Category: Manly

Home of the famous Manly beach, destination for people on the north of the bridge.

Bluewater Cafe Manly – Breakfast

Bluewater Cafe Manly – Breakfast Review:

This week we are reviewing a restaurant by the Manly beach, Bluewater Cafe. We went to Manly beach quite early in the morning. It was so early that they were still serving the breakfast menu. When I browsed their website for research purpose later, I found out that their breakfast menu was probably the most exciting one. Their dinner menu, on the contrary, only consists of pizza, pasta and burger.

Bluewater is part of a group called, Platinum Restaurant Group. They are specialising in restaurants near the water in Sydney and Queensland.

Ocean Breakfast – $22.9 – Smoked salmon, poached eggs, hash browns and avocado. Topped with tomato salsa and balsamic glaze served with sourdough toast.

Salmon, poached eggs, hash browns and avocados are all my favourite dishes. So, picking this one was a no-brainer. They sprayed the balsamic glaze quite liberally, but I think we could use a bit more of the salsa. Other than that, it was quite a solid dish.

Buttermilk Pancakes – $17.9 – Homemade pancakes with seasonal fresh fruit, mascarpone cheese & maple syrup. Topped with roasted almonds and mixed berries

After I took pictures of the pancakes, I realised that the maple syrup was nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately, when the waitstaff gave us the syrup, the pancakes were no longer pretty. It was quite an interesting mixture of light and fresh fruits with the heavy mascarpone and berry jam.

Latte – $3.5 – Coffee

The final verdict for Bluewater Cafe Manly

Bluewater Cafe in Manly delivered us quite a solid breakfast. Obviously looking at the beach while eating your brekkie and drinking your morning coffe is always a plus.

Do you think I should go?
There are quite a few different cafes on the main strip of Manly beach. While I haven’t tasted quite a lot of them, I suspect they would have quite a similar quality.

Rating for Bluewater Cafe Manly:

7.0 / 10

Taste: 7.0 / 10

Price: $15 – $24 per dish for breakfast

Place: 7.0 / 10

Details:

28 South Steyne, Manly 2095

+61 2 9976 2051

Bluewater Cafe Manly

Sep 14, 2018
Boilerhouse

Dining Experience:

A pretty unusual dinner invite arrived in my inbox from esPoiR Communications. It was a themed dinner titled ‘Rich Man, Poor Man: Food Through the Classes´. The dinner is based on the food offerings served to the different classes of passengers that stayed at the Quarantine Station back in the late 1800s/1900s.

Having seen Heston Blumenthal’s themed dinner on TV, I was pretty psyched in going to my very first themed dinner! The dinner was prepared by Chef Matt Kemp who has worked in and owned some of the best restaurants in Sydney.

There was an MC dresses as a crooked captain guiding us through the dinner with a story of disease spreading in the dining room. He then tried to pinpoint which class was infected.

Canapes – Oysters Rich Man Poor Man Style – Oyster with Caviar & Leek and Potato Oyster Shooters

Drinks of Class – Beer, G&T, Bubbles

The canapes were actually served on the other side of the restaurant near the wharf. The three different drinks represented the three typical classes of passengers arriving at the quarantine station: Bubbles for first class, G&T for second class and Beer for the third class.

There were only two types of oysters: The upper class with Caviar and the lower one as shooters. I prefer the shooters than the ones with caviar as the latter was too dry and pretty warm for oysters.

Poached Smoked Haddock Fish Cakes with Wild Weeds with matching Bella Riva Pinot Grigio

The first course was the dish historically served for first class passengers. It had all of the elements of expensive entrée with sophisticated name and salmon roe at the top of the fish cakes.

Beef Braised in Ale with Cabbage, Carrots & Suet Dumplings with matching De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Grown Shiraz

It was meant to be a third class dish. However, I’m pretty sure back then it was served and presented nowhere near this dish. The ingredients actually illustrated the difference in class. They used ale-based sauce and suet, or some might know it as beef or mutton fat.

Whole Saddle of Mutton, Neeps & Tatties, Garden Mint Sauce with matching Bella Riva Sangiovese

The third dish was designed as a share plate (I am wondering why it is not being done for the third class) for second-class passengers.

This dish was my personal favourite for the night. The fatty and crackle-like edge was so good when enjoyed with the garden mint sauce!

The chef asked us to plate our own dish… so here it is!

Pimms Jelly with Cream & Fruit – Middle Class Sweets

Again, it might not reflect a true ‘middle class’ back in the days with its presentation and edible flower. However, you would see how simple it was when compared to the desserts for the upper class passengers.

High Tea – Selection of Traditional & New Idea Sweets – with matching wines Deen De Bortoli Vat 5 Botrytis

High tea is the custom observed by the wealthy classes in England in the 1800s. It represented the upper class delicacies perfectly with the matching Botrytis.

The final verdict for Boilerhouse Harbourside Restaurant

Although it was not in the same stratosphere as Heston Blumenthal’s themed dinner, Boilerhouse’s was pretty amazing!

Did you know?

Boilerhouse Harbourside Restaurant is part of Q Station Sydney Harbour National Park in Manly. This place

There are a whole range of activities that you can do at Q Station, including Ghost Tours for every age… and for your bravery level!

Details:

Q Station, North Head Scenic Drive, Manly 2095

02 9466 1511

http://www.qstation.com.au/boilerhouse-restaurant–bar.html

Oct 28, 2015
Fish Shack Manly

Rating:

7 / 10

Taste: 7/10

Price: $15-$32 per person

Place: 7/10

Review:

This week we go to a relatively new shop in Manly, called Fish Shack. We came across the shop as we strolled around Manly beach. I was particularly interested in their worn-out beach shack setting.

It was lunch time when we came and the restaurant was fairly buzzing, there were some people outside waiting for their takeaway orders (another give away that it should be a good restaurant!).

We only ordered two share items on the menu. The first one was Fisherman’s basket for two. At $32 a dish, I think it was a good deal, considering you get all of these stuffs (2 each of prawn cutlets, crumbed calamari, fillets of market fresh fish, fresh oysters, large chips, lemon, tartare). The oysters looked a bit out of place, but the rest was fantastic, especially the chips. We couldn’t get enough of the chips. They were perfectly cooked! There was that very crunchy bits on the outside with very soft potato inside.

Our other dish was Bucket of crisp fried soft shell crab, lime aioli. It was quite pricey ($18) when compared with Fish Shack’s fish and chips ($15). There was a hint of spicey, peppery taste on the soft shell crab and quite sour aioli.

The final verdict for Fish Shack Manly

One review I read about Fish Shack recommended us to stick with the fish and chips (and I fully agreed with her!). Their fish and chips were very nice and fresh.

Did you know?

Fish Shack’s take away menu is far cheaper than their restaurant menu. We actually were interested to try because we saw a seafood basket of $20.

Details:

33 South Steyne, Manly 2095

+61 2 9976 3886

Fish Shack Manly on Facebook

Aug 7, 2013