Whitewater Restaurant, Manly

It’s refreshing to see that Manly is becoming more of a foodie haven, following in the footsteps of its more famous beachy cousin Bondi, which is home to some top notch restaurants making the most of their scenic location. Whitewater Restaurant is just one of the many restaurants lining the main promenade facing Manly beach. When we drop by for lunch on a picture perfect summer weekend, we are lucky to be seated on one of the outdoor facing tables which lets us soak up the stunning view.

The fitout of Whitewater Restaurant is definitely more upmarket than the other eateries I’ve dined at in Manly, though the service remains unpretentious and there’s still a breezy, relaxed vibe about the place which keeps it in tune with its beachside location. We settled in for our meal and kicked off with a Chanel No. 6 cocktail for me and a Whitewater Juice for DK. The Chanel No. 6 lived up to its luxe name; it was a lovely blend of Absolut vodka, pineapple, chambord and sparkling to give it some extra lift. DK’s Whitewater Juice featured a refreshing mix of grapefruit, pineapple and orange juice.

 Whitewater Juice, $5.50 and Chanel No. 6, $17 

Soon enough, a platter of half a dozen natural oysters garnished with salmon pearls and dainty cucumber ribbons was brought out to start us off. The oysters were quite creamy and rather salty, especially with the savoury bursts of salmon pearls popping in our mouths too. Thankfully the cucumber ribbons helped balance it out with a hint of fresh greens.

“Caviar” oysters with salmon pearls and cucumber ribbons, $22 (half dozen)

Our tastebuds had already been tantalised by the oysters and were in for even more of a treat with our chosen mains. First up was the generously sized serving of Homemade Maltagliati Pasta with flecks of shredded crab meat, plenty of pancetta, a very rich and hearty veal jus and topped off with some crispy garlic bread croutons. The silky strips of homemade pasta were perfectly complemented by the intensely tasty sauce and the two types of meat kept things interesting.

Homemade maltagliati pasta, $26.95

While I was already impressed by the depth of flavours in the pasta, the star of the meal was undeniably the Sirloin Tajima Wagyu “Kobe Style” wet, aged, full blood with a staggering marble score of 10! I have always been quite envious that DK has tried actual Kobe beef in Japan and after hearing his rave review of Kobe beef, I was very excited to try the Australian “Kobe style” wagyu at Whitewater. It was by far the most luxurious steak that I’ve ever had, living up to its claim of being the “finest steak available in Australia”. The well marbled meat was served medium rare, making the steak incredibly tender and every bite just melted in your mouth. We opted for the steak to be basted, so it came smothered in a delicious tangy sauce that is similar to the type you get with ribs usually. The other option is to have seasoning rubbed into the meat. Either way, the wagyu beef is just out of this world. We also chose to have a fresh salad on the side, which counteracted all the fatty goodness of the wagyu, but you can also choose roast potatoes or chips on the side instead. Note that while we were able to try the Sirloin cut of wagyu for lunch, it is usually on the dinner menu and only the rump is available on the lunch menu.

Sirloin Tajima Wagyu “Kobe Style”, $69.95

After those delicious savoury dishes, we then tucked into a delectable Chocolate Ganache that went well with the smear of salted caramel sauce on the side and a surprisingly refreshing mango and carrot sorbet. The summer flavour of the mango overpowered any hint of carrot in the sorbet, so it worked well with the rich, fudgy chocolate in the ganache and the crunchy biscuit base.

Chocolate ganache, $17

Whitewater Restaurant is an absolute gem of a restaurant that lives up to its bold claims on its menu, with well executed dishes, sleek decor and a gorgeous view of the beach. While it’s certainly on the pricier end of the dining spectrum, Whitewater is a wonderful spot to celebrate a special occasion or to treat yourself to the best steak in town and is well worth the price.

Excuse Me Waiter dined as guests of Whitewater Restaurant

Whitewater Restaurant
35 South Steyne, Manly NSW 2095
Phone:(02) 9977 0322


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