Restaurants and Café in Historic Windsor
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Fitzroy Hotel Garden Bistro
Address: 125 George Street, The Mall
Phone: 02 4577 3396
Hours: Open daily from 11:30 am
The Fitzroy, a historic building on The Mall has recently undergone a renovation with the addition of a modern al fresco dining area, the Thunderbolt Bistro. And if you slip past the bar and lounge, you’ll find the garden bistro, a little plant-filled oasis on a sunny day. Great garden burgers with all the trimmings are served up on big platters. Melts, lobsters, steaks and pasta are just a few of the other items. The chef recommends the seafood platter – it’s a winner!
Weekends the Fitz serves up entertainment in a laid-back environment with popular recording artists such as benjalu, Josh Pyke and Killing Heidi & Eskimo Joe. In good weather, the overflow crowd spills onto The Mall and out to the back deck.
Gloria Jean’s Coffees
Address: Shop 3, 70-72 George Street, Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 9505
Hours: Open daily - 7:30 am
Gloria Jean’s Coffees are ubiquitous in New South Wales now, but this Windsor café amazes everyone with its impressive baked goods. By morning tea, the place is packed inside and on the outdoor terrace overlooking Thompson Square. On public holidays, the queue is out the door! The fresh goodies go quickly.
Luckily, the staff replenishes the cases with freshly made cakes and scones in time for your afternoon coffee. This Gloria Jean’s is out of the ordinary.
Hog’s Breath Café
Address: 244 Richmond Road, Clarendon
Phone: 02 4587 9300
Hours: Open daily, lunch and dinner
Email: hbrichmond@hogsbreath.com.au
This restaurant feels like fun – big, spacious, high ceilings, lots of windows, and a wrap-around veranda. You can choose either a table or booth; the staff will accommodate your needs if your party is greater than six.
As for the menu, it is varied and it is tasty. Servings are hearty and steaks – the specialty of the house— are served up by friendly wait staff. At lunch the shredded pork wrap, served with a great sauce and heaps of succulent tender meat has captured the best of Mexican food in all of NSW. Big claim, but accurate!
Chef Tony and multi-talented Stephen – an escapee from the high tech world – recently purchased this franchise and are still making changes. They love their work, they are good to their staff and customers come back again and again. It’s a perfect receipe for a great dining experience.
Macquarie’s Arms Hotel Bistro
Address: 99 George Street & Thompson Square
Phone: 02 4577 2206
Hours: Daily 10am-late
The Macquarie, built in 1815, lays claim to be the oldest pub in Australia, though it has had a few years off the scene. The hotel has recently undergone a “face lift” and with its rich dark polished woods and new leather furnishings has the feel of a private club where friends have met for almost two centuries.
At the entry off Thompson Square, the verandah’s worn stone and cedar doors are beautiful relics of Australian history. Over a slow lunch on a quiet weekday afternoon, you’ll feel this is the place where business, politics, and perhaps a little skullduggery, has occurred repeatedly. You’re becoming a part of the Macquarie’s history – past and present.
Now about the food: the bistro continues to serve its loyal patrons and families a menu of great Australian choices – for brunch, lunch or a late evening dinner. It is hearty Australian pub food: burgers, melts, big sandwiches and, of course, beer. For vegetarians, try the veggie burger served with terrific chips.
It’s not uncommon to find the terrace or beer garden crowded on any given day, in any season. Entertainment sparks up the level of frivolity on Friday and Saturdays, and on Sundays, the hotel sponsors musicians in the Square.
Ridgey Didge Pies & Ice Cream
Address: 66 George Street ( Thompson Square )
Phone: 02 4598 0840
Hours: Daily 10.30am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
People are talking, in fact, talking wildly about the Ridgey Didge Pie Shop at the top of George Street. Word has gotten out beyond Windsor and you’ll frequently find a queue for these small savoury delicacies, freshly bak ed each morning. Another bonus: no preservatives are added. If you want to take some home, frozen pies are available. For those of us who think using the microwave is cooking, Ridgey Didge has a set of instructions for best baking results. Among pie fans, Ridgey Didge is considered the best.
Sebel’s Harvest Restaurant
Address: 61 Richmond Road, Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 4222
Hours: Daily 6 pm–late
Located in the Sebel Resort on Richmond Road, Harvest Restaurant offers up market Australian cuisine (à la carte menu). Grilled beef and lamb selections are favourites. From their extensive wine list, you can choose a local Hawkesbury wine. Don’t overlook the special Friday Night Fish Market; it’s a feast that calls for a return trip.
Whispers – Crowne Plaza Norwest
Address: 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills
Phone: 02 9634 9634
Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Weekend Brunch
From the first glance, Whispers is a sophisticated setting for an evening out. The entire room gleams – mellow sandstone, black fittings and soft lights above glimmering like a hundred lit candles. Whispers is the perfect ‘kiss and make up’ spot for the, “I’m sorry….” situation you inadvertently stepped into earlier in the week.
Offering either set or a la carte choices and you’ll find such delectables as spiced tiger prawn cutlets with chilli and garlic served on chargrilled ciabatta. From the a la carte menu, try the salmon gravalax with celeriac remoulade and a great gaspacho dressing (the secret is in the avocado cream). Dinners are hearty – you won’t leave hungry!
The weekend brunch has become a favourite – reservations would be wise.
Windsor Seafoods
Address: 74 George Street (Thompson Square), Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 2155
Hours: Open daily - 11 am–8.30 pm
Windsor Seafoods, overlooking Thompson Square, is a happenin’ scene, day or night. The café terrace fills with music, gongs (see below), laughter — even Snappa, a blue and gold Macaw, who imitates his noisy owner — and fresh, fresh seafood coming out of the kitchen. This makes for good food and good fun.
Order the seafood platter (on the tray) and Barry and staff will serve up an award-winning and fantastically fresh lunch or dinner. Salads are prepared from the freshest local produce, seven days a week. The kitchen rarely rests, and if Barry is on duty, Snappa the Macaw is also.
A hint for the novice: After you place your order, listen for the kitchen gong. Your lunch is ready and waiting. Ours rang many times before we realised it was our lunch! Chef Barry is boisterous and spirited; he loves his customers and he loves his seafood. Check out the storefront window loaded with seafood.
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Leura Blue Mountains
Hawkesbury Tourism
Hawkesbury 4H Festival
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