Signal Box Newcastle — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

Wow! Our recent lunch outing at Signal Box was an exquisite culinary journey that left us both satisfied and eager to return. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, the staff were super friendly, setting the perfect backdrop for what turned out to be an extraordinary meal.

We kicked things off with the Hokkaido half shell scallops, beautifully adorned with Café de Paris, fresh tomato, and wakame. These scallops were nothing short of perfection perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor. Next came the oysters Kilpatrick, where the combination of smoky, salty goodness elevated their natural brininess. Each oyster was a delightful treat that left us yearning for more.

For our main course, we were fortunate to try the Josper grilled pork neck, which was truly remarkable. The dish came alive with the addition of XO sauce, peanut, and pork crackle crumb, complemented perfectly by the braised fennel and a drizzle of fragrant green onion oil. Every bite was a delightful medley of textures and rich flavors.

We also savored the 36-hour Josper roasted short rib, served alongside Paris mash, kipfler chips, gremolata, broccolini, and a luscious veal jus. This dish deserves a standing ovation! The short rib was so tender that it practically melted in our mouths, with deep, savory flavors that were offset beautifully by the fresh notes of gremolata.

Not to be outdone, the slow-roasted lamb shoulder casarecce and fried Thai beef salad were a perfect balance of richness and brightness, showcasing just how versatile the menu is. The lamb was succulent and hearty, while the salad had just the right kick to keep things exciting.

Then it was time for dessert, and oh, what a sweet finale we had! The roasted apple and pear crumble, topped with macadamia crumble and served warm with custard, was a heartwarming way to conclude the meal. Each spoonful was cozy and comforting. The crème brûlée, with its crispy caramel chip and quince jam, was a delightful twist on a classic, while the warm chocolate brownie drizzled with chocolate sauce and paired with vanilla bean ice cream was simply indulgent. Last but not least, the Biscoff gaytime, featuring a custard cream, dulce de leche, biscoff biscuit, and milk chocolate ganache, was a divine treat that had our taste buds dancing.

Overall, our experience at Signal Box was exceptional. The food was a work of art, reflecting a creative and skilled kitchen. The service was attentive yet relaxed, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. If you’re looking for an unforgettable lunch or dinner, I can’t recommend Signal box highly enough. We are already counting down the days until...

Location is a big part of the lure at Signal Box Newcastle. The former 1936 signal box for Newcastle railway station has been beautifully converted into a light-drenched restaurant. The menu offers up a few interesting breakfast choices like sambal chilli scrambled eggs, and a blue swimmer crab omelette topped with plenty of freshly picked crustacean. Beverages certainly looked the part with chocolate shavings adorning my cappuccino but their selected roast was too weakly flavoured in this beverage, and too strongly flavoured to be enjoyable in a second latte (ordered strong).

28/11/2021:

Building upon a successful breakfast during my last visit to Newcastle, I recently returned to the Signal Box Newcastle to check out their lunch menu. Perfectly cooked fried Balmain bugs ($29) slathered in Singapore chilli sauce made me glad I chose to revisit. The still-translucent bug meat teased out of the shell in one succulent piece.

Josper grilled sourdough ($15) was another pleasant surprise. It’s teamed with beer, honeycomb and ricotta that eats much more coherently than it sounds, so much so we’d finished it before the grilled Hervey Bay scallops arrived ($24/6). This was a pity because their roasted tomato, wakame and Café de Paris butter topping warranted mopping up.

Dubbed tuna sashimi ($23) on the menu, the resulting dish is actually tuna tartare, presenting diced raw fish bound together with sesame dressing and smoked eel cream under a giant prawn cracker. Scooped up and alternated with sips of the 2018 Albert Bichot Chablis ($15/glass) it’s a lovely, summery dish. Sydney rock oysters ($24/6) are another a great place to begin your adventure in this surprising and quirky Newcastle dining spot that’s only a block or so...

Came here for breakfast with my partner and the food was OK. What concern us the most was the service we had. As soon as we sat, it's clear to us we have a second degree treatment. We had to ask for everything, like water, and again spoon after my partner's muesli came (did they really expect people to eat muesli here? Or maybe the knife?), and it became more apparent to us, that because we're not white enough we only deserve the barest minimum of polite service. For all the couple or family that came after us and they happened to be white, your staff managed to be friendlier, talked to them for a while before taking the order, made sure they have a bottle of water with enough glasses as they sat down, chat away before taking the order. I'm not jealous by any mean. But given your shop was right at the centre of touristy spot where people from various backgrounds might pop in and give you business, I don't think that kind of subconscious condescending manner is acceptable. We didn't come there with exception or special discounts. We came there, we bought food at the same price as other people, but we got second degree service. I can only be glad that my friends who planned to visit us didn't end up making the trip, otherwise we would have brought them here and what an appalling experience it might have been for them. Just a word of advice, not all Australian are white. In case your staff haven't realised, Australia is a multicultural country. And everyone deserve...