Tharen's Restaurant & Bar

I was at Tharens recently for Smily's hens night. What can I say... It was one unique dining experience! It's not quite the restaurant you would go to for an intimate dinner for two, but it hits the mark for birthdays, hens night and maybe even work functions.

Waitstaff alternates between characters such as Snow White, Alice from Wonderland, Dorothy and Queens of Hearts and diners are encouraged to join in the dress up with props such as wigs, hats and masks all supplied.

Tharen's is a fantasy party world tucked within the heart of Sydney's Kings Cross.

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - dress up

While the decor is gorgeous and really sets the scene for photos, the food was more or less average.

The Tharen's Experience package is priced at $65 per person and includes a choice from 6 entrees (Taste Me menu) and 6 mains (Eat me menu); there's bread, garden salad and vegetables as side dishes and even a bombe alaska for dessert.

I started with the tea smoked duck with shiitake mushroom and foie gras ravioli which was paired with spinach and a delicious caramelised blood orange reduction.

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - Taste Me entree of tea smoked duck with shiitake mushroom and foie gras ravioli, spinach and caramelised blood orange reduction

Main course options included pumpkin and ricotta cannelloni, roast veal, South Australian black mussels in a tomato bouillabaisse broth and salmon roulade on a vongole risotto. I had the hearty but not very exciting slow roast pork lasagne served with carrots, asparagus and sweet apple jus. I suspect the lasagne sheets were dumpling wrappers.

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - Eat Me main course of slow roast pork lasagne with carrots, asparagus and sweet apple jus

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - side dish of vegies and potatoes

The dishes were cleared away by a Prince Charming (if only that happened in reality!) and flaming bombe alaskas are brought out.

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - cake and entertainment

All the camera flashes go off and the novelty cake is then whisked back into the kitchen and served moments later with a drizzle of choc syrup. The bombe alaska turns out just to be plain strawberry and vanilla icecream encased in a spongey cake and lathered with creamy meringue.

Tharen's Restaurant and Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney - bombe alaska

And soon enough, the carpeted dining room becomes a makeshift dance floor. All the hens parties join the lovely drag queen Prada Clutch in belting out a couple of Abba tracks and the rest of the night is history...

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Tharen's Restaurant & Bar
13-15 Kellet Way, Kings Cross NSW
Phone: (02) 9326 9510
Web: www.tharens.com.au

5 Comments

Laura | March 23, 2011 6:17 PM | Reply

shame about the food but i'm glad it was a great night for the ladies (hens)

joey@FoodiePop | March 24, 2011 5:15 AM | Reply

What a fun place! I'm not surprised the food is average but I am surprised they have tea-smoked duck as a dish; sounds really ambitious for an entertainment-type eatery.

Tina@foodboozeshoes | March 24, 2011 11:35 AM | Reply

Not really the kind of food I'd expect from somewhere like this... you'd think they'd go more safe...

Susan | March 24, 2011 12:34 PM | Reply

I came here years ago for a friend's birthday and it was so much fun. I have about 200 photos of us all in different hats. Can't really remember what I ate though...