PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIAIt’s not often that you stumble across a world class venue with a stunner of a restaurant within its midst. Ironically called The Restaurant of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, this relaxed fine diner sits near, if not upon, the waters of Rushcutters Bay. The bay’s docking area has a jetty which leads right up to the club, making The Restaurant the idealistic spot to watch the boats glide in after a race or a harbour cruise. Many of the boaters park at the jetty or steer their tinnies right up to the deck where they disembark in need of some top-notch sustenance. Besides the chaps dressed in polo shirts and boat shoes, hints of the ocean permeate your dining experience with the lapping water and the sea breeze working as continual reminders of your harbour-side position.
Although the view is best enjoyed during the sunlit hours, glimpses of the city lights at night time can be seen over the bobbing yachts. Day or night, however, the food is superb. Choose from the lamb, steak or fish dishes or order the seafood platter for two which groans under the weight of fresh and grilled prawns, oysters, blue swimmer crab, tempura dory fillets, salt and pepper squid and stacks of crispy chips. With a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in the ice bucket and a table on the deck you can’t get much better than this. As a registered club, visitors need to show valid photo identification on entry but due to the specific nature of The Restaurant, you’ll be bowled over at the incredible value especially when you consider the cuisine, the service and the unsurpassable location.
Annabel Wise, April 2008
