milk and cream. 

A true Aussie: Performing a Tim Tam Slam with her Tim Tam cocktail.

We bit the bullet and opted to finish off our visit with desserts to share. A chocolate fondant with salted peanut and burnt marshmallow and the banana bread sticky toffee with coconut and ginger. Both did not last long on the plates.

Dessert porn. Above, chocolate fondant. Below, banana bread sticky toffee pudding

At the end of our visit we were both happy to say this was an Australian inspired restaurant. The dining room itself carries pops of bright yellow that help to invoke the sunny motherland and the place on a whole is contemporary yet inviting. The price point is a little high for these two poor expats to make it a regular fixture but the breakfast menu looks delicious yet affordable and will likely be the focus of our next visit. Going forward it is comforting to know that I can get my hands on a Caramello Koala cocktail and some lamingtons when the craving hits, and that there’s a good restaurant to recommend when someone wants that fix of home.