Views – and lunch – don't get much better than at Catalina. Perched on the water in Rose Bay – and offering ’gram-worthy panoramic vistas of the harbour – Catalina has been welcoming Sydneysiders for more than 30 years, serving up relaxed elegance with a side of coastal air. The fine diner opened in 1994 by Judy McMahon and her late husband, Michael McMahon, and 30 years on, it’s still a family-run-and-owned affair, with their children, Kate and James, now managing the restaurant.
Sitting there on a sunny day with a crisp white in hand, listening to the hubbub of diners and the clicking of glassware, your meal not far away, and gazing out to the sea feels almost as good as a holiday.
If the views draw you into Catalina, you’ll return for the food. The menu, overseen by executive chef Mark Axisa and head chef Alan O’Keeffe, showcases in-season and high-quality Aussie produce, including lots of fresh seafood, with Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Regular diners may know Catalina’s signature dishes, like line-caught pan-fried snapper with potato and garlic mash and a lemon and caper butter sauce; Sydney rock lobster risotto with cuttlefish, cherry tomatoes, soffritto, bottarga crumb and chilli oil; and organic roast suckling pig with a yellow peach and wild rocket salad, peach chutney and mustard jus. Guests can order the fixed-price three-course menu for $160 per person and pair it with a glass or bottle from the award-winning wine list.
View this post on Instagram
Feel like splashing out? Catalina has introduced a new seven-course summer tasting menu, featuring elegant snacks like Black River caviar churro with lemon cream and chives, and yellowfin tuna tartare tartlet with yuzu mayonnaise. More substantial dishes include Moreton Bay bug and SA squid lasagne with squid ink pasta, chilli, garlic and gremolata crumb; dry-aged Maremma duck breast with cherries, cauliflower purée, cima di rapa and cherry liqueur jus; and caramelised spiced pineapple with a coconut yoghurt cigar, and passionfruit and coconut soup.
There’s also a chic new cocktail trolley designed by industry legend David Caon, serving drinks like classic zesty Margs or fresh Peach Bellinis. Cocktail hour has never looked so good.
Judy McMahon, Catalina’s director, said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate our 30th anniversary at what feels to us like the pinnacle of our journey so far. Our chefs, many of whom have been part of the Catalina family for decades, are continuously pushing boundaries and perfecting our signature cuisine.
“We’ve recently had a refurbishment and even after three decades, we’re brimming with fresh ideas. Ultimately, a restaurant – even one blessed with breathtaking views like ours – is about its people, and our team’s passion and dedication is as strong, if not stronger, than it was on the day that we opened 30 years ago,” she added.
We say, bring on the next 30 years!
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.