HUMBUG — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

Wine by the glass: Rosé san Lorenzo "de vera" rosato, montepulciano sangiovassi 2022 -marche Italy -glass -vegan

Humbug has an amazing wine list which stars an exclusively all sustainable wine list curated precisely by the manager Stephanie

This was recommended as an option that would pair across my intended dishes And I agreed to the likelihood.

Entré: I was recommended a half serve of each other the two vegan starters which I really appreciated so as to try both.

1x Zucchini flower, stuffed smoked almond, red pepper romesco, mint and leaves

Smokey, slightly spicy yet softened by the almond stuffing

Half serve 2x mushroom dumplings with a XO sauce.

These were smokey and meaty, yet delicate and delicious complemented perfectly by the subtle Xo sauce that worked well with the mushrooms and sip of rose.

Both half entre/ appetizers were vegan.

My wine complemented the creamy nature of the almond stuffing, but the acidity of the wine clashed with the red pepper romesco slightly. The mid palate texture softened and soothed this though so beyond the initial taste I enjoyed the pairing.

Main: The vegan Pistachio pesto Malfadine, Rappa, green olives, lemon.

Fun and perfectly aldente. These strands always make me feel like I am eating something like octopus tentacles as the shape of the malfadine is so fun, and no octopus' were harmed 😅

The aldente texture of the pasta, enhanced by flecks of hard pistachios atop the pistachio pesto worked seamlessly.

The green olives and raisins added an interesting flavor to make the bites more complex.

Though this pasta was not an effective pair with the sangiovasi / montepulciano rose,

But I expected this having only ordered 1 glass.

Coconut panna cottage, mandarin granito.

This was the perfect digestive.

The mandarin granito tasted closer to grapefruit, sour acidic and a lovely refreshing finish to the meal.

Paired wonderfully by my main server Ebony with a Scarborough hunter valley late harvest semillon.

What a fantastic dessert. -vegan

The manager Stephanie was a charismatic and passionate young lady who spoke with such passion about her ideas and structure of her menu and wine list.

Wow, Humbug, I understand the rave, you so seamlessly wove my experience into a memorable culinary tale with precision and care. This is a wonderful restaurant for a sole dinner. Aswell as couples, and groups small and large. Thankyou🙏

I was checked on attentively and the servers seemed to care of...

Humbug has an enjoyable simplicity without replicating stuff you can easily cook at home. You’ll find this modern Italian pasta joint on Newcastle’s main drag. The menu is split between snacks and shareable pastas; and you’ll want to order some of them both.

From the snacks, the OAD ($7/each) should be a given. This former menu favourite sees an Ortiz anchovy draped over piped Parmesan custard on a danish pastry. It was resurrected for their third birthday celebrations, and goes well with the Domaine Naturaliste Artus Chardonnay ($120) from their small producer focused wine list.

Gob-stopping wagyu short rib potato bun sliders ($51/3) dragged through gravy are a wicked way to make sure nobody is gunna leave hungry. Charcoal Murray cod ($57/3) is a fancy way to eat fish’n’chips: a wedge of crisp skinned fish, a decadent mini-hash brown and some iceberg lettuce in yoghurt to make you feel like it’s a ‘healthy’ option.

Bonito remained the star in the market fish tataki ($30) set off by celery pickle, citrus and seaweed. It arrived with the house-made sourdough focaccia ($5/head), which was only sad because it was so good we ate it all before the campanelle ($36) arrived. The ruffled cones of pasta teamed with king prawns and chilli fennel crunch had a sauce that warranted mopping. Ramen butter and barely-set seared scallop slices stuck so well to the bucatini ($40) no bread was necessary there, just some springy-fresh Newcastle-grown greens ($12) in eschallot verjus...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner at Humbug

We had the absolute pleasure of celebrating my wife’s birthday at Humbug in Newcastle — and from the moment we walked in, it was clear we were in for something truly special.

The team made my wife feel celebrated and seen right from the start. Warm smiles, thoughtful gestures, and a genuine sense of hospitality set the tone for the evening — and it only got better from there.

The food? Outstanding. Every dish was a beautiful balance of creativity, flavour, and freshness. We were blown away by the bold yet refined flavours — you could taste the passion in every bite. It’s rare to find a menu where each dish feels like a highlight, but Humbug delivered on every single course.

The service was exceptional. Friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They struck the perfect balance between professional and personal — making the evening feel like both a special occasion and a relaxed night out.

Humbug didn’t just give us a great meal — they gave us a memory. Thank you for making my wife’s birthday so memorable. We’ll be talking about this night for a long time, and we’ll absolutely be back.

If you’re looking for somewhere in Newcastle that nails both food and experience —...