Beckett’s: a hidden dining gem in Glebe
Recently the Inner West Mums team was offered the opportunity to dine at Beckett’s located on Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Despite being very familiar with this area of the inner west, this restaurant seems to have been kept a secret by those lucky enough to have eaten there, something I assume they are doing to ensure they can always get a table!
Beckett’s is co-owned and operated by chef Jeff Schroeter, who has three decades of experience in the restaurant industry, having worked previously at Bistro Moncur and Bayswater Brasserie.
The entrance to the restaurant is unassumingly sleek and takes you into an underground dining area, reminiscent of an exclusive bistro in any European capital city. The natural stone walls and heavy curtains only add to this ambiance.
Once seated we took advantage of the extensive cocktail list, which contained all the classics and some interesting twists, opting for a Chef Martini. These were beautifully prepared and helped us take our time deciding which of the delicious sounding dishes we should order.
The menu is inspired by French and other European cuisines and the amazing ingredients on offer in all the starters made it very difficult to decide. In the end we opted for the Duck Liver Parfait and Appellation Rock Oysters, both of which were delicious.
Jeff explained to us where he sources his ingredients and was keen to show us the high quality he insists upon before putting an item on the menu. We were lucky enough to try a new dish he is looking to include, a Bresaola served with shaved Parmesan and olive oil, which melted in the mouth and was my favourite dish of the evening. We were also offered tasters of the Spinach and Porcini Arancini, the Shaved Iberico Ham, the Roasted Sea Scallops and one of his classic dishes, Escargots en Cocotte. Jeff has decided to move away from the traditional technique of cooking the snails in their shells, instead he bakes them in a tomato and spinach Provençal sauce, topped with a puff pastry lid. The result was spectacular in both presentation and taste.
For main course we chose the Black Opal Wagyu Rump served with pommes dauphinoise and sauteed mushrooms, and the Coral Trout Fillet served with vegetable provencal and a sauce vierge. Again, we could not fault the presentation or taste of either dish. Both were prepared and cooked to perfection.
At this point we both decided it was time to take another look at the drinks menu, the Old Fashioned and a Green Ant gin being too enticing to say no to.
Though we really didn’t need a dessert, as we had already eaten so much amazing food, of course we had a look at the menu and couldn’t resist the Jaffa Crème Brulé and the Dark Chocolate Torte. The Brulé disappeared before I had a chance to ask if I could try a taste and the chocolate torte didn’t last much longer.
Throughout the year Beckett’s also offer exclusive dining events, their next one on December 15. This one is titled “A Festive Feast” and is part of their Clubhouse series of events. The event will be co-hosted by award-winning U Goose farmers Lucy and Herb Mackenzie, with actors Sandie Eldridge, Patrick Dickson and Maeliosa Stafford performing a 25-minute ‘collage’ of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Jeff will be putting together a 4-course festive feast with an 18th Century dining twist, heroing goose. Tickets are available through their website
Beckett’s offered us everything we would have expected of a fine dining restaurant in the city but is so much more conveniently located in the inner west. The location is a real draw when considering your next night out due to the sheer ease of being able to get there so quickly and easily. The 433 and 431 bus routes stop directly outside, and the light rail is located within a few minutes’ walk. There is also ample free parking available in nearby streets.
With a private dining room downstairs for functions, Beckett’s caters for every group size and occasion from the romantic evening with a significant other to a girls’ night out or larger get togethers.
But don’t take our word for it, go and find out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Beckett’s, 134A Glebe Point Road, Glebe, open Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm for cocktails, wine and dinner, beckettsbardining.com.au
Inner West Mums dined as guests of Beckett’s.
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