Restaurant Balmoral - Dining Sydney
Public Dining Room Review
Move over Bather's Pavilion there's a new star of the shore at Balmoral!
Where: 2A The Esplanade, Mosman NSW 2088, Australia
Phone: (02) 9968 4880
Open: Breakfast Saturday & Sunday
Lunch 7 days
Dinner Mon - Sat
Web: www.publicdiningroom.com.au
Bookings: info@publicdiningroom.com.au
Move over Bather's Pavilion there's a new star of the shore at Balmoral. With a menu that looks almost as good as the view all set within a superbly designed dining room, it'd be hard to find a better place to eat on the foreshore of Sydney harbour. There are plenty of great reasons to visit the picturesque Balmoral Beach and Public Dining Room is one of them!
What's In a Name?
Now the name may be a little too literal for some but what the name may lack for in imagination the food certainly makes up for. There are a total of 4 oyster varieties to choose from so if you're a fan of the world's ugliest delicacy you'll be spoilt for choice here. In fact you're spoilt for choice no matter what your taste. The menu is split between smaller and larger dishes, while the larger are more of a traditional main course the starters are easily shared which is a great way to sample a variety of things.
The house bubbles is a great way to kick off a meal, there are plenty of drops to choose from with an extensive wine list that would keep even the most prudent wine nerd occupied.
If you're like me and inept at making decisions then the staff will happily point you in the right direction. The cocktails are great and worth trying while you're there.
The 'Ginger Dream' is light and slightly creamy, boozed up with Galliano and ginger liquor with hints of Frangelico adorned with candied walnuts - it's a real treat.
The 'Hendrick's Garden' as you would imagine is full of botanical flavours and accented with fresh cucumber and blueberries. At the other end of the spectrum the beer list is well populated with local and imported ales, with a couple of selections from our friends at 4 Pines Manly.
Balmoral Beach Setting
I can't continue this article any further until I mention the view, the outward facing side of the restaurant is floor to ceiling glass affording fantastic views across the sand and waters of Balmoral Beach. The local pelicans can make for some entertainment in between courses and are probably the only ones having fresher seafood than you! The dining room itself is a lovely open-plan design with plenty of space between tables, its modern and contemporary with lots of timber and earthy tones, with the huge amounts of natural light it must look even better during the day! Even at capacity the restaurant wasn't too noisy which is often the case with large amounts of glass.
Zucchini Flowers and Kingfish Carpaccio
Under the title of Comestibles you'll see some familiar items on the menu like zucchini flowers and kingfish carpaccio. If the cheese souffle and the pork belly taste as nice as they sound they would be a great choice too. There are also a great selection of cured meats and cheese type antipasto dishes in the list to get you started.
The zucchini flowers are fantastic, light crispy and oh so tasty. The filling of four different cheeses is beautifully savoury and offset well by the pomegranate. The seared scallops with pancetta are also excellent with the beurre noisette (brown butter) creating a luxurious taste and texture with the well cooked scallops which is all enhanced with the crispy salty pancetta.
Duck Confit, Sous Vide Salmon and Beef Fillet
As far as the mains go there is also plenty of choice with a few pastas and a risotto as well as some tasty meat creations including duck confit, sous vide salmon and a beef fillet. The duck is spectacular with a combination of breast and thigh, it's perfectly cooked with a crispy skin and rich tender meat subtly flavoured with chinese spices. The jus and soubise sauce is divine and everything melts perfectly in your mouth, quite possibly one of the best duck dishes I've had the pleasure of eating. The Strozzapreti is a wonderland of fresh seafood and perfectly cooked pasta, the king prawns and clams make for a satisfying and flavoursome dish which was matched well with a glass of Gruner Veltliner from Austria.
Great Desserts
To finish the evening off dessert cannot by passed by, with what is one of the best looking and best tasting desserts you are likely to have anywhere. The 1950's Bathing Cap Bombe, a sphere of meringue with strawberry and chocolate ice cream, it really does taste as good as it looks. A refreshing and different way to conclude a meal and a much appreciated departure from the desserts you come to expect in the fine dining setting
For the boozehounds, might I suggest the orange moccartini to finish your palette, a well balanced and delicious concoction of fresh espresso, XO Cafe Patron, Kahlua and Cointreau. Sweet and satisfying with a good kick, you'll have plenty of energy for a stroll along the beach or maybe just a stagger if you over indulged in the fantastic wines.
Public Dining Room Experience
All in all what you get at Public Dining Room is a rock solid experience from the quality and freshness of the ingredients to the fantastic space your dining to the polished service it's hard to fault anything about this place.
There's an abundance of energy here which is a refreshing and a badly needed asset for Balmoral. What I really want to come back for other than the beef fillet is the breakfast which is served on weekends. I really can't imagine a better way to start the day than a seat in the Public Dining Room with a delicious breakfast and a magnificent view.
A Fine Restaurant with Stunning Views of Sydney Harbour
So if you're looking for somewhere special with a lovely setting and a great atmosphere I'd have trouble pointing you anywhere else, this restaurant is big, it's fun and most importantly tasty! So lets all just be thankful that this Dining Room is open to the Public!
The Good – Stunning Setting, Excellent Food and Drink, Breakfast on Weekends, Well Priced
The Bad – Busy, Bookings Recomended, Limited Vegetarian Options