Restaurant of the year: Quay
Chef of the year: Mark Best, Marque
Three-hat restaurants: Bilson's, est, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya's
Best new restaurant: Rockpool Bar & Grill
Best Regional Restaurant: Darley's, Katoomba

HATTED RESTAURANTS - CITY
3 hats
Bilson’s, Est, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya’s
2 hats
Aria, Assiette, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Berowra Waters Inn, Bistro Ortolan, Buon Ricordo, Claude’s, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Lucio’s, Pilu at Freshwater, Restaurant Balzac, Rockpool, Rockpool Bar and Grill, Sean’s Panaroma, Universal
1 hat
Altitude, Astral, Azuma, The Bathers’ Pavilion Restaurant, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro Moncur, Bistrode, Blancharu, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Forty One, Four in Hand Dining Room, Foveaux Restaurant and Bar, Galileo, Jonah’s, L’étoile, Longrain, Oscillate Wildly, Otto Ristorante, Pendolino, Restaurant Arras, Sailors Thai Restaurant, Sepia, Yoshii
HATTED RESTAURANTS - REGIONAL
2 hats
Darley’s (Katoomba), Rock (Pokolbin)
1 hat
Bacchus (Newcastle), Bamboo (Casuarina Beach), Bells at Killcare (Killcare Heights), Bistro Molines (Mount View), Caveau (Wollongong), Fins (Kingscliff), Journeyman (Bowral), Katers (Sutton Forest), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Lolli Redini, Neila (Cowra), No. 2 Oak Street (Bellingen), The Old George and Dragon (East Maitland) Ottoman Cuisine (Barton, ACT), Pacifi c Dining Room (Byron Bay), Restaurant Como (Blaxland), Restaurant II (Newcastle), Satiate (Bangalow), Sourcedining (Albury), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Waters Edge (ACT), Zest (Nelson Bay)






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I have been living back in Lake Illawarra, NSW for a few years after living in Northern Wollongong suburbs and Tasmania and one of the things I really enjoy is a visit to Windang, a tourist town for fishermen and people that want to just slow down and enjoy the wonderful Lake Illawarra and nearby beaches.
It was after 2pm and most of the restaurants and club meals had finished so it was nice to find the Long Island Cafe and its vibrant orange interior which drew me in to have a closer look. The smell of coffee was in the air and the cold bar with different types of fish and other seafood available soon piqued my interest.

I asked if it was possible to have the hoki fillet grilled with garlic butter and I was told that it wouldn't be a problem. There was a small fee of 50 cents. Believe me - it was well worth it! One of the most succulent, flavourful fish I have had in years!


The seafood skewers I had spotted on the menu were great value, including prawns, mussels, calamari and vegetables and served with a wonderful salad which included beans, cauliflower and a really nice dressing plus chips.


There were plenty of seats available if we wanted to dine in but what I was really looking forward to was a seat by the waters edge and I wasn't disappointed. There is nothing like it and for $16 we had a full fillet of fish grilled to perfection and two seafood skewers with chips and salad. More than enough to feed two people and a few (dozen) seagulls as well. A short distance away I enjoyed watching the sun go down over Windang island. Such a wonderful day to end a day.


Located near the Post Office and Liquor Store on the south-bound side of Windang Road it is a well kept secret that will soon be a firm favourite.

I also purchased some Viking Blue Cheese form the mixed goods store on the corner which was enjoyed as supper hours later. They stock a wide range of cheeses and other gourmet items as well as a range of grocery items and fresh produce. Perfect for making up a picnic or enjoying a nice cold icecream on a warm Winter's day.

MENU

Fresh Fish, Meal Combos, Gourmet Burgers, Foccacias & Sandwiches, All day Breakfast and coffee.
Prices:

Fish and Seafood: Catch of the day $4.50 or $8 with chips and salad. Lightly fried in lemon tempura batter (50 cents more for grilled). Nile Perch or Barramundi $6 or $9.50 with chips and salad.

Seafood combos (with chips and salad) include: Seafood basket $9.50; Grilled Barramundi with horshradish sauce $10.50.; Salt & Chilli prawn $11; Grilled Barramundi Karumba with prawns & avocado $14.50; BBQ Rump Steak $14, Grilled Salmon Kilpatrick with bacon $15.50

Other combos (all come with chips and salad): Chicken Schnitzel $7.50, Lasagne $8.50, Boneless fried chicken $8.50, Salt & Pepper Squid $8.50, Seafood Skewers $11

Gourmet burgers starting at $4.50 for Traditional hamburger or Egg & Bacon Roll up to $5.50 for Steak & Mushroom Roll

Foccacias Creat your own with 3 fillings are $4.50 then $1 per filling or try Long Island Cafe's Beyond 2000 (chicken, avocado, sundried tomato & tasty cheese), New York New York (Turkey, cucumber, onion, carrot w. cranberry sauce), Device Dream (Roast beef, carrot, mushroom, seeded mustard & swiss cheese) or Tropical Island (Ham, cheese, capsicum and tomato).

