Ocean Beach Pavilion in Sorrento home to Teage Ezard’s Gingergirl

There’s buns, baos, dumplings and Thai-style hot dogs at this new Mornington Peninsula hot spot.

Gingergirl interiors Ocean Beach Pavilion, Sorrento Weekend review, Feb 6

“Look after the kids, and the parents will look after themselves.”

When talking holiday hot spot summertime suppin’ there’s no truer restaurant truism, and at the Ocean Beach Pavilion, hidden in plain sight on Sorrento’s main drag, the kids are looked after in the best way possible

It’s down with the screens and into the sand at the “Sorrento Ninja Warrior Course”,
where an expanse of lo-fi fun waits active imaginations while mum and dad sip on spritz and snack on buckets of prawns on the overlooking deck.

It’s a clever use of the grounds out the back of a sprawling space that was the Sorrento Brewhouse, where a large all-weather tent, outdoor decking and beer garden bar adjoin the original 1900s sandstone residence that’s been given a modern makeover.

The historic facade and patio of Ocean Beach Pavilion gives way to a Ninja Course out back for the kids. Pictures: supplied

Open “from eyes open to eyes shut” OBP caters to caffeine-seeking surfers at sun up through to cocktail-drinking cool kids at sundown, their mums and mum’s mum, too, with a brunch offering out on the deck pre-noon and hawker-style share plates post, with chef Teage Ezard adding a seaside sibling to his city long-player Gingerboy.

Here at Gingergirl, it’s a similar offering of South-East Asian flavours given a modern Melbourne twist that’s kept the CBD restaurant a firm fave for more than a decade, though pared back with its focus firmly on dumplings and baos, buns and eat-with-your-fingers bites.

The latter include betel leaves piled with lobster, where little pomelo pearls add pops of citrus that counter a chilli jam kick ($14 for two). Team with cold can of crisp pilsner from St Andrews brewery down the road ($11), or a glass of local bubbles from Stonier ($15), and, while keeping half an eye on your ninjas, you don’t need rose glasses to see life looking
pretty good.

The Chiang Mai hot dogs at Gingergirl are a must-order

There’s terrific lip-tingling Sichuan heat to generously stuffed steamed pork dumplings, while a green chilli nam jim adds fire to a meaty prawn mix studded with fragrant ginger. Wagyu dumplings drizzled with a black bean sauce are rich, slippery and eminently scoffable (all $18 for three pieces).

Summer and the seaside equals prawns. There are buckets of Mooloolaba beauties to dip and dunk on the deck or to grab and go for the barbie at home, while Gingergirl’s
take on the now ubiquitous prawn roll adds a curry mayo’d kick to the sweet meat wrapped in a soft milk bun ($22 for two).

There are also fun “Chiang Mai hot dogs”, where a delicious, dense lemongrass-spiced sausage comes sauced with a hot and tangy tamarind chilli relish that’s tempered by pickles and a squirt of mild mustard. It’s worth stopping by for these few bites alone ($20), for they’re better than pork bao let down by dry meat unable to be salvaged by the sticky hoisin, though no faulting its good line of crackling nor the fluffy bun ($14 for two).

Wagyu dumplings are moreish

Cuttlefish, green mango salad

The only curry on offer — a red duck number — comes in steamed bun form and is fine ($14 for two), but is a missed opportunity to serve up some more substantial plates, for the only offering outside of dumplings and buns, a Thai-style green mango salad, was fresh and tasty if a bit wet and light on the advertised cuttlefish ($24).

Not that that’s stopped the 40-seat dining room being filled to bursting all summer, with spice-seeking locals and holiday homers wanting a bit of city style by the beach,
which includes a good line in shaken and stirred cocktails that make good use of local spirits, including the peninsula’s own Bass & Flinders.

The young staff are friendly, keen and surprisingly well-drilled for summer holiday shifts, the mood is light, the cricket/tennis is
on the telly, and local wines and beer on tap flow freely.

Catering to a well-heeled crowd — with prices that match — OBP does a good job of looking after the kids, big and small, alike.

[e-mail]