Home is where HUMBUG is
Steph Wells and Mike Portley’s Newcastle-based restaurant HUMBUG is living proof they know what they’re doing when it comes to good food, good wine and good times.
Newcastle local Steph Wells and partner Mike Portley are no strangers to the hospitality industry. Before opening HUMBUG back in 2022 (a buzzing Hunter Street venue best known for its thoughtful offering of pasta and wine), Mike was honing his craft at Bodega and Porteno in Sydney. After hitting Newie’s fine shores, he joined The Edwards as head chef, with a menu of mouth-watering bar food centered around open fire cooking.
As for Steph, who runs HUMBUG’S front of house, she marks living in Adelaide a few years ago as a pivotal moment in her career. While embarking on a two-week WOOFING stint at Smallfry in Barossa Valley in 2017, a small biodynamic vineyard and winery, she caught the wine bug. She then went on to work at Adelaide’s Africola, where she was exposed to some incredible winemakers and sommeliers.
So inspired by her time in Adelaide, Steph knew she wanted to pursue a professional career in hospitality with a focus on wine. Since returning to Newcastle, she worked at Scotties, as well as hatted restaurant, The Flotilla.
That’s some mad hospo skills right there.
Enter HUMBUG – an amalgamation of the couple’s love for the hospitality industry boasting a bold and borderless menu that celebrates fresh, local produce at every opportunity.
Highlights on the menu include a Danish pastry, piped with parmesan custard, and topped with a single Ortiz anchovy. It’s moorish, creamy, and salty, the perfect two-bite morsel. Tender pork and porcini dumplings topped with a lush serving of grated black truffle provide an explosive savoury burst of flavour and texture. Their decadent campanelle and king prawn pasta is served with a luscious coating of buttery bisque sauce and topped with a pork and fennel crunch and Thai basil. The result is an aromatic melting pot of flavours that is both decadent and lifted.
“Our menu changes frequently,” says Mike. “But the framework behind the menu is essentially housemade pastas, fun snacks and a revolving list of share dishes. It must be delicious, thoughtful, and as seasonally appropriate as possible.”
“HUMBUG is how we like to eat, we love a snack, and we love bold flavours, but ultimately it is satisfying and comfort food,” adds Steph. “We also want to be an accessible restaurant for our local community. We want to be the first place in people’s minds when they’re thinking where they should go for dinner, whether it be a casual walk-in at the bar for some snacks and wine or a planned lavish date night.”
The producers
Over the past few years, Mike’s forged great working relationships with several local producers. Some of his regular suppliers include Hungerford Meat Co, Jesmond Fruit Barn, Newcastle Greens, Shane’s Seafood, Binnie Beef and Stella Maris Oysters. He loves to be guided by their expertise and often designs HUMBUG’s menu around exceptional produce they recommend.
“Inevitably, if you work with people who are passionate about what they do, you yield better results.” says Mike.
A great example of this is his gooseberry and stracciatella dish.
“Jesmond Fruit Barn brought in some gooseberries for me to taste and I had to put them on the menu that week. They are delicious and not many guests would have been exposed to them, so it’s exciting to give our guests opportunities to try new produce.”
The wine
As for the wine, that’s where Steph steps in. Curated to feature exciting producers from around the globe, she ensures there’s a wine for everyone as her list spans traditional producers alongside progressive and experimental winemakers. Her focus is on small producers, usually family owned and operated with thoughtful viticultural practices in place.
“My style of wine service is very casual and unpretentious – I just want people to come in with an open mind, ask questions and try anything that piques their interest. Wine is fascinating and is best drunk and enjoyed with loved ones. I want guests to be excited and intrigued by the wines, but ultimately, I want them to love and enjoy the whole experience.”
The space
So, the food’s divine, the wine sublime – but the stellar guest experience doesn’t end there. Steph also designed HUMBUG’s interior space, with functionality and guest experience front of mind.
In her previous career, Steph was an event stylist in Sydney, a skillset that came in handy when dreaming up this space. She also has ADHD, so it was important for her to have control over the space and create an environment that worked specifically for her neurodiverse needs.
“I’ve worked in restaurants where they were beautifully designed but didn’t have efficient workflow. Small details like walking behind the bar constantly to get wine top-ups or standing on a crate to reach higher shelves in the middle of a busy service are obstacles,” says Steph.
“Not only is this inconvenient for workflow, but having ADHD, there are simply more opportunities to get distracted and forget the task at hand altogether. Our space fortunately allowed me to dictate the flow as well as maximise efficiency, for the benefit of me and my staff.
The result is an inviting and homely space with a calming neutral colour palette, layered timber finishes, living plants and colourful pops of art from local artists.
“It’s perfect for my racing brain, and especially needed as an antidote in the middle of a busy service,” adds Steph. “I need as much calm as I can get and this space really epitomises all the things that bring me comfort and helps channel my focus. I have had some wonderful feedback from our guests too, so I’m not the only one who benefits from the space.”
It’s this beautiful, calm space, combined with Steph and Mike’s expertise, attention to detail and passion for what they do that makes HUMBUG a must-visit venue for those seeking a taste of true hospitality in the heart of Newcastle. Believe us, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Discover HUMBUG for yourself…
87-89 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Wednesday to Thursday: 5.30pm – 9.00pm
Friday to Saturday: 12.00pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – late.
humbugnewcastle.com.au
@humbugnewcastle
Photography Daina Marie Photography
