Clareville Kiosk
27 Delecta Ave, Clareville Beach
Bookings 9918 2727

Cuisine: Modern Australian. Opening Hours: Lunch Fri-Sun 12-4pm. Dinner Wed-Sat 6-10.30pm. Cards: All. Licensed and BYO. Parking.

Michelle and Peter Christensen relocated from Brisbane when they bought the Kiosk in October. The beachside cottage feel has been retained but given a facelift.

Both the Christensens have been in the hositality industry for more than 15 years but this is their first experience as restaurant owners. Peter worked in the UK for Michelin chefs John Burton Race and Jonathan Wright as well as leading Brisbane chefs. Michelle has built a career in restaurants, five-star hotels and clubs in management and events.

They fell in love with Pittwater and the Kiosk after dining there a couple of years ago. When it came up for sale they visited again and the decision was made.

Clareville Kiosk, originally a beachside post office and shop selling ice creams, opened as a restaurant in 1983, almost 30 years ago.

It immediately developed a fine reputation which has been maintained through several owners.

The Christensens are keen to put their own stamp on it without losing the warm and cosy charm of the restaurant they fell in love with.

Their new menu includes gravlax salmon, pearls, cucumber, dill crème fraiche and citrus gel as a starter, and market fish, seafood ravioli, asparagus, sautéed leek and Champagne velouté as a main. Desserts include lemon meringue pie with mint ice cream.

A Degustation of 5 courses is $75 or $100 with matching wines. The Kiosk Lunch Menu offers 2 courses for $35, 3 for $45. Fully licensed / BYO except Saturday night or parties of more than 10. Bottled wine only. The adjacent council beach carpark is free with sticker.

TONY'S ROCK LILY
1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale
Bookings 9999 6371

Cuisine: Italian, International. Opening Hours: Dinner Tues-Sun, Lunch Fri-Sun. Cards: Visa, MasterCard. Licensed. Parking.

The Rock Lily was built by Frenchman and local timber cutter Leon Houreux in 1886 and operated as a hotel and coaching inn.

Now the Imad family are continuing the tradition but without Tony after whom the restaurant is now named.

Tony and Sarah had been preparing for the re-opening of the heritage building after restoring and refurbishing it when Tony died suddenly. Sarah, helped by her children decided to see the venture through to completion.

The Imad family has a long asssociation with the area as Tony Imad owned a number of businesses on the northern beaches and was a former president of the Balgowlah Chamber of Commerce. They had previously operated cafes and restaurants in the Sydney CBD.

Now customers can enjoy a meal in the dining room or on the alfresco terrace, a coffee and cake on the verandah, catch up with friends in the smart cocktail lounge or collect a takeaway meal from the extensive menu.

Chef is Tommy Shamnan-narong. The traditional and gourmet wood-fired pizzas are still a big part of the menu with more than 20 varieties. However a crowd-pleaser for four people is the antipasto plate and special dishes include roast duck, bbq pork ribs, eye fillet and bbq king prawn salad. Coffee and cakes area available all day, or sample their full range of cocktails at the bar.

Set menus are available from $22-$42 per person, and a lunch special is $10. Enjoy the Sunday special eat-in choice of three pizzas, salads and pastas for $10 each with $5 drinks.

FOOD STUFF – MONA VALE
9/11 Bungan St, off Akuna Lane,
Mona Vale
Phone: 9999 3033

Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm.

Improve your cooking skills and sign up for a class or three at this Mona Vale food outlet run by Mark and Louise Holland.

In a custom-built kitchen Mark Holland and guest chefs demonstrate their expertise. Classes coming up include Indian cuisine, fish and baking bread.

Food Stuff Mona Vale has all the ingredients for these specialist cuisines as well as sauces, pastas, cheeses, stocks, curry pastes, chermoula, harissa and lots more for Moroccan cooking and paella rice, saffron, and Spanish paella pans for Spanish cooking. They will cook a paella party for 10 to 400 people. Call or email for details.

There is a big range of equipment like woks, paella pans and pasta machines and homewares.

Oceanviews Eatery
94/120 Narrabeen Park Pde,
Warriewood
Phone: 9979 9449

Open Mon-Sun 11.30am-3pm (lunch), Mon-Sun 5pm-10pm (dinner)

Vietnamese food is considered one of the finest of Asian cuisines which blends spices with delicate French touches.

There is a wide variety on offer at this restaurant which also has ocean views.

Lunch specials range from $6.80 to $10.80. As well as entrees and soups, dishes include beef, chicken and duck, a range of curries, as well as vegetable, salad, noodles and rice dishes.

Try rice paper rolls (goi cuon) with chicken, prawns, vermicelli and Vietnamese mint, or stuffed chicken wings (canh gan hoi thit), stuffed with Vietnamese herbs and spices. Mains include grilled chicken with fresh lime leaf (ga la chanh), beef scotch fillet stir fried with garlic and wine sauce (bo luc lac) and twice-cooked duck with ginger sauce (vit tuong gung).

