My favourite dining experiences in the Illawarra

On signing up for myTaste.com.au (a food and restaurant review site) I was asked to list my top 5 dining experiences. I have decided to share them here with some illustration as to why I rate them so highly.

Top 5 dining experiences in the Illawarra

1. Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour Village
   
   
   
   I love this restaurant so much that I hired the venue as my wedding venue in December 1996. I have returned countless times for their seafood platters, oyster medley, steaks, pork belly, mushroom entree - all delicious! The childrens meals have been very popular with friends and family, especially since kids eat free!
   
   
   
   The view is of Shellharbour village boat harbour and Little Park and the atmosphere is always one where you can relax and enjoy a great meal with a view. Wonderful service and reasonable prices.
   
   
2. Emeralds Restaurant, Warilla Bowling Club
   
   
   
   The restaurant is upstairs in the Warilla Bowling Club, one of the largest bowling clubs in New South Wales and one of the best restaurants in the Illawarra. We have dined at Emeralds more time than I can count and it is always a hit with friends and families visiting from interstate. I have tasted most of the items on the menu and I can honestly say that there is something to please everyone on their menu.
   
   
   
   
3. Fujiyama Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant
   
   One of the best dining experiences in my life was my first visit to Fujiyama. We payed for a banquet which consisted of several courses including salad, fried rice, wagu beef, teriyaki chicken, grilled fish and some fruit and saki. Absolutely delicious! It was long before I started my food blog and taking photos of food, around the time I was married. I have been back again several times since with friends and family and everyone loves the novelty of catching the raw egg in a bowl from a distance from the experienced japanese chef, then catching the bowl of cooked fried rice as it hurls through the air at you from across the room. A definite party environment and I remember being racked with waves of laughter as my husband had egg on his face - literally. Don't go in your best clothes unless you are agile. The food is amazingly delicious and the decor makes you feel as if you have boarded a plane for Japan but only a few minutes from North Wollongong station and the heart of Wollongong. I don't have any photos of Fujiyama Teppanyaki but the image below is from Shinju Teppanyaki in Sydney to give you an idea of the teppanyaki experience. Your chef cooks your entire meal in front of you on a BBQ and you get to watch the action as he spins the salt and pepper grinders in the air, dices and slices the ingredients with expertise, then marinates and cooks your meal as you sit mesmerised, hunger intensified with the smells and sights as watch the display.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Beachouse Seafood Restaurant, Wollongong
   
   My visit visit was the result of winning a competition on Wavefm radio station answering the question 'what's the most unusual or disgusting food you've ever eaten'. My reply was 'ding ding mukh muhd' which is a Middle Eastern delicacy known commonly as 'pig snouts with avocado sauce'. Yuck! A 'friend' made it for me in 1995 and I could not get over my aversion to seeing hair on the pig snouts and the chewy texture somewhat like pork rind that hasn't crackled properly. For my troubles I won a $100 voucher to Beachouse Restaurant on Cliff Road, opposite North Wollongong harbour. It was an amazing dining experience with a seaood platter for two and toasting each other with a bottle of sparkling wine. Divine! We returned to Beachouse in 2007 for the 'blood moon' lunar eclipse for some oysters and a small seafood platter.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Wollongong (previously located in Shelharbour)
   
   A little piece of Spain in Wollongong. My favourite restaurant for Spanish food in New South Wales with a great menu, unbelievably great prices - especially for their tapas which are $10 each including seafood such as Tasmanian scallops or pippies. We first visited for a birthday party but I am sure we will be visiting them at their new location in Wollongong. The great food and sangria make you want to shout 'Ole!'
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Other restaurants I would recommend:

1.  Harbour Front Restaurant, Wollongong Harbour
   
   I haven't visited in the last few years but on every dining experience I have had in the past I have been nothing but truly satisfied. When I lived in Corrimal I used to travel out to the restaurant for their buffet lunch which included oysters, seafood and a range of dishes and desserts. The view of Wollongong harbour an added bonus and customer service second to none. I'd love to go back and take some photos and sample their new menu and wine list.
   
   
2. Five Islands Brewery, Wollongong Harbour
   
   A wonderful micro brewery with an amazing restaurant. Their delicious mezze platter is responsible for my love of Avocado and Kalamata olives. Previous reviews have been birthday celebrations and there is a great party vibe with all the specialty beers flowing. 
   
