Last Sunday, I wanted to have a nice brunch for my birthday with my lovely friends C and CC. Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny day, so warm and lovely with crispy fresh air near at Balmoral Beach. We arrived at 11.15am so was waiting in line to have brunch but unfortunately no bookings at the cafe so it was completely packed with a long line. So we will come back for brunch another day. Instead we ended up having lunch at the buzzing cafe. There were plenty of families with kids and with spectacular views of the beach, it is an impressive way to have breakfast overlooking the water if you're seated next to the window.
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| Bathers Pavilion surrounds and indoors |
We were seated at lunch an hour later by 12.20pm. The cafe still completely packed with small tables filling the area. The cafe is like so much cheaper compared to the restaurant so the lines there are crazy whilst the restaurant was so quiet. With mains that were $48 almost $50 - lunch would be too expensive. Also, the menu didn't look as impressive so will wait for a change in menu at the restaurant before we decide to dine again.
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| Busy Balmoral Cafe inside |
C and CC ordered a pizza and a risotto since we didn't have breakfast we were starving but didn't want something so heavy. The pizza was amazingly delicious. The spanish onions were like caramelised and was sweet and delis!!! The field mushrooms were tasty too. The pizza dough freshly made and was great as well. Cannot fault the pizza - it was great for two to share. A few years back we had a pizza that was tiny and didn't taste special but this was definitely gourmet.
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| Roast field mushroom and onion pizza with taleggio (Italian cheese) and rocket leaves - $24 |
C and CC also ordered wedges in case the pizza was not sufficient for two. The wedges came with a cute plastic tomato with tomato sauce inside. Needless to say, the wedges don't need commenting. They taste like what potato wedges should taste like.
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| Wedges with tomato sauce - $9.50 |
I felt like eating gnocchi after eating the delicious gnocchi at Tastevin but they didn't have gnocchi on the menu but there were two risotto dishes. As I'm a lover of duck, I chose the duck risotto. It was beautifully presented and the colours were outstanding. Never had a non-creamy risotto base before and this had a red wine sauce. The risotto was nicely cooked, not too gooey and the duck would have been nice if it was not saturated in salt. It wasn't too dry with crispy skin, just too salty. You know a dish is too salty when you need to gulp plenty of water afterwards. I think they should have tasted the duck before they served it but anyhow, it was a good dish to take photos of but just not a good dish to savour. Unfortunately the dutch carrots were a bit burnt as well. Fortunately the sage was not too strong in favour as it brings a earthy, pungent and slightly bitter flavour.
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| Duck confit in red wine sauce with roasted baby carrots and sage - $33 |
All three of us had satisfied stomaches at the end of the meals as we didn't try any of the desserts. They sounded appetising. The breakfast menu also looks and sounds amazing so will need to get a rain check.
Summary review of Bathers:
Food rating: 7/10
Service rating: 7/10
Ambience rating: 7/10
Price: $$ (affordable at the cafe, expensive at the restaurant)
Overall rating: 7/10
Bathers Pavilion
The Cafe
PH: (02) 9969 5050
Website: Bather Pavilion website
Opening Hours
Breakfast Mon to Sun 7am to midday
Lunch & Dinner Mon to Sun midday til late
Afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm
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