Cassie Cawston shares a special lunch on the coast.
My dad loves Balmoral so we decided to meet up for Father’s day, along with my sister Kylie and my boyfriend Nick.
The Boathouse at Balmoral Beach is a little gem, offering a rustic chic experience with a delicious menu, focusing on fresh seafood and local produce, not to mention a view worth writing home about!
Set on a jetty off the Esplanade and painted a bluey-grey with white trimmings. You step into the Boathouse straight off the sandy shoreline of Balmoral Beach making for an authentic experience.
The place is buzzing and seating is scarce, but as we discovered it is well worth the perseverance in scoping out a table. Whist the décor is simple with picnic style benches shaded by a canopy of umbrellas, they have drawn special attention to the details. Displays of seasonal fruit and a myriad of fresh flowers dressed in oversized pots, adorn the space and the walls are dripping with marine inspired artworks and nautical artifacts.
As we waited for my family to join us I sipped a crisp dry rosé and Nick had a lime infused, icy cold corona. We watched the world go by and I contemplated ordering some freshly shucked oysters whilst we absorbed the spring sunshine and listened to the waves lapping the shore. What a way to spend a Sunday!
Now, lets get back to the food! After mulling over the blackboard menu I chose the Roast Pumpkin Fennel Salad with Smoked Salmon. My summer in a bowl arrived with chunks of sweet roast pumpkin, slices of crisp fennel, bold radicchio, a smear of creamy labne, a scattering of pumpkin seeds and a pop of pomegranate. Take me back, now that is a salad!
Food envy slightly crept in as dad tucked into his lightly beer battered flathead fillets and I wondered if I could pinch a chippy while he wasn’t looking! The fish and chips were served in a bamboo steamer, which was a quirky touch and was accompanied with a cheek of lemon and home made tartare.
The delicious winter salad was a generous portion of finely chopped beetroot, carrot, broad beans, kale, cabbage and cashew nuts, topped with a perfectly cooked, tender piece of barramundi.
The staff where friendly and accommodating with every request, despite being one of the busiest days of the year! The trickiest part was finding a seat and hanging on to it. The menu is quite flexible and you can mix and match your salad and protein of choice. There are also other options such as the cold seafood platter or if seafood isn’t your thing perhaps a juicy, made to order, beef burger with all the trimmings.
The Boathouse sits at the south end of Balmoral beach, undoubtedly one of the prettiest beaches in Sydney, facing straight out through the heads and surrounded by boats at anchor, it is a perfect spot to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, soaking up the sun and eating wonderful food. The Nautical theme continued throughout from the anchor printed serviettes and cappuccino’s dusted with chocolate powder in the shape of an anchor. Again it is all in the details.
Although the dessert cabinet looked very enticing we had no room and a digestive walk along the esplanade seemed like the better option. Perhaps we can go back next weekend for dessert!
The Boat House
2 The Esplanade Balmoral Beach, NSW
Many thanks to Cassie Cawston who shared her Sunday on the coast and a special Father’s day lunch