   
3. Crooked River Winery Cafe, Gerringong
   
   
   
   
   I have only visited Crooked River Winery Cafe once on a winery tour of the South Coast (Gerringong, Berry, Coolangatta) but it is definitely in my top 5 dining experiences. There was a set menu for our tour but everything the people at my table at looked divine.
   
   The view was breathtaking. I could have stayed there all day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4.  Harbour View Thai, Shellharbour
   
   
   Amazing Thai food with a harbour view. The food is fresh, full of flavour and the staff were friendly and very helpful. I love Thai food so I was so glad to find one within a short walk from Shellharbour beach, one of my favourite spots to relax.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Tandoori Junction, (Indian) Shellharbour Village
   
   As seen on 'the chopping block', this restaurant is the best Indian food I have tasted since I left Corrimal and the amazing Indian restaurants Aamaru and Manjits located there. Located on Addison St, Shellharbour you can enjoy a water view if you sit on the balcony and enjoy some of the sea air and wonderful decor with great food at wonderful prices. I heartily recommend the Tandoori Chicken and their famous 'Junction platter' which is great for people new to Indian food as it gives a sample of some of their favourite dishes. For those with milder tastes, try the Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan.  
   
   
6. Addisons Seafood Restaurant
   
   
   
   I have to be honest and say that Addisons nearly didn't enter this list due to the great 'rubber lobster' incident of 2007 but on previous visits it has been a dining highlight. I took my Mother for dinner at Addisons Seafood Restaurant for her birthday and the only thing she really felt like was Lobster Mornay. I chose a Seafood Platter for One ($40) and was very happy with the contents which my Mum shared with me after disliking the lobster which was rubbery and tasted like it was cooked from frozen which was disputed by the waiter who asserted that it had been caught fresh that day. My Mum is an expert cook of seafood and had worked in a fresh seafood business when I was five and there is nothing in the world she loves more than a perfectly cooked lobster. I hope that one day she will return to Addisons and experience that. This restaurant has a reputation for good food and fresh ingredients. We may have just been unlucky on the day.  
   

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Food Review: Long Island Cafe, Windang

I have been living back in Lake Illawarra, NSW for a few years after living in Northern Wollongong suburbs and Tasmania and one of the things I really enjoy is a visit to Windang, a tourist town for fishermen and people that want to just slow down and enjoy the wonderful Lake Illawarra and nearby beaches.
It was after 2pm and most of the restaurants and club meals had finished so it was nice to find the Long Island Cafe and its vibrant orange interior which drew me in to have a closer look. The smell of coffee was in the air and the cold bar with different types of fish and other seafood available soon piqued my interest.

I asked if it was possible to have the hoki fillet grilled with garlic butter and I was told that it wouldn't be a problem. There was a small fee of 50 cents. Believe me - it was well worth it! One of the most succulent, flavourful fish I have had in years!


The seafood skewers I had spotted on the menu were great value, including prawns, mussels, calamari and vegetables and served with a wonderful salad which included beans, cauliflower and a really nice dressing plus chips.


There were plenty of seats available if we wanted to dine in but what I was really looking forward to was a seat by the waters edge and I wasn't disappointed. There is nothing like it and for $16 we had a full fillet of fish grilled to perfection and two seafood skewers with chips and salad. More than enough to feed two people and a few (dozen) seagulls as well. A short distance away I enjoyed watching the sun go down over Windang island. Such a wonderful day to end a day.

Located near the Post Office and Liquor Store on the south-bound side of Windang Road it is a well kept secret that will soon be a firm favourite.

I also purchased some Viking Blue Cheese form the mixed goods store on the corner which was enjoyed as supper hours later. They stock a wide range of cheeses and other gourmet items as well as a range of grocery items and fresh produce. Perfect for making up a picnic or enjoying a nice cold icecream on a warm Winter's day.

MENU

Fresh Fish, Meal Combos, Gourmet Burgers, Foccacias & Sandwiches, All day Breakfast and coffee.
Prices:

Fish and Seafood: Catch of the day $4.50 or $8 with chips and salad. Lightly fried in lemon tempura batter (50 cents more for grilled). Nile Perch or Barramundi $6 or $9.50 with chips and salad.

