Bursting on the Sydney food landscape like a bronco out of a gate back in 2012, HartsYard — from husband and wife team Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart — could be credited for sparking the Americana food craze that continues to scorch the city’s culinary scene with no signs of slowing.

A New York native, Llewellyn started serving up some modern twists on his childhood favourites like fried chicken with “low country gravy” and buttermilk biscuits and fried oysters with a house-made mayo and bread and butter pickle.

Not surprisingly, diners went mad for the spicy, smoky finger-lickin’ dishes and soon a line was snaking out the door nightly.

Four years on and getting a table at HartsYard remains one of the great challenges of Sydney’s dining scene, proving that while some fads come and go, quality wins every time.

Must eat: Fried chicken