Harry’s Cafe De Wheels

Harry’s Cafe de Wheels

Woolloomooloo Dockyards, Sydney, NSW

Harry's Cafe de Wheels is an institution in ol' Sydney Town. It dates back over 70 years now, to the times of the great depression when the winds of war beginning to blow across the city once more.

A young Sydney-sider named Harry Edwards thought it would be a great idea to run a cafe from his caravan, and parked it at the end of Woolloomooloo bay, where the Naval Yards lay. A steady stream of soldiers, sailors, scumbags and socialites became loyal fans, and word spread quickly. Before long, the pie-cart had became part of Sydney folk-law.

We're standing before the cart, surveying the impressive photo catalogue of stars who have sampled Harry's wares. Elton John, Pamela Anderson, Hugh Jackman, Brooke Shields, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum, Marelene Dietrich, Kerry Packer, Sir Richard Branson, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Pat Rafter, Olivia Newton-John, Jerry Lewis, Billy Crystal, Sara O’Hare, Lachlan Murdoch. The list goes on. Even Colonel Sanders has his picture taken there, hoovering up a pie.

But none of them are as famous as Laurina Fleure, from episode 2 of The Bachelor, Australia. Bachelor Blake thought the HMF bachelorette might need a bit of "real world, down and dirty" fun, but he soon realised he had missed the mark badly. Fans of the show dissolved into hysterics as she uttered the immortal lines, “Everyone else gets Ferraris, super yachts and private jets, and I get a dirty street pie.” Train wreck television at it's finest.

That's Harry himself, in the bottom right picture.

Both Jeff and I take the "World Famous Tiger Pie" option - it's a complex recipe : take one pie, slop on a dollop of mashed potato, a spoon full of mushy peas, and top with gravy. Mmmmmmmm. I'm still a little disconcerted by having anything green on a pie though.

Got to say, it's a great spot to sit and enjoy the pie, though the endless stream of joggers makes it difficult to fully enjoy my pastry treat without a little guilt. Jeff nearly wears his after a close encounter with a cyclist.  

The scores? Definitely scores a 4.5 from both of us. Great pie, but made even better by the nostalgia. Well worth a quick visit if you have the time.