Seafood combos (with chips and salad) include: Seafood basket $9.50; Grilled Barramundi with horshradish sauce $10.50.; Salt & Chilli prawn $11; Grilled Barramundi Karumba with prawns & avocado $14.50; BBQ Rump Steak $14, Grilled Salmon Kilpatrick with bacon $15.50

Other combos (all come with chips and salad): Chicken Schnitzel $7.50, Lasagne $8.50, Boneless fried chicken $8.50, Salt & Pepper Squid $8.50, Seafood Skewers $11

Gourmet burgers starting at $4.50 for Traditional hamburger or Egg & Bacon Roll up to $5.50 for Steak & Mushroom Roll

Foccacias Creat your own with 3 fillings are $4.50 then $1 per filling or try Long Island Cafe's Beyond 2000 (chicken, avocado, sundried tomato & tasty cheese), New York New York (Turkey, cucumber, onion, carrot w. cranberry sauce), Device Dream (Roast beef, carrot, mushroom, seeded mustard & swiss cheese) or Tropical Island (Ham, cheese, capsicum and tomato).

All Day breakfast starts at $2.50 for raisin toast or cinnamon toast, 4.50 forTurkish bread melt or $9 for the big breakfast of Bacon, egg, grilled tomato, sausage served on toast with orange juice or coffee $9.

Coffees: All coffees are $3.00


Long Island CAFE
Shop 1, 233 Windang Rd, Windang
Phone: 0242 965556
Monday - Sunday 7.45am - 6.30pm
Closed Tuesday

Restaurant Review: La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Wollongong

One of my favourite restaurants of Shellharbour, La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant has moved to Keira St, Wollongong. If you like Spanish food then you'll love La Marina.

Below are some of the meals we enjoyed at La Marina when they were still located in Shellharbour. I hope to visit their Wollongong store very soon. Don't forget to buy a carafe of their sangria. It makes the Spanish dining experience even more authentic!

It was Australia Day and we were also celebrating a friend's birthday. We had a table of four diners and decided to start with Parilla de Mariscos, a BBQ'd seafood platter A selection of grilled seafood including fish, scampi, king prawns, squid, pippies, and mussels served with chips and salad on the side.($36.00 - Min. 2 persons). Next, several tapas were chosen including tasmanian scallops, pippies, whitebait and a very enjoyable chorizo sausage in dry sherry. Delicous! It almost makes you want to scream out 'Ole!'

After we were seated, we were presented with some free almonds, nicely spiced and a great start to a wonderful meal.

Free almonds

Parillada de Mariscos (Min. 2 persons) - BBQ'd seafood platter.
A selection of grilled seafood including fish, scampi, king prawns, squid, pippies, and mussels served with chips and salad on the side. 36.00pp

Seared Tasmanian Scallops - In chilli & roasted sweet paprika with garlic & white wine 11.90

Everyone had a taste of the scallops which were superbly cooked and the sauce was amazing.

Almejas - Pan cooked pippies with white wine, garlic and parsley 11.50

A very morish dish which we all enjoyed a sample off. It brought back memories of collecting pippies on the beach, looking for the tell-tale bubbles in the sand. A definite favourite.

Chanquettes - Lightly floured white bait deep fried, served with lemon wedge 10.50

Not really to my taste but the men at our table really enjoy the crispy whitebait, although after sampling the scallops and pippies I can't see the attraction.

Chorizo a la Jerezana 10.90

This potent Spanish sausage was cooked in a dry sherry and onion sauce, served in a sizzling dish which caused everyone to lean forward with expectation. The smells alone made our appetites revive. The sherry sauce was amazing and complemented the sausage well. Not for the faint of heart, though. There is always the chance that spicy sausages will repeat on me later and this was no exception.

I loved the decore of La Marina. It is like you have been transported to Spain. The warmth of the rich red tones and colourful decorations. A joy to visit and while away an hour or two with good food, conversation and share the experience with friends and family.

Tapas menu ranges between $10.50 and 11.50
Main meals range between $17.50 and 36pp for the seafood platter

La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant
130 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone: 02 42 271033

http://www.lamarina.com.au/index.htm


Photos by Vanessa Pike-Russell for Illawarra Food Reviews
http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com/

Restaurant and Catering 2009 South Coast Awards nominees

Restaurant and Catering NSW have released their 2009 SOUTH COAST AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE NOMINEES LIST

ASIAN RESTAURANT

Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant, Bargo
Kings Chinese, North Wollongong
Mango Moon, Kiama
Mylan Restaurant, Wollongong
Trang Vietnamese Restaurant, Wollongong