A set banquet for four people for $30.80pp includes mixed entree, fish, green curry chicken, stir fried beef, steamed vegetables and boiled rice, coffee or tea. There are changing specials every week.

ROYAL MOTOR YACHT CLUB
46 Prince Alfred Parade, Newport
Bookings 9997 5511

Cuisine: International. Open every day. Fully licensed. Cards: all. Parking: Club carpark.

Diners at the Royal Motor Yacht Club enjoy one of the best locations in Pittwater, with views of the busy boating scene on the waterway from both the informal garden level brasserie or upstairs in the spacious dining room with its huge windows.

The club has also recently been awarded Australian Marina of the Year by its industry peers.

Enjoy the casual atmosphere in the indoor/outdoor Quarterdeck Brasserie for breakfast from 8am-10am, lunch or dinner with a menu of hot and cold dishes including pies, seafood, roasts and desserts. Families can enjoy a relaxed meal while their children play safely in the forecourt or in Summer make use of the swimming pool (for members).

Seafood Sunday in The Top Deck Dining Roomon the last Sunday of the month from 12.30pm. offers fresh prawns and oysters, hot seafood, carvery and dessert,, all for $55 for adults or $35 for kids under 12. Bookings essential.

The Top Deck is also available for private functions and special events like weddings.

For more information regarding membership of the Royal Motor Yacht Club or to make a booking call 9997 5511.

Burgers on Parade
29 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach.
Tel. 9918 0024.

Cuisine: Gourmet burgers and meals. Open: 7 days, breakfast, lunch and dinner 7am - 9pm. Cards: all except AmEx. Parking: street, Avalon carparks. Licensed and BYO.

This former milk bar in Avalon is now so much more than it was with a completely new character and menu. Gourmet burgers are the staple of a menu which also includes a full range of breakfast dishes, plus wraps, vegetarian, and salads.

Choose from more than 30 burgers. The buns are specially baked and are preservative free. Gluten-free options are available.

Fillings include premium beef, hormone and antibiotic-free lean chicken breasts and vegetarian options. Wraps are made to order with hot pitta bread and both standard and vegetarian fillings. The salads are also made to order.

For breakfast there are bacon and egg rolls, grilled sausages and more. There is a full range of espresso coffees made with Di Stefano coffee as well as teas, milkshakes and smoothies.

Amici di Toni
Level 1, 1775 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale.
Bookings 9999 2588.

Cuisine: Italian Romana. Host and Chef: Marco and Singh. Open Tues-Fri Lunch 12noon-3pm, Dinner Mon-Sat from 6pm. Fully licensed and BYO (wine only). Corkage $3.50.Credit cards: All except Diners. Parking: street.

This award-winning Mona Vale restaurant in a spacious upstairs location offers classic Italian cuisine with modern influences and has been awarded as outstanding on the Northern Beaches.
The menu caters for a wide range of tastes from delicate fresh tuna carpaccio to Queensland scallops baked in whisky, mushrooms and cream. Seasonal entrees include fresh figs with Castello blue and stuffed zucchini flowers.

Mains may include a speciality of double roasted duck with balsamic and honey reduction while pastas include crab and prawn ravioli.

With a seating capacity up to 120, functions are well catered for with set menus for group bookings of three courses. An outdoor covered terrace seats up to 35. Bookings are taken for corporate functions and group parties.

GREEN PEARL BAYVIEW THAI
17/1714 upstairs, Bakers Marina, Pittwater Rd, Bayview
Bookings: 9997 8918

Cuisine: Thai seafood. Open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Takeaways available at 10% discount. Licensed & BYO (bottled wine only). Cards: MC, V, Amex. Parking: car parks.

This upstairs Thai restaurant with a glorious view up Pittwater to Lion Island is an ideal venue for parties and functions.

It specialises in authentic Thai seafood dishes but also offers chicken and beef, a variety of rice and noodle dishes and a range of Thai style vegetarian. A list of special dishes is also available.

Club Palm Beach
Palm Beach RSL
1087 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach
Phone: 9974 5566.

Hours: Open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Licensed. Parking: car parks.

At this popular RSL Club visitors are welcome in the bistro which is served by state-of-the-art kitchen facilities and top value meals. Guests may dine inside or in the spacious sunny garden.

The bistro is open for lunch and dinner every day, serving steaks, seafood, salads and pasta. Top value at $12 (incl. GST) are lunch and dinner specials every weekday. Kids are welcome in the garden and bistro with special meals.

Sport and racing are shown on the big screen in the sports lounge.

The Club has purchased a courtesy bus which is currently running between the Club and pick up points within a 5km radius at a small cost of $3pp Wednesday to Saturday 4.30pm - 9pm. Bookings essential on 9974 5566.