All Day breakfast starts at $2.50 for raisin toast or cinnamon toast, 4.50 forTurkish bread melt or $9 for the big breakfast of Bacon, egg, grilled tomato, sausage served on toast with orange juice or coffee $9.

Coffees: All coffees are $3.00


Long Island CAFE
Shop 1, 233 Windang Rd, Windang
Phone: 0242 965556
Monday - Sunday 7.45am - 6.30pm
Closed Tuesday

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One of my favourite restaurants of Shellharbour, La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant has moved to Keira St, Wollongong. If you like Spanish food then you'll love La Marina.

Below are some of the meals we enjoyed at La Marina when they were still located in Shellharbour. I hope to visit their Wollongong store very soon. Don't forget to buy a carafe of their sangria. It makes the Spanish dining experience even more authentic!

It was Australia Day and we were also celebrating a friend's birthday. We had a table of four diners and decided to start with Parilla de Mariscos, a BBQ'd seafood platter A selection of grilled seafood including fish, scampi, king prawns, squid, pippies, and mussels served with chips and salad on the side.($36.00 - Min. 2 persons). Next, several tapas were chosen including tasmanian scallops, pippies, whitebait and a very enjoyable chorizo sausage in dry sherry. Delicous! It almost makes you want to scream out 'Ole!'

After we were seated, we were presented with some free almonds, nicely spiced and a great start to a wonderful meal.

Free almonds

Parillada de Mariscos (Min. 2 persons) - BBQ'd seafood platter.
A selection of grilled seafood including fish, scampi, king prawns, squid, pippies, and mussels served with chips and salad on the side. 36.00pp

Seared Tasmanian Scallops - In chilli & roasted sweet paprika with garlic & white wine 11.90

Everyone had a taste of the scallops which were superbly cooked and the sauce was amazing.

Almejas - Pan cooked pippies with white wine, garlic and parsley 11.50

A very morish dish which we all enjoyed a sample off. It brought back memories of collecting pippies on the beach, looking for the tell-tale bubbles in the sand. A definite favourite.

Chanquettes - Lightly floured white bait deep fried, served with lemon wedge 10.50

Not really to my taste but the men at our table really enjoy the crispy whitebait, although after sampling the scallops and pippies I can't see the attraction.

La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant
130 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone: 02 42 271033

http://www.lamarina.com.au/index.htm


Photos by Vanessa Pike-Russell for Illawarra Food Reviews
http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com/


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Restaurant and Catering NSW have released their 2009 SOUTH COAST AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE NOMINEES LIST

ASIAN RESTAURANT

Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant, Bargo
Kings Chinese, North Wollongong
Mango Moon, Kiama
Mylan Restaurant, Wollongong
Trang Vietnamese Restaurant, Wollongong

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

Café Lush Pambula, Pambula
Diggies Café, North Wollongong
The Waterfront Café, Pambula

BYO RESTAURANT

Costa Azzurra Woodfire Restaurant, Fairy Meadow
Josh’s Cafe, Berrima
Red Raven Restaurant, Nowra

CAFÉ – UPPER COAST

Café Parkview, Kiama
Lysanders, Shellharbour
Relish on Addison, Shellharbour
Seahaven Café, Gerroa

CAFÉ – LOWER COAST

Annnabels Café, Ulladulla
Monets Café Restaurant, Batemans Bay
The Starfish Deli, Batemans Bay

CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – LOWER COAST

Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree
Millards Cottage Restaurant, Uladulla
Seagrass Brasserie, Huskisson

CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – UPPER COAST

55 on Collins, Kiama
Bellachara Restaurant, Gerringong
ei8ht, Camden
Eschalot, Berrima
Samuels Restaurant, Thirroul

FAMILY RESTAURANT

Little Italy, Thirroul
Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf Restaurant, Merimbula
Panarotti’s Macarthur, Ambarvale
Vaby’s Mediterranean Grill, Picton

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

ENZO Restaurant, Camden
La bella Vita, Camden
Lorenzo’s Diner, Wollongong
Michael’s Ristorante, Wollongong
Trevi Fountain Restaurant, Nowra
Trio Trattoria, Nowra

NEW RESTAURANT - UPPER COAST

46 on Crown Bar & Restaurant, Wollongong
Angelico Restaurant, Leumeah
Lee and Me, Wollongong
Luigi’s Restaurant, Narellan
May’s Restaurant, Dapto
Red Olive Restaurant, Mittagong

NEW RESTAURANT - LOWER COAST

Australian Hotel, Nowra
Dry Stone Restaurant, Mimosa Winery, Bermagui
Hungry Duck, Berry
Waterview on the Bay, Batemans Bay

PIZZA RESTAURANT

Bon Aroma Pizza, Bulli
Ciao Mediterranean Restaurant & Pizzeria, Gwynneville
Figtree Gourmet Kitchen, West Wollongong
Pizza’s in the Mist, Bowral
Mimosa Rocks Restaurant, Tathra
Sam’s Pizza Restaurant, Warilla