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

Café Lush Pambula, Pambula
Diggies Café, North Wollongong
The Waterfront Café, Pambula

BYO RESTAURANT

Costa Azzurra Woodfire Restaurant, Fairy Meadow
Josh’s Cafe, Berrima
Red Raven Restaurant, Nowra

CAFÉ – UPPER COAST

Café Parkview, Kiama
Lysanders, Shellharbour
Relish on Addison, Shellharbour
Seahaven Café, Gerroa

CAFÉ – LOWER COAST

Annnabels Café, Ulladulla
Monets Café Restaurant, Batemans Bay
The Starfish Deli, Batemans Bay

CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – LOWER COAST

Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree
Millards Cottage Restaurant, Uladulla
Seagrass Brasserie, Huskisson

CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – UPPER COAST

55 on Collins, Kiama
Bellachara Restaurant, Gerringong
ei8ht, Camden
Eschalot, Berrima
Samuels Restaurant, Thirroul

FAMILY RESTAURANT

Little Italy, Thirroul
Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf Restaurant, Merimbula
Panarotti’s Macarthur, Ambarvale
Vaby’s Mediterranean Grill, Picton

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

ENZO Restaurant, Camden
La bella Vita, Camden
Lorenzo’s Diner, Wollongong
Michael’s Ristorante, Wollongong
Trevi Fountain Restaurant, Nowra
Trio Trattoria, Nowra

NEW RESTAURANT - UPPER COAST

46 on Crown Bar & Restaurant, Wollongong
Angelico Restaurant, Leumeah
Lee and Me, Wollongong
Luigi’s Restaurant, Narellan
May’s Restaurant, Dapto
Red Olive Restaurant, Mittagong

NEW RESTAURANT - LOWER COAST

Australian Hotel, Nowra
Dry Stone Restaurant, Mimosa Winery, Bermagui
Hungry Duck, Berry
Waterview on the Bay, Batemans Bay

PIZZA RESTAURANT

Bon Aroma Pizza, Bulli
Ciao Mediterranean Restaurant & Pizzeria, Gwynneville
Figtree Gourmet Kitchen, West Wollongong
Pizza’s in the Mist, Bowral
Mimosa Rocks Restaurant, Tathra
Sam’s Pizza Restaurant, Warilla

RESTAURANT IN A PUB / CLUB

Buffet Fusion Family Restaurant, Shoalhaven Ex-Services Club, Nowra
Lynch’s At Narooma, Lynches Hotel, Narooma
Ocean Beach Hotel, Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour
RELISH @ the Links, Links Golf Course, Shellharbour
Swordfish, Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club, Ulladulla
Zac’s Café & Bistro, City Diggers, Wollongong

RESTAURANT IN A HOTEL / GUESTHOUSE / RESORT

Bannisters Restaurant, Bannisters, Mollymook
Elizans of Ulladulla Guesthouse, Ulladulla
Katers Restaurant, Peppers Manor House, Sutton Forest
Ravensthorpe Guesthouse and Restaurant, Albion Park
Windjammers Restaurant, Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong

RESTAURANT IN A WINERY

Centennial Vineyards Restaurant, Centennial Vineyards, Bowral
Crooked River Cafe Wines Restaurant, Gerringong
Stones Restaurant, Eling Forest Winery, Sutton Forest

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Addison’s Seafood, Grill & Bar, Shellharbour
Captain Johns Seafood Restaurant, Merimbula
Cargos Wharf Restaurant, Kiama
On the Pier, Batemans Bay
Pickled Octopus, Tuross Head

SPECIALTY RESTAURANT

Ghedia’s Indian Restaurant, Wollongong
Ritzy Gritz New Mexican Grill, Kiama
Ruby’s Country Style Cuisine, Mt Kembla
Turkoise Mediterranean Restaurant, Campbelltown

STEAK RESTAURANT

Murphy’s Bar Grill, Unanderra
Outback Steakhouse, Fairy Meadow
Outback Steakhouse, Leumeah
Tongarra Restaurant, Albion Park

THAI RESTAURANT

Coconut Thai Restaurant, Wollongong
Jasmine Rice Thai Restaurant, Wollongong
One Thai, Dapto
Raya Thai Restaurant, Helensburgh
Thai Carnation Restaurant, Wollongong
Thai Riverside Restaurant, Nowra

