Central Coast top restaurants: The readers’ choice picks
The celebration of the Central Coast’s best restaurants continues, with the top 12 Readers Choice picks named after locals voted.
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The Central Coast is no doubt a premier food destination, boasting some of the top restaurants in the state.
However it’s the hidden gems that we may not know about which makes it even more of a culinary gold mine.
The Express recently named the 30 of the best restaurants on the coast. True to form, coasties spoke up and let us know loudly and proudly which favourite food haunts we missed.
This Readers Choice list highlights some of the most loved and popular restaurants in our region.
REIGN BURGER CO
It’s a cross between a burger and a cob loaf which has become an internet sensation and popular choice at Reign Burger Co in Wyong.
Reign Burger Co is famous for its unique cob burgers, with owner Rindy Moroney saying the idea for the burger just came to her one day.
“Next thing the internet went into meltdown so I ended up building a menu based off the cob burger,” she said.
The menu is packed with flavour from the O.G Cob which is a beef burger with Reign Burger Co’s original cob top filling including bacon, spinach and cream cheese. The most popular item on the menu is the buttermilk chicken burger with camembert cheese, guacamole and a sriracha mayonnaise. Divine!
A flick through the restaurant’s social media pages reveals a world of unbelievable burger creations, including the most decadent and outrageous dessert burgers.
www.facebook.com/reignburgerco
SEASALT RESTAURANT
While it may be hidden inside Crowne Plaza, Seasalt Restaurant is by no means shy when it comes to its fresh menu with a coastal influence.
This Terrigal gem took out the 2019 NSW Regional – Best Restaurant in a Hotel Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.
Executive Chef Simon Quick and Executive Sous Chef Dana Chantler reflect the cultural background of their team in the kitchen when creating the menu.
Favourites include the Riverina scotch fillet, steamed mussels and a dessert share plate that will leave you smiling for weeks to come.
Did we mention the front row seat to views overlooking Terrigal Beach?
terrigalpacific.crowneplaza.com/eat-and-drink/seasalt-restaurant/
THE BAVARIAN
Pork knuckles, schnitzels and strudels continue to fly out of the kitchen at The Bavarian.
This restaurant became an instant hit across the coast when it opened in Tuggerah in 2019.
Having sampled some of the meals, paired with a stein of German ale, we know why it has become the go-to place for both lunch and dinner any day of the week.
The pork belly is out of this world – simmered for 45 minutes before being baked skin-side up for another 40 minutes.
The Bavarian has 10 different types of schnitzels and if you’re brave — and exceptionally hungry — you could tuck into the Schnitzelmeister — a stack of six chicken schnitzels served with four sides.
When it came to dessert, I couldn’t go past the “Haus Made” apple strudel with wafer thin pastry and a mouth-watering apple mixture. The cinnamon pretzel doughnut is soft and served with divine salted caramel dipping sauce.
www.thebavarians.com/venue/tuggerah
WOY WOY FISHERMAN’S WHARF
It’s been hailed as having the freshest seafood on the Central Coast … Woy Woy Fisherman’s Wharf.
Whether you’re after a restaurant quality meal or takeaway fish and chips, you can’t go wrong.
The Fisherman Wharf restaurant has hot or cold seafood and share plates, with cold choices such as fresh Sydney rock oysters and snapper ceviche to hot choices such as fish tacos and Singapore-style chilli crab.
Many travel far and wide for the fish and chips, cooked fresh from the Fisherman’s Wharf seafood market.
www.woywoyfishermenswharf.com.au
MOTEL MEZZA
Motel Mezza has become a coast foodie destination in Wyong, bringing a Middle-Eastern flare.
The restaurant/bar, run by EHM Group, is inspired by a 1930s motel lobby and is the ideal spot to relax with mates or wind down after a bust week.
Start with a range of dips – Muhmmara, Baba Ganoush and Labneth – then indulge in some small plate options such as sumac and chilli squid, falafel or meat sambousek.
Big plate options are hard to go past, with lamb kafta, chicken skewers or take on the Mezza Grill with a variety of favourites.
Be guided by staff for the perfect drink to enjoy with your meal.
