PROFILE BY BEST RESTAURANTS
The original Café Del Mar is not in Sydney – it’s in Ibiza, the bohemian party playground, where chilled out beats play all day long while long-legged beauties mill around in short jumpsuits, sipping coconut-inspired cocktails.
Short of booking a trip to Spain, this Cockle Bay Wharf restaurant flavours the senses with fruity cocktails, Mediterranean flavours and smooth tunes. An interpretation of its international sister, the Sibella Court designed interior is split into a contemporary dining room and a lounge bar area with lush sofas. There is also a private dining room accommodating up to 30 seated guests.
Head chef Ben Fitton has worked across the globe, in Shanghai and America, which translate into a Modern Australian menu with hints of Spanish, Moroccan and Italian flavours. Generous dishes of premium, Australian produce dominate the menu; try the pasture fed, lamb shoulder sourced from South Australia or the Blackmores wagyu beef bresaola with potato skordalia and poached egg. Sitting beside the harbour, seafood feels like a natural choice; Hiramasa kingfish ceviche is served with cubes of star-anise scented sweet potato with a shot of vodka “tigers milk” (a Peruvian citrus marinade) while torched scallops sit atop a sweet tomato jam and rich, crunchy lentils. Dishes are designed for sharing; the crisp skinned barramundi, served with gorgeously yellow saffron potatoes and steamed mussels lathered in a vibrantly green mint paste, coupled with the suckling pig and roast fennel, make a hearty dinner for two. Other shared mains include a lamb shoulder, which is marinated for
two days in chermoula before being slow cooked for eight hours.
Café Del Mar offers express lunch deals for $25, including a glass of chandon or peroni.
Anna Lisle