WINE LIST CATEGORY

Elizans, Ulladulla Guesthouse, Ulladulla (Comprehensive)
Eschalot Restaurant (Comprehensive)
55 on Collins, Kiama (Limited)
Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree (Limited)
On the Pier, Batemans Bay (Limited)

CATERING CATEGORIES

RESTAURANT CATERER

On the Pier, Batemans Bay
Ravensthorpe, Albion Park
The Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree

CORPORATE CATERER

R & R Catering, Helensburgh

FUNCTION/CONVENTION CATERER

City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong

HOTEL CATERER

Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong

WEDDING CATERER

Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong
City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong
R & R Catering, Helensburgh
M&B Food and Catering, Bowral
Addison’s Reception Lounge, Shellharbour

Jordans seafood restaurant

Australia Day lunch at Jordans was delicious. A seafood platter for two with a view of thousands of Australians walking past, enjoying the sights and sounds.


Jordon Hot Platter for two - $105.00
Deep fried perch fillets, salted spiced calamari, BBQ Octopus, spiced prawns, chips, spiced soft shell crab, baked scallops, kilpatrick oysters (we requested mornay but usually bacon), mussels steamed and tossed in a tomato sauce

[Australia Day lunch at Jordans was delicious. A seafood platter for two with a view of thousands of Australians walking past, enjoying the sights and sounds.]

[ Lovely wood paneling in the bar ]

[ Crowds flock to Darling Harbour for Australia Day ]

Fish of the day ($21) at Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour Village

Fish of the day ($21) at Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour Village, originally uploaded by Vanessa Pike-Russell. It was such a lovely day it seemed a crime to spend it inside. We made our way down to Shellharbour village and enjoyed good food and a fantastic view at the Ocean Beach Hotel.

With such a lovely beach view fish of the day ($21) was the only logical choice. The fish of the day was flathead, one of my favourite fish and it was very sweet and flavoursome. The chips were beer-battered and delicious, as was the salad which included thin strips of freshly cooked beetroot, rocket, carrot and tomato. Not a slice of capsicum to be found, which was a nice surprise!

A prawn was added as garnish and whilst the photo shows some tartare sauce in a scallop shell we also indulged in the OBH' own seafood aioli made of garlic, cream, lemon and lime juice - divine!

What more can you ask than a great view, lovely weather and good food. Another great dining experience with the Ocean Beach Hotel.

Harbour View Thai - Shellharbour Village

Shellharbour is one of my favourite spots in the Illawarra. Only an hour and a half from Sydney (100km) and half an hour south of Wollongong, it has a lovely seaside village feel with gourmet food and speciality shops certain to please.

It was my birthday and I was celebrating with friends and family. We decided to try out the new Thai restaurant that had opened across the road from the Ocean Beach Hotel and the harbour. I love the fresh flavours of thai food and when I saw that mussells were on the menu I just had to try them. And thankfully I wasn't disappointed!

Mussells Hotpot ($15.90) Tender, juicy mussels in a hotpot with basil, lemongrass, chill and sweet chilli sauce. Amazing! Mussels can often be overcooked and chewy or stringy but these just melted in the mouth and the juice was so good not a drop went to waste.

The next dish selected was Pad Kra Tium ($14.90) - Stir fried pork with garlic sauce, mushroom soy, dark soy and pepper. It was a very light meal for someone who had requested nothing too heavy and again was cooked to perfection. This is another favourite meal that will be purchased again.

Next was a meal for our curry lover, masaman curry (mild) with cubes of beef with potato, onion and peanut curry gravy. I had a taste of this meal and the flavours of peanut and a mild curry flavour were very pleasing. This is my favourite thai curry dish and great for diners who have trouble with the spicier curry meals.

Musman curry $14.90

Last was my Mum's seafood salad

Seafood Salad ($19.90) Steamed seafood cooked with red onion, fresh chilli, cucumber, lime juice, mint & cherry tomato

Lovely fresh flavours of the mint, cucumber and live affording a cooling zesty feel to this dish. The seafood included mussells, squid, prawns, fish and scallops and was cooked to perfection. Another favourite dish that pleased my seafood loving family.

And a delicious Fried rice for everyone to share

The service at the Harbour View Thai was fantastic. Our waitress kindly allowed me to photograph her by the specials board. I love the vibrant colours of the decore and the view just can't be beat.

7 Addison Street
Shellharbour, NSW 2529

(02) 4297 7033‎

Shellharbour is easy to get to from Sydney along the Grand Pacific Drive and Sea Cliff Bridge