Latest news with #AquaDining
Time Out
5 days ago
- Time Out
This stunning clifftop retreat overlooking Whale Beach offers some of the best views in Sydney
Perched high on the cliffs above Whale Beach is Jonah's, a sea-salt-sprayed boutique hotel and restaurant that has been standing strong since 1929. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow sunlight to stream into the bright-white dining room, and every table faces the ocean so there's not a bad seat in the house. And while this seaside classic is a bit of a drive away, Jonah's offers the kind of views that make you feel like you're on holiday. The menu, overseen by executive chef Rey Ambas – who's previously worked at Aqua Dining and Pilu – celebrates modern Australian cuisine with Italian flair. Guests can opt for the go-hard-or-go-home seafood platter, featuring hot and cold seafood served on a three-tiered stand and best enjoyed with a bottle of chilled Champagne. Or there's the three-course option, where you choose an entrée, main and dessert. Highlights include fresh, raw yellowfin tuna paired with apple, cucumber and vibrant dill oil; grilled king prawns with miso and orange butter, pickled fennel, grapefruit, wasabi mayo and pops of smoked salmon roe; capellini twirled with tomatoes, garlic, chilli and lemon shavings; and roast lamb with peas, marinated buffalo feta, balsamic currants and baby radish. If there's the option to add on plump, sweet and caramelised scallops bathed in burnt butter, do that. Dessert-wise, an orange blossom and vanilla semifreddo is paired with pomegranate, lime gel and pistachio ice cream; a banana and coconut soufflé comes with silky house-made gianduja ice cream; and there's a pineapple and lime 'Splice' featuring lime mousse, vanilla crumble and pineapple sorbet that's bright and zesty. The menu is backed up by a strong, encyclopaedia-like wine program curated by head sommelier Georgina Larsson (ex- Aria). The award-winning list features more than 1,600 wines, stored in two temperature-controlled wine cellars. Expect polished, warm and friendly fine-dining service – where you feel like a rockstar for a couple of hours. Some may say Jonah's feels a little dated. But with crisp wines, excellent service, crowd-pleasing food and those views, you'll still have a whale of a time. Time Out tip: After your meal, head out to Jonah's terrace balcony and enjoy a final Spritz before the journey home. Better yet, book a night here and keep the good times rolling. Find out more here. These are the best Italian restaurants in Sydney.
Time Out
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
A gorgeous new Greek restaurant is now open on Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf
Akti, a gorgeous new Greek restaurant by the family-owned-and-operated Sydney Restaurant Group – who are behind waterfront spots Aqua Dining, Ormeggio at The Spit, Sails, Ripples Chowder Bay and more – is now open on Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf. The harbourside diner, which has taken over the space previously occupied by seafood restaurant Manta, celebrates the Drakopoulos family's heritage, serving up the flavours of Greece with a modern spin. Akti joins a slew of new Greek restaurants to open in Sydney of late (hello, Olympus, Olympic Meats and Ammos) – proving our love of creamy taramasalata, fresh, crunchy horiatiki and caramelised, slow-roasted lamb shoulder is showing no signs of slowing down. Founder of Sydney Restaurant Group, Bill Drakopoulos, says: 'Akti brings new energy to a space as quintessentially Sydney as the harbourside Finger Wharf, which is heritage-listed and significantly where many Greek migrants first arrived by steamship in the 1950s. 'We are paying homage to this shared heritage, with the new venue embodying the Greek tradition of filoxenia – wholehearted hospitality,' he adds. Leading the kitchen at Akti is Ntinos Fotinakis, who comes from Bungalow7 in Athens, as well as head chef Robert Judd, who's worked at Hellenika at The Calile, as well as SK Steak & Oyster. Begin with soft, handmade pita alongside Kalamata olives, fava, tarama, tzatziki and melitzanosalata (a smoky eggplant and garlic dip), as well as moussaka croquettes, and saganaki with smoked lemon and oregano. More substantial dishes include grilled king prawns with gremolata and lemon; lamb shoulder with chimichurri; and pork belly souvlaki with yoghurt and pita. For dessert, a riff on galaktoboureko sees thin, crisp pastry layered with creamy milk custard into a showstopping delight. The drinks menu features hard-to-find Greek wines, as well as innovative and well-balanced cocktails crafted by Nicola Drakopoulos – like the Meet Me at Akti, made with Aperol, Limoncello, clarified guava and pistachio, and Kalimera, Baby, a tzatziki-inspired drink with dill vodka, pepper vodka, cucumber, mint and Greek yoghurt. Martini lovers should try Before 9, a savoury tipple with EVOO fat-washed vodka, clarified celery, cherry tomato, Kalamata olives and spices. Forget the whitewashed walls of Greek homes – Akti evokes the warm glow of an Aegean sunset, decked out in soft peaches, pinks and yellows, with the design overseen by Perry Drakopoulos. Plush seats, coastal-kitsch trinkets and beautiful lamps inject colour and life into the space. Chic white umbrellas provide shade for sun-soaked lunches, and we're a big fan of the small bar area that's perfect for casual drop-ins. These are the best Greek restaurants in Sydney right now. If you're working on a budget try one of the best cheap eats in Sydney.
