Relaxed waterfront dining in an idyllic location
The Barrenjoey Boatshed, known as ‘The Joey’ in Palm Beach, has recently opened, serving delicious breakfast and lunch every day and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
I feel like I’m on holiday as I make my way into The Dining Room; the gentle lapping of the waters around the elegant wooden building, painted dark blue and blending in perfectly with its nautical surroundings.
The décor is soft and inviting, with curved oak tables and fibreglass shell chairs, from where my eyes are drawn through the expansive glass windows to The Jetty Bar, where casual eats are served over Pittwater.
A seafood-infused menu featuring Sydney rock oysters, tiger prawns on ice, and stracciatella garnished with watermelon tempts us from the small plates section.
We share a roast capsicum dip, folded bread, and yellowfin tuna with wakame.
The dip is vibrant and bursting with flavour, with pomegranate adding an extra texture layer. We barely speak as we mop up every last mouthful with the delicious warm and salty bread.
The tuna tastes like the sea, with a richness of flavour that could not have been more perfect. Think ‘umami’.
We follow with king crab spaghetti and NZ snapper with a citrus dressing, along with broccolini with gribiche and fried capers.
The crab is delicious and the spaghetti is cooked perfectly al dente. Just enough garlic, chilli and crab sauce coat the pasta without overpowering it, allowing each flavour to sing its own tune.
The snapper is perfectly cooked, and the light citrus sauce is a perfect companion.
Our broccolini is served on gribiche, which looks like a rustic pesto but is a sauce deep and earthy in flavour, made with capers and pickles. It’s very moreish and I find myself spooning the remaining gribiche directly into my mouth.
There is no rushing here and we linger a while with a chilled glass of wine from the extensive bar menu amidst the hum of conversations and the sound of the odd jet ski passing.
We finish with coffee and agree that we must visit again. I would return just for the gribiche.
The Joey
1191 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach
Phone: 9973 6711 thejoeypalmbeach.com.au