For the past three years, the dramatic Sydney Harbour views from Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Retreat have been the exclusive domain of in-house guests and the neighbouring koala colony.

All that changes from Thursday, March 30, when the public is allowed to dine at the retreat’s Me-Gal restaurant.

Encouragingly, diners won’t need to fork out the zoo’s entrance fee to tuck in at Me-Gal. The three-year-old retreat and its Me-Gal eatery has its own entrance.

Operated by catering giant Trippas White, the venue’s vista stretches across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the city skyline.

Executive chef Stefan Schröder has designed a menu that leans on sustainable produce and native ingredients.

There’s no sign of crocodile with your crudites, but there is wattleseed ricotta and macadamia crumble with the zucchini flowers, plus a dish with Hawkesbury calamari and a lemon myrtle pear tart.

The a la carte menu also offers a seasonal feast menu ($120 a head) for groups of four or more.

Trippas White’s wine director, Louella Mathews, is similarly Australian-focused, with a heavy slant towards local producers and an “Australian icon” line-up.

Open Thu-Sun lunch; Mon-Sun dinner.

2A Bradleys Head Road, Mosman (enter via the Wildlife Retreat), 02 9932 4883, megal-mosman.com.au