The best surf clubs riding the culinary wave in NSW
After years of being left in the wake of clubs north of the border, NSW surf clubs are finally offering food to match their world class water views, with Mona Vale the newest addition.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The humble surf club is on the crest of a culinary boom, with a new guard offering food to match the world class water views.
Following in the footsteps of the clubs north of the border, surf clubs in NSW are beginning to elevate their restaurant offerings from simple basic beach fare to dishes that highlight their prime beachside location.
Mona Vale surf club recently underwent a $10 million makeover and Basin Dining opened a few weeks ago, serving an elevated seafood menu.
“We thought we could probably do something that would be beneficial to the community,” owner Doug Fraser says.
“You can see around the (northern) beaches that surf clubs are already giving it a good crack, Long Reef is coming along soon and Avalon as well.”
Basin Dining is a mid-casual restaurant, spanning $35 fish and chips to a $50+ lobster risotto. A more affordable menu will open soon at Cook Terrace, the club’s bar.
“We’re really trying to match the view in terms of our offering. We’re definitely not a cheap restaurant, but we are serving quality produce. It was surprising, we thought the initial diners might have just wanted to check us out and try the cheaper items, but we’ve been selling mainly the lobster risotto,” Fraser says.
“We really wanted to hit a lower price point, but everyone knows by going to Woolies how much stuff costs these days. We still want people to be able to come enjoy that view, if they want a lower price point the bar will have stuff like snacks, burgers and fish and chips from $10-$35.”
While finer-dining in surf clubs is a new concept in NSW, Fraser points out Queensland has been doing it for years.
A roadblock for restaurateurs is that surf clubs are owned by local councils and it’s harder to negotiate commercial terms such as longer leases.
While Fraser’s Newport restaurant, Lovat, has a 25-year lease, Basin only has 10 years and he would like to extend it.
Avalon Surf Life Saving Club was the first Northern Beaches location to update its restaurant. The Beach House Restaurant opened to great fanfare in 2015, but closed in 2020.
Operated by CBD-based Trippas White Group, one of the anecdotal reasons from locals for its failure was that it didn’t cater to the local market.
The site is controlled by the Northern Beaches Council, who said it “expects to have a new operator in the venue within the next six months.”
Fraser believes being a local will ensure Basin Dining succeeds. “We live around the corner, if there’s a problem we’re there. It’s our house on the line and we’re gonna do what we are gonna do to make it happen,” he says.
“When I go for a morning walk, I see our guests and they tell me their feedback. Some of it hurts but we try our best and we really want to make sure that we look after the people that are going to be there for us.”
$3M-PLUS SYDNEY PARTIES: LUXE BRANDS SPLASH CASH
Interest rates might be rising by luxury brands have given an injection of cash to Sydney’s party scene by hosting lavish events, the likes of which we haven’t seen in years.
In the past month, fashion and alcohol powerhouses like Cartier, Burberry, Perrier-Jouet, Tiffany and Gucci have all hosted glamourous events in the city.
However perhaps the biggest of them all was the event hosted by French champagne house, Moet & Chandon, who spent 18 days to build a makeshift building at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and millions of dollars to kick off the celebration season.
It’s rumoured that the brand’s Effervescence Party on Thursday evening, plus the subsequent activations over the weekend cost the brand well upwards of $3m.
Some even speculated that figure was closer to $10m.
The brand had top international DJ Calvin Harris to perform for the 300 VIPs, including Georgia Fowler, Julie Bishop and Justin Hemmes at the Opening Night party.
Harris, who is one of the world’s richest DJs, reportedly charges $1 million for an appearance.
Meanwhile the bespoke multi-story structure the event was housed in, which took 18 days to build, was estimated to be worth $2 million.
While the VIP event drew the big names, the subsequent activations over the weekend also drew the crowds. Tickets started at $200 and included a Moet Mini on arrival and Moet & Chandon throughout the event as well as a tasting menu, entertainment and photo opportunities.
This follows in the wake of jewellery brand Cartier who rumoured to have forked out $3m to open their flagship Sydney store.
English singer-songwriter Labrinth was flown in as special guest performer, or “friend of the maison” as Cartier put it, for a hefty appearance fee, while high-net clients were also flown in from across the country and abroad to be wowed by the brand.
Grammy Award Winner Anderson Paak was also brought in to launch the Gucci Garden Archetypes Sydney exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum.
Vogue’s Editor in Chief Edwina McCann said it was exciting to see Sydney become the city of choice for these luxury brand in the Asia-Pacific market because of the harbour and our shopping. “The regional clients and press are keen to travel here and celebrate the start of summer too. And their images and coverage of sparking Sydney partying can only benefit future tourism, and will appeal to high net worth individuals from around the world who like to shop,” she said.
Marketing Guru Toby Ralph said the rise in these events wasn’t for Sydney’s VIPs, it was about “selling to the global aspirational middle class.”
“The thing to understand is these parties are not for the people who attend them,” he said. “People look at the instagram pictures and the social pages and see what seems to be an enviable lifestyle, and they pretend to be part of it by buying a monstrously overpriced belt, or wallet or five grand handbag.”
While a spokesperson from Moet & Chandon wouldn’t comment on budget strategies they said they had wonderful feedback. “This event is part of a global celebration, one of the first events that take place in more than 20 countries around the work. It’s a way to share the magic of Moet & Chandon and mark the season,” the brand said.
They also added an important part of the night is the Toast for a Cause, the brands charitable initiative, which this year is dedicated to the preservation of biodiversity around the world.
More Coverage
Originally published as The best surf clubs riding the culinary wave in NSW
Pricey schnitty backlash prompts name change at bowlo
The Five Dock Bowling Club becomes The Home Grounds after sparking national debate over charging $35 for a schnitzel and chips at its restaurant Skinny Tony’s.
Miranda Kerr, billionaire husband jet into Newcastle Airport
The Aussie supermodel turned wellness mogul stepped out of a private jet at Newcastle Airport this morning in comfy trackies.