Mr Watkin’s, a cafe by day and a restaurant/bar by night, was opened on Penrith’s High St by chefs Rod Parbery, a Penrith local, and Castle Hill’s Wayne Jenkins in December.

The cafe serves coffee, breakfast and lunch while a long corridor behind a turquoise door leads to the restaurant and bar at the back.

“We liked the whole idea of the speak-easy bar where the bar was slightly hidden,” Jenkins said.

The pair wanted to create a neighbourhood bar, and to that end there is trivia on Thursdays, live music on Fridays and usually a few impromptu singalongs on Fridays and Saturdays led by a brave soul who finds the courage to play on the 19th century piano in the middle of the dining room.

Everyone knows each other at Mr Watkin’s, but if you don’t you soon will by the end of the night.

The 80-seat restaurant and bar has been decorated in the style of the library of 17th century explorer and the first European to discover the Nepean River Captain Watkin Tench, who the venue was also named after.

The decor features exposed brick, wood and concrete filled with a mix “antinquey” objects as Jenkins calls them — a collection of tortoise shells here, a bit of taxidermy there, and shelves and shelves of books.

With both chefs’ global experience, the menu is what Jenkins describes as “an eclectic mix of everywhere”, from kransky hotdogs served with kimchi mayo to beef short ribs served with homemade thick onion rings and chimichurri, deliciously crispy polenta nuggets with a smoky chipotle mayo and a whole chook with lemon and thyme.

There are bar snacks, share plates, sides and a list of hot dogs, all suited to grazing and sharing all night long.

For the undecided, a banquet for $49 per person allows diners to try a mix of everything.

“It’s like having a family dinner at your mum’s place,” Jenkins said.

The wine list, curated by well-known Sydney sommelier and their friend Dennis Roman, joins an extensive range of beers as well as a good selection of spirits.

So for your next night out go where the locals go — straight to Mr Watkin’s.