Coogee Pavilion, Coogee

A British philosopher named Francis Bacon once said, “Consistency is the foundation of virtue”. I totally believe him and l also absolutely love his surname! With consistency comes trustworthiness and integrity. The Merivale group is consistent in terms of the food they offer at their restaurants. You can always be certain that the dishes will always be spot on. A few weeks ago, they transformed the Beach Palace into to their very own food paradise called Coogee Pavilion.

Executive chef Jordan Toft and head chef Zac Sykes runs the new joint. The space is huge and is somewhat like an “All in one” food hall type venue. The beautiful interior has a homey and loft design with industrial fittings. A part of the building offers an ocean view and is nicely designed to welcome a lot of natural lighting. The menu features their own twist on old-time favourite beach bistro dishes and more. They even have a brick wood fire pizza oven for authentic Neapolitan pizzas, Will & Co coffee station for espresso drinks and a cocktail bar. Upon arriving at 11:00 am, crowds have already arrived.

Caffe latte

The beans used in their coffee are a blend from Will & Co. The caffé latte ($3.80) was smooth with rich notes of chocolate. It had a medium to full body and the textured milk had a good temperature.

Coogee diner burger

First up, was the amazing Coogee diner burger with chips ($18). The chips was cooked to perfection and seasoned well! It was super crisped on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The burger may look simple but what makes it amazing is that it’s perfect in its simplicity as a well-rounded hamburger. The beef patty was flavoursome and juicy with a nice surface caramelisation. The patty in my opinion also had right height and size. It had melted American cheese, the right amount of salad (lettuce, onion, tomato), pickles and sauce. The hamburger encased in a soft sweet bun can easily be handled with minimal mess. It is my favourite hamburger in Sydney to date. It is very similar to Melbourne’s Huxtaburger.

Spiced lamb ribs

The spiced lamb ribs with pickled chilli aioli and burnt lime ($26) were also absolutely perfect! The ribs were super tasty, fatty and it was so tender that it fell off the bones. The aioli had hints of sweet and sour flavours that complimented the juicy spiced lamb meat well. The sweet and citrus juice from the lime gave the flavours an added lift.

Mini lobster roll

We also tried the mini lobster roll ($18) with celery, lemon mayo and chives. The soft sweet roll used for this dish was nicely buttered and held the filling well. The lemon mayo had a bit of bite from the celery and chives, which also suits the lobster meat. A dash of tabasco sauce amplifies the filling.

Salted caramel custard pot

For dessert we tried their salted caramel custard pot, mascarpone cream and polenta cookie ($12). It was absolutely lush and the kind of dessert that creates blissful moments. Either you choose to scoop the contents with your spoon or the polenta cookies, your tastebuds will feel like it has hit the jackpot. The layers of mascarpone cream and salted caramel were already a treat. But upon reaching the rich, smooth and eggy custard, my excitement level goes on overdrive.

The new Coogee Pavilion is a wonderful addition to the Coogee Beach dining scene. It’s a sanctuary with great food and excellent service. From what I’ve observed, it is definitely a crowd pleaser! The Merivale group has taken beach culture dining to the next level.

Coogee Pavilion

169 Dolphin St,

Coogee, NSW, 2034

Phone: (02) 9240 3000

Website: http://merivale.com.au/coogeepavilion/

Opening hours

Monday to Sunday 11:00 am til late

Takeaway Will & Co Coffee and Love Juice available from 7:00 am