Imagine succulent steaks, pork ribs coated in sticky, delicious sauce and a refreshingly cool craft beer under sparkling blue skies, a stone’s throw from South Steyne, Manly Beach. It’s the perfect summer Saturday lunch combination and we’re lucky enough to have it all the day we visit Manly Grill.
The restaurant is packed with families, tourists and people of all ages, both in the sheltered outdoor area, where you can watch the throng of beachgoers pass by on the footpath; or inside where the atmosphere is bustling with chatter.
With a menu that boasts the best steaks and ribs on the Northern Beaches, Manly Grill is definitely a restaurant for meat lovers. In fact, the very first page on the menu is a selection of steaks. From the 350g true north rump, to the premium 1.2kg O’Connor black angus tomahawk, it’s obvious this restaurant is proud of its offerings.
Francesco Armillis, Manly Grill’s executive head chef says: “(We’ve) got the widest range of high-quality steaks sourced from local suppliers. What makes us different is the service, quality and passion we inject into the food,” he says. “We make sure Manly Grill is an experience. For example, when ordering a tomahawk, we hand carve it off the bone at your table side.”
Manly Grill is a sister venue to The Pantry in Manly, and Francesco oversees the menu of both restaurants, with seafood the feature for the latter.
We start with the artesian bread served with cultured butter, which is crisp and warm; and follow with a half-rack of pork ribs. The meat falls off the bone and the glaze has just the right amount of sweetness. It’s served with an old-fashioned melt-in-your-mouth baked jacket potato and accompanied with a side order of chargrilled broccollini with salsa verde, and we are satisfied!
The 250g Gippsland eye fillet is a feast for the eyes – a tender, perfect round piece of beef cooked to perfection and topped with our selection of mushroom sauce.
“Our job is to take care and ensure we cook the steaks with respect and ensure they are rested well – this ensures each one produces the best flavours,” Francesco says.
Dessert is a treat too, a refreshing lemon sorbet served with mixed berry compote, caramelised macadamia and meringue which adds a special texture to the dish. Perfect for a summer’s day.
Nominated in the restaurant category for the Northern Beaches Local Business Awards last year, Manly Grill is one restaurant well worth trying out.
Manly Grill Shop 1, 30-32 South Steyne, Manly manlygrill.com.au | 9977 0997