Bianca Wendt and Ric Divola have stepped away from Bar Que Sera in Sawtell, but you can still catch their cooking at Morty’s Joint next door. Morty, their blue cattle dog, can usually be found sunbathing out the front or wandering table to table collecting pats (and fries).

Whole free-range birds are broken down to make the Nashville-style MFC (Morty’s Fried Chicken), which is twice-fried, doused in duck fat chilli oil and served as a two-piece feed or loaded onto a burger with yuzu mayo and slaw. Other cuts become popcorn chicken, soy and sesame wings, panko-crusted schnitzels and chicken gravy. This is a proper locals’ hangout, complete with drink specials, drag bingo, weekly trivia and live music.

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