RESTAURANT IN A PUB / CLUB

Buffet Fusion Family Restaurant, Shoalhaven Ex-Services Club, Nowra
Lynch’s At Narooma, Lynches Hotel, Narooma
Ocean Beach Hotel, Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour
RELISH @ the Links, Links Golf Course, Shellharbour
Swordfish, Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club, Ulladulla
Zac’s Café & Bistro, City Diggers, Wollongong

RESTAURANT IN A HOTEL / GUESTHOUSE / RESORT

Bannisters Restaurant, Bannisters, Mollymook
Elizans of Ulladulla Guesthouse, Ulladulla
Katers Restaurant, Peppers Manor House, Sutton Forest
Ravensthorpe Guesthouse and Restaurant, Albion Park
Windjammers Restaurant, Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong

RESTAURANT IN A WINERY

Centennial Vineyards Restaurant, Centennial Vineyards, Bowral
Crooked River Cafe Wines Restaurant, Gerringong
Stones Restaurant, Eling Forest Winery, Sutton Forest

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Addison’s Seafood, Grill & Bar, Shellharbour
Captain Johns Seafood Restaurant, Merimbula
Cargos Wharf Restaurant, Kiama
On the Pier, Batemans Bay
Pickled Octopus, Tuross Head

SPECIALTY RESTAURANT

Ghedia’s Indian Restaurant, Wollongong
Ritzy Gritz New Mexican Grill, Kiama
Ruby’s Country Style Cuisine, Mt Kembla
Turkoise Mediterranean Restaurant, Campbelltown

STEAK RESTAURANT

Murphy’s Bar Grill, Unanderra
Outback Steakhouse, Fairy Meadow
Outback Steakhouse, Leumeah
Tongarra Restaurant, Albion Park

THAI RESTAURANT

Coconut Thai Restaurant, Wollongong
Jasmine Rice Thai Restaurant, Wollongong
One Thai, Dapto
Raya Thai Restaurant, Helensburgh
Thai Carnation Restaurant, Wollongong
Thai Riverside Restaurant, Nowra

WINE LIST CATEGORY

Elizans, Ulladulla Guesthouse, Ulladulla (Comprehensive)
Eschalot Restaurant (Comprehensive)
55 on Collins, Kiama (Limited)
Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree (Limited)
On the Pier, Batemans Bay (Limited)

CATERING CATEGORIES

RESTAURANT CATERER

On the Pier, Batemans Bay
Ravensthorpe, Albion Park
The Butterfactory Café & Restaurant, Pyree

CORPORATE CATERER

R & R Catering, Helensburgh

FUNCTION/CONVENTION CATERER

City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong

HOTEL CATERER

Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong

WEDDING CATERER

Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong
City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong
R & R Catering, Helensburgh
M&B Food and Catering, Bowral
Addison’s Reception Lounge, Shellharbour Tweet This

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Fish of the day ($21) at Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour Village, originally uploaded by Vanessa Pike-Russell. It was such a lovely day it seemed a crime to spend it inside. We made our way down to Shellharbour village and enjoyed good food and a fantastic view at the Ocean Beach Hotel.

With such a lovely beach view fish of the day ($21) was the only logical choice. The fish of the day was flathead, one of my favourite fish and it was very sweet and flavoursome. The chips were beer-battered and delicious, as was the salad which included thin strips of freshly cooked beetroot, rocket, carrot and tomato. Not a slice of capsicum to be found, which was a nice surprise!

A prawn was added as garnish and whilst the photo shows some tartare sauce in a scallop shell we also indulged in the OBH' own seafood aioli made of garlic, cream, lemon and lime juice - divine!

What more can you ask than a great view, lovely weather and good food. Another great dining experience with the Ocean Beach Hotel.

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Shellharbour is one of my favourite spots in the Illawarra. Only an hour and a half from Sydney (100km) and half an hour south of Wollongong, it has a lovely seaside village feel with gourmet food and speciality shops certain to please.

It was my birthday and I was celebrating with friends and family. We decided to try out the new Thai restaurant that had opened across the road from the Ocean Beach Hotel and the harbour. I love the fresh flavours of thai food and when I saw that mussells were on the menu I just had to try them. And thankfully I wasn't disappointed!

Mussells Hotpot ($15.90) Tender, juicy mussels in a hotpot with basil, lemongrass, chill and sweet chilli sauce. Amazing! Mussels can often be overcooked and chewy or stringy but these just melted in the mouth and the juice was so good not a drop went to waste.

The next dish selected was Pad Kra Tium ($14.90) - Stir fried pork with garlic sauce, mushroom soy, dark soy and pepper. It was a very light meal for someone who had requested nothing too heavy and again was cooked to perfection. This is another favourite meal that will be purchased again.

Next was a meal for our curry lover, masaman curry (mild) with cubes of beef with potato, onion and peanut curry gravy. I had a taste of this meal and the flavours of peanut and a mild curry flavour were very pleasing. This is my favourite thai curry dish and great for diners who have trouble with the spicier curry meals.

Last was my Mum's seafood salad

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Rashays Cafe & Restaurant
339 Hume Highway (cnr Atkinson st)
Liverpool NSW Australia

Phone 02 9601 0448

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