ORIENTAL CONCEPTS
Many people have bragged about Oriental Concepts in Saratoga, a restaurant which has been named Restaurant of the Year in 2016 and 2017 by the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club.
The restaurants’ founder Tam is a chef who specialises in Thai and Japanese cuisine.
He is also an artist, sketching and designing dishes from his imagination and then bringing them to life for an experience to remember.
Oriental Concepts also offers Japanese Teppanyaki, combined with amazing Thai cuisine.
OSTERIA MANO
This Italian gem in Wyong continues to impress locals and out-of-towners.
Chef Paolo hails from Italy and has brought his traditional family recipes to the coast to create a dining experience highlighting all corners of the Italian peninsula.
From the freshest produce to the hand rolled paste, there’s something for everyone at Osteria Mano.
When it comes to gnocchi, you can’t go wrong with the Gnocchi Pomodoro, while the mains offer everything from market fish to suckling pig and rolled chicken with an Italian twist.
There’s also a share menu with antipasto choices and a host of other options – ideal with a glass of wine and the company of friends and family.
JOHNNY TAPAS
Johnny Tapas is new to the northern end of the coast in Norah Head – but has certainly turned heads since its arrival.
The owners say Johnny Tapas exists to “offer locals and visitors a unique dining experience that respects its location, while providing something fresh and different”.
This is a place you can relax with friends while enjoying the freshest produce with an Australian take on tapas-style menu.
From Tapas options such as soft shell crab, house smoked lamb and pork belly bites to share plates and a range of tacos.
There’s also a pizza menu which packs a flavour punch, including the Johnny Pepperoni, Plant Based, Chilli Prawn and Brisket and Co.
Do yourself a favour not only for the amazing scenery at Norah Head, but this new and excitement foodie venture.
THAIGER TEMPLE
This is a Terrigal favourite that not only offers authentic Thai cuisine, but some of the best cocktails going around.
Owners Yoddy and Amelia Samingkaw opened the restaurant more than five years ago.
The restaurant has established itself as the place to go for authentic Thai food as well as its five signature Thai style cocktails.
Two of the popular Thai cocktails include the Bangkok Mule which has an intensely refreshing kick of lime, and the Same Same with hits of cranberry and rosewater.
The menu has everything from “Curries fit for a king” to “Wisdom from the wok”, “Seafood for the Soul” and “Nourishing Noodles”, along with entree bites and specialties.
When looking at the dessert menu, one grabbed my eye immediately — Tempura Mars Bars. Worth a trip …
GUSTO ITALIAN BISTRO
The Express was mobbed with requests for Gusto Italian Bistro to feature.
Hailed a “taste of Northern Italy”, this Ettalong Beach restaurant is an Australian Good Food Guide Readers’ Choice winner.
The owners say it Gusto Italian Bistro not your normal Italian ristorante, with a sleek and vibrant colour scheme, cheeky cocktails and crackling fireplace.
The menu is continually evolving with options from slow-cooked baby octopus, tagliatelle di mare with fresh lobster and marinated spatchcock.
www.facebook.com/gustorestaurantettalong
CECILIA’S RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR
From dry aged meat week to truffle month, Cecilias is all about the good things in life.
This Toowoon Bay restaurant loves to push the taste boundaries with Chef Adam leading the way.
Grilled scampi tails and sake grilled lamb cutlets are just the tip of the iceberg of what you could enjoy at Cecilias, not to mention a chocolate mousse with orange jelly, walnut crumb and housemade honeycomb.
Cecilia’s is also open for breakfast and brunch.
THE JOKER AND THE THIEF
From the talk around town, the steak at The Joker and the Thief is out of this world!
This restaurant/bar has been getting rave reviews since it landed in Terrigal, transforming from a casual lunch location to a plush night-time restaurant bar.
It has also picked up 2019 and 2020 Diners Choice accolades.
The menu is modern Australian cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, created by Head Chef Dane Walker.
Dishes are designed to share but each to their own with choices such as marinated and chargrilled squid through to eye fillet steak and market fish. Dive into a JT cheeseburger or snack on some cheesy polenta wedges while enjoying a cocktail. There’s also a kids menu.