Nelson Bay is one of my favourite holiday spots just a 3 hour drive north of Sydney, whether it’s for the weekend or longer the place is always a relaxing experience. The Little Beach Boathouse at Little Beach, is the spot to have drinks and dinner if you’re up in the bay. The views from the outside deck are beautiful; the deck goes out to the water and has seating available to enjoy your drinks and breathe in the fresh air whilst taking in the scenery. The sunsets are magical from here (even if you don’t eat go for a drink you won’t be disappointed) and I would suggest that you get a table outside to fully enjoy the experience (but get in early as outdoor spots can be hard to come by especially in the holiday season).
There is a restaurant attached to the bar and from what I’ve heard it’s a great place for dinner (hopefully I’ll be back there to try it out). However, this post is focused on downstairs at the bar and its menu.
Watermelon Mojito
There are a range of beers and ciders on tap to choose from and the bar has a great wine list. Their Watermelon Mojito is beautiful and refreshing after you’ve spent the day swimming in the crystal clear waters that surround the area and its many beaches.
Now the bar menu is a definite stand out. It’s fresh and the food is absolutely delicious. The menu is designed to be shared and trust me a few shared dishes will fill you up.
The Beetroot hummus, za-atar and crisp chickpeas is gorgeous and a great accompaniment if you’re having a drink or as a great starter if you’re planning on sharing.
The Fried Squid with wadashi seasoning, citrus pickled cucumber, roast capsicum aioli is tasty. Being up in the bay their seafood is fresh and the squid bursts with flavour in your mouth.
Grab the Chicken karage Sliders with slaw and sriracha mayo, they come as a serving of 3 and they make a great addition to the share plates and are pretty filling. The chicken is tender and if you’re starving the sliders can be eaten on their own with a side of fries – go for the fries with rosemary salt and mayo absolutely delish!
Now, I’ve had my fair share of arancini balls over my life and let me tell you the Pumpkin and Parmesan Arancini with basil and rocket pesto are ranked highly on my list of most flavoursome. They come as a serving of 4 and are a pretty decent size- not too small or too big.
The Beer Battered Whiting comes with fries and house made tartare sauce and is really nice. The fish is fresh and the dish can be shared with others or eaten as a main meal.
For desert the I tried the Churros with hot chocolate sauce and ice cream, the churros were lovely and coated with just the right amount of cinnamon the only downside was that the chocolate sauce was a bit bland and not thick enough.
So if you’re looking for a good excuse to get away from the city or are already up in the bay and its surrounding areas and want a lovely dinning experience then this is the place.
Address:
Little Beach Marina,
4 Victoria Parade,
Nelson Bay, NSW 2315
Phone: (02) 4984 9420
Bar Opening Hours: 7 days from 12pm to 10pm
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