Last Sunday night, Ash Muz and I found ourselves at Hunter & Barrel’s Parramatta location — tucked neatly inside the slick Meriton building, where dark timber meets open flame and the air hums with that primal scent of smoke and sear. We were greeted by host and all-around legend Joe Barcha, who runs the floor like an old-school general — equal parts charm, authority, and genuine warmth. From the jump, it felt less like dining out and more like stepping into someone’s home — if that home had a roaring grill and a steady flow of Pinot Noir.
Speaking of which — two bottles deep, both silky, perfectly chilled Pinot Noirs — the night rolled on like a well-paced film. Each course hit harder than the last. The calamari came first, and it was to die for — crisp, light, kissed by smoke, and so tender it barely needed a knife. Then came the meat — and when I say a smorgasbord, I mean a carnivore’s dreamscape. Cuts of beef, lamb, and chicken, all grilled over open flame in full view of the restaurant. The firelight bounced off the glass and steel of the Meriton tower outside, and for a moment, it felt like watching ritual theatre.
But then came the steak. The kind of steak that makes you pause mid-sentence. Perfectly charred, impossibly tender, and carrying that deep, wood-fired flavour that reminds you why we ever started cooking over flame in the first place. No exaggeration — the best steak I’ve ever had.
This isn’t just another fancy grill spot trying to cash in on the “rustic luxe” vibe. Under new Head Chef Thomas Brimble, Hunter & Barrel is something else entirely. Brimble — a Birmingham-born, Europe-trained chef who’s cooked everywhere from Michelin-starred kitchens to Hong Kong high-rises — brings two decades of international firepower to the brand. He cut his teeth in European country houses, private members clubs in London, and fine dining scenes across Asia before making the move Down Under.
Head Chef Thomas Brimble, Hunter & Barrel.
Now, he’s fusing that global pedigree with raw Australian authenticity. “We cook quite simply. We cook with love. We cook with passion,” Brimble told me. “We try not to overcomplicate things with too much technique.” And you feel that ethos in every bite. It’s food that doesn’t try to impress — it just is impressive.
Brimble’s commitment to flame-grilled cooking and top-tier Australian produce drives the new menu. He’s brought in two signature programs that define Hunter & Barrel’s culinary DNA. The first, The Legacy Program, showcases 100% grass-fed, full-blood Wagyu — no grain, no shortcuts, just green pasture perfection. The second, Secured by Fire, embodies what the brand calls “rugged authenticity” — open-fire cooking that honours the primal, honest roots of Australian cuisine.
“The produce here is fantastic,” Brimble said. “Australian farmers and the regulatory bodies have done a fantastic job. The animal husbandry here is world-class.” That’s not PR fluff — you can taste it in the meat, in the vegetables, in the balance of smoke and char.
At Hunter & Barrel Parramatta, the experience is immersive. You sit back, sip your wine, and watch chefs tend to fire like blacksmiths, feeding the flames that forge every plate. The space itself is both luxurious and grounded — polished concrete and warm wood tones meet the flicker of firelight.
By the time dessert rolled around (which, to be honest, was optional after that mountain of meat), Ash and I were both convinced: this wasn’t just dinner — it was a statement. A reminder that great food doesn’t need pretension. Just passion, produce, and flame.
With Brimble now at the helm, Hunter & Barrel is gearing up for expansion, with plans to open more locations across Australia. If what we experienced at Parramatta is any indication, the brand’s future is burning bright — literally and figuratively.
So here’s the verdict: the best meal I’ve ever eaten. From the world-class service to Joe Barcha’s flawless hosting, to the mind-blowing steak and that killer Pinot Noir — Hunter & Barrel isn’t just serving food. They’re serving an experience. One that hits every sense, every time the fire roars.
🔥 Hunter & Barrel Parramatta — Simple. Honest. Fire-fed. Unforgettable.