HONG KONG CHINESE RESTAURANT
332 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport
Bookings: 9997 4157

Cuisine: Chinese & Asian. Open Tues-Sun for dinner only. Also take away & home delivery service Whale Beach to Narrabeen (9997 8379). Licensed. Cards: all. Parking: street, car park.

The menu ranges from adventurous, like a Mongolian chicken hot pot, to contemporary, spicy salt and pepper whole flounder, to traditional like braised chicken and almonds/cashews or lemon chicken. There’s a big variety of entrees and soups, vegetarian options and sweet and sour dishes. Seafood is at market prices. Home delivery specials include extras with a minimum spend.

A spacious restaurant with attentive service, its large tables make it popular with families and groups. Takeaway meals, home delivery and available for private functions.

COTTAGE POINT KIOSK
Notting Lane, Cottage Point
Phone: 9456 3024

Cuisine: gourmet café. Hosts: Geoff & Graham. BYO.

Drive to the end of the road at Cottage Point, or come by boat and tie up to the Kiosk pontoon. The Kiosk is a large heritage building (around 1918), on the busy waterfront with a wrap-around deck and terrace below, and a view of water, boats and bush. As this is a general store as well as a café, you can buy just about everything including kayak and boat hire, bait and tackle, ice, groceries and alcohol.

The café chefs produce morning or afternoon teas, home-cooked breakfast, lunch and weekly specials. It’s BYO - buy beer or wine at the liquor store.

NINJA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
6/11-13 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach
Bookings: 9918 9963

Cuisine: Japanese. Chef / Owner: Hideaki Serizawa. Open dinner 7 nights 6:00pm-10:00pm. Takeaway available. Licensed & BYO (bottled wine only) Corkage $2.50pp. Cards: V,MC & Eftpos Parking: Macmillan Court, Street.

Ninja in Avalon serves authentic Japanese dishes including fresh sushi & sashimi, assorted tempura, age dashi tofu and char grilled salmon teriyaki, produced by Hideaki Serizawa, a qualified Japanese chef, who graduated from Barrenjoey High School in Avalon, and was then trained in popular restaurants in the Akasaka district of Tokyo, Japan, and learnt their secret recipes.

Ninja has a lunch menu to suit all customers’ needs, such as Okonomiyaki (Japanese pan cake), Japanese noodles with your choice of sushi, sashimi, or tempura, and the very traditional Ninja's lunch box. Sushi rolls are also available for take away or eat in to suit your budget.

Great outdoor seating on an open terrace with a little Japanese garden. Bookings are recommended on a warm day.

BOONCHU THAI
335 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport
Bookings: 9997 3450 or 9979 6447

Cuisine: Thai. Hosts: Barry & Dang Rhodes. Open for dinner 7 nights, Lunch Tues, Fri & Sat. Takeaway & home delivery with 12.5% discount for pick up at restaurant (home delivery min. order $25). Licensed & BYO (bottled wine only). Air-conditioned. Cards: all. Parking: street, car parks.

This award-winning restaurant, established 23 years ago and voted one of the top ten Thai restaurants in Australia, is richly decorated with authentic Thai handicrafts. It was started by Barry and Dang Rhodes and is now managed by their son Siri. (Dang and Siri pictured)

Chef’s specials change fortnightly. Boonchu is offering a Value Customer Rewards Card. Check out the takeaway menu on line at the new website www.boonchuthairestaurant.com.au

Corella Catering at Bilgola Deli
211 Plateau Rd, Bilgola Plateau
Phone: 9918 9408, 9973 3438

Host: Adam & Taryn Pearce. Gourmet cafe, deli, grocery and takeaway. Open 7 days breakfast, lunch and all day snacks. BYO.
Parking: off-street at the door.

Corella continues to prepare a wide range of gourmet food for takeaway as well as its professional catering services for corporate and private clients – food, planning and staffing for every occasion from finger foods to sumptuous buffets.

Corella also provides takehome soups, meals, desserts and sweet treats, fresh or frozen and all made in Corella’s own kitchen and sold at the Bilgola Deli, now a spacious cafe with tables inside and out.

Daily specials are available as are fresh juices, coffee and T2 teas, a range of gourmet deli items, groceries, bread, milk and newspapers.

Avalon Village Meats
30 Avalon Parade, Avalon.
Phone 9918 3282.

Preparing the evening meal is easy when you shop at this Avalon butchery. Find all the cuts here for your casseroles and stews as well as meat and veg packages for roast dinners. Or pick up a ready-to-cook meal such as chicken stuffed with spinach and fetta or bacon-wrapped.

Owner Lasse Hansen has introduced the famous Boscastle gourmet family pies with handmade pastry and fillings of beef burgundy, chicken and mushroom, Thai chicken, Lamb & vegetables and aussie beef. He also sells Pure Angus Beef and Otway free range pork as well as other free range meats.

Vacuum-packed orders are available for boating and picnics. As the weather warms spit roasts will again be in demand for parties and outdoor barbecues.