The latest venture from Nour owners Ibby Moubadder and Jorge Farah launched on Wednesday 1 July in Surry Hills, Sydney.
The Middle Eastern-style charcoal chicken joint opened in the space previously occupied Pizza E Birra and sits next to older sibling Nour.
With 65 seats, the casual eatery, bar and takeaway venue offers a menu built around whole or half charcoal chicken, accompanied by traditional side dishes such as house-made hummus, tabbouleh and fattoush salads. There’s also a range of not-so-traditional dishes such as chicken tawook spring rolls; lamb kibbeh san choy bow; beef brisket shawarma tacos; and burnt baba ganoush with miso, pomegranate and herbs. Desserts include Middle Eastern classics with a twist. Think a baklava sundae and chocolate mousse with honeycomb and rose pistachios.
“I really wanted to elevate the beloved charcoal chicken that brings such a nostalgic comfort,” says 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. When I moved to Australia, I would drive out to the suburbs each weekend looking for that same family feast so it’s a dream to bring the concept, with a modern twist, to Surry Hills.”
An approachable wine list is on offer from the full-service bar, as are Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails, such as the spicy passionfruit margarita, the hibiscus sour and the house negroni.
A condensed grab and go menu is available from a separate takeaway window.
DS17 is behind the design. Interiors reflect the brand’s playful energy, with a neon ‘Henrietta’ welcoming diners to the space, which features clean lines and modern fittings. A combination of concrete and terrazzo are used across the bar and dining room, with sun-soaked outdoor seating on Crown Street.
Henrietta is open form 11:30am to late Monday–Sunday for walk-ins only.
