The Bathers' Pavilion

This beautiful Spanish mission style building with surrounding gardens and pine tree's sits glistening on the promenade of Balmoral beach. Housed in this building is a world class restaurant, all-day cafe function facilities and at the end of the building a take-away kiosk for baguettes and home made gelato to snack on while at the beach. A huge stand alone operation operated by owner/ chef Serge Danserau. We went for lunch at the restaurant. The interior suggests a casual elegance with blue cushioned chairs, leather banquettes and white linen clothed tables. Classy riedel glasses line the tables. The view from the restaurant looks towards north head with a multitude of sails dotting the ocean.

The menu offers an interesting selection of Australian produce with a french cooking technique influenced by Montreal born Serge Danserau. The wine list is very exciting as well boasting a selection of over 300 labels both Australian and International with a good range of smaller producers featured. The sommelier is also very knowledgable and helpful. We choose a Kracher pinot gris from Austria which has lovely citrus overtones and nice texture.

For starters the Moreton Bay bug caserole comes as descibed in the caserole dish it has been cooked in with scallops, clams, and pork dumplings whith a shellfish sauce that you won't be able to help mopping up with home made sour dough roles. Our other starter is perfectly executed trio of duck with spiced bread. The trio includes a duck parfait, duck rillette and earl grey smoked duck breast, all superb.

For the main course the rabbit is so artfully presented it's a pity to eat it, and then half way through you simply want more. The pork belly is a must. Slowly cooked with pork cheek, nashi pear and turnip finished with a devine pork jus.

Service too is knowledgable, slick and sharp. Well informed waiters in purple shirts and white aprons are attentive at the right times ensuring a relaxing pace. The rolling cheese trolley which displays the best cheeses from Australia and around the world is explained at the table in detail and the quartet of Apple is out of this world.

Prices are as to be expected for a restaurant of this calibre which of coarse is not cheap but this is for a special meal for the everyday head to the cafe next door. In the final analysis a definate must if you are visiting Sydney and if you live locally a very pleasant experience.
Comment on this reader review

Claude
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 07, 2009