It’s very rare in Sydney to find a North Shore restaurant where you can relax back in your chair and watch a ferry cruise past the Opera House, travel under the Harbour Bridge and pull up just metres away at McMahons Point Wharf.
Such is the beauty of Sails at Lavender Bay, where a colourful refit has made it an even more attractive place for a long lunch or romantic dinner.
Sails has been tucked away at McMahons Point since the 1970s, and Sydney Restaurant Group took over the restaurant in June, 2023. It has turned the venue into a warm and inviting European dining room, brightening the previous corporate fit-out.
Head chef Ben Jung says the space has been designed to make ‘everyone feel at home’. There’s even an outdoor area which is absolutely perfect for the warmer weather.
The menu is dominated by seafood treats such as Hervey Bay scallops bathed in pomegranate ponzu, and Moreton Bay bug spaghettini in an XO shellfish emulsion, and Ben says Sails offers one of the ‘finest seafood experiences’ on the harbour. “We focus on beautifully prepared seafood that blends familiar dishes with a modern twist.”
The menu is well-thought out and has a maturity often lacking in other venues. Take the silver trevally crudo, a starter with deliciously delicate flavours complimented by grapes and juniper berries for a burst of freshness. The Hawkesbury calamari are soft and melt in the mouth, chargrilled for earthy flavour with a tangy kick of squid ink vinaigrette. Simply sublime.
There are several meat and vegetarian options, and I have to say the grass-fed sirloin steak and frites is one of the best I have ever eaten!
As for drinks, Ben says mixologist Nicola Drakopoulos (daughter of owner Bill) takes great pride in the signature cocktails. Given our location, I could not go past the Lavender Bay martini, which was delightful and frothy – with a sultry aftertaste of lime mixed with gin. There are plenty of gorgeous combinations on offer – which Ben describes as ‘creative riffs on classic recipes’ – with coconut, peach and amaretto flavours some of the featured ingredients.
The Sails summer menu will be out at the end of November, so it’s a great time to book the busy venue to sample new dishes. I cannot wait to see what Ben divines next!
Sails 2 Henry Lawson Avenue, McMahons Point sailslavenderbay.com Phone 9955 5998
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