Catalina Restaurant

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A restaurant experience like no other

Catalina is one of Australia's great destination restaurants situated on a landmark Rose Bay site on Sydney Harbour's eastern foreshore. The restaurant was designed as a homage to the beauty of Sydney Harbour. Diners have a panoramic view of Sydney Harbour at water-level, punctuated only by the comings and goings of a working harbour: ferries, water taxis, fishing and sailing boats, and incoming sea planes based in front of the restaurant.

Experienced restaurateurs Michael and Judy McMahon opened Catalina in 1994 with a simple goal: to be Sydney's favourite place to eat the best by the water. They are joined by their daughter Kate as Floor Manager who  keeps a well-honed eye on all aspects of the restaurant's operations: the food, wine, service and ambience.

Catalina's kitchen remains open continuously from midday to late in the evening. Diners are welcome to dine all day on Mark Axisa's fresh, authentic menus, inspired by the classics - French, Italian, Spanish and Mediterranean. Seafood is a Catalina specialty: oysters are shucked to order; salmon is cured and smoked in-house; and long-standing relationships with Sydney's leading suppliers provide the restaurant with the best line-caught fish. Meat eaters are also well catered for.

Awards:
1 Hat, SMH Good Food Guide
1 Star, Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide, and rated in Top 100 restaurants in Australia
3 goblets, Australian Wine List of the Year Awards

Reviews of Catalina Restaurant

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  • TOMBIGFISHER   6 reviews
    Visiting Sudney on Holiday. Friends took me to Catalina.
    Can only say very impressed and had a superb meal.
    Glad they suggested the restaurant, well done to the staff.

    4 months ago - 04/01/2013

  • roxielawry   3 reviews
    I really love this restaurant. They got a beautiful place Great food and the service was very good.

    7 months ago - 17/10/2012

  • SimonH.   10 reviews
    I really love this restaurant. They got a beautiful place. Their food are all mouth watering.

    7 months ago - 02/10/2012

  • doroscheme   2 reviews
    had a wonderful dinner.. service is great!

    9 months ago - 26/07/2012

  • ToshiaH  Newbie   1 review
    I had a wonderful lunch there just the other day. It was a lovely and warm environment from start to finish. The food was beautiful and the service beyond expectation. It helped make our day great. I have been to Catalina a number of times over the years and with this sort of food and service, I will definitely be back again soon. Thanks to them for providing a lovely birthday lunch.

    9 months ago - 23/07/2012

  • ElsBells   6 reviews
    Lovely food & service

    17/05/2012

  • jamielyons   5 reviews
    Great food and the service was very good :-)

    16/05/2012

  • Jo-Anne Rapisardi  Newbie   1 review
    Roast Garlic has never been this romantic!

    28/04/2012

  • Beach4me   11 reviews
    Thoroughly enjoyed the food here!!

    02/04/2012

  • heatherlee   5 reviews
    GREAT service and great food, my family and my self had a great time

    02/04/2012

  • Chris1964   5 reviews
    one of my favorite place in Sydney to dine, The food is outstanding :-)

    26/11/2011

  • Kate Woolford  Foodie   58 reviews
    Situated in a pole position beside the moored boats at Rose Bay, Catalina is stunning, both the food and the experience. The McMahon family have occupied this little piece of heaven for the last 16 years. Catalina is an upscale cafeteria. The staff at Catalina are a delight to deal with.

    They do everything from sushi and sashimi to Italian and French contemporary inspired dishes, such as the roasted suckling pig with quince aioli and the twice cooked crisp skin baby chicken with soy aioli, cucumber, shallot and chilli salad. The honeycomb desert (honeycomb parfait with chocolate brownie and caramel) is to die for.

    The restaurant is very spacious and the panoramic views are breathtaking. The sea planes landing majestically as you devour your divine cuisine is all part of the Catalina charm.
    I live in Rose Bay so the fact that its my local is very handy! Not a cheap outing, but its most certainly worth it.

    28/02/2011

    • Cee Zee Local Star 
      Totally agree with Kate about Catalina. Its also a great function space. i have been to a few functions here and they have been spectacular.

      14/02/2012

      REPORT
  • jocamp80   1 review
    Beautiful views, and the most amazing food!!! Been here several times with my family and we all love it. Will be back for sure!

    15/02/2010

  • Sloane22   3 reviews
    Absolutely lovely food. Though it wouldn't hurt the staff to crack a smile every now and then.

    20/08/2009

  • Daz07   8 reviews
    This was my first time at Catalina and I'd heard such wonderful reports. The atmosphere and view were spectacular. I cannot fault the food - it was brilliant. The Snapper fillet was the best I've ever had. They were very busy and it did take a while for us to be seated, even with a reservation for lunch, and we waited a while to order a much needed wine.

    28/04/2009

  • Out About  Foodie   235 reviews
    I've eaten at Catalina around 5 - 7 times and always found it a great place for lunch (haven't ever tried dinner). On a recent visit the food was very good - gnocchi with braised cheek provided a nice balance - I enjoyed the tuna with olive tepenarde too. It was a busy Sunday and the service was a little off beat - took way to long to be seated and then our waiter disappeared for 10 minutes before we were asked if we'd like a drink - We were offered bread only to be left for some time and then asked again by another waiter if we'd like some break - it seems a number of times our requests were just forgotten. For the price (around $180 a head) we all expected the service to more efficient and friendly.

    26/04/2009

  • hmshladdie   6 reviews
    Catalinas is a classic Sydney dining experience. Fly in on a waterplane for the ultimate thrill. Home of the rich and famous. Enjoy

    08/12/2008

  • BondiFoody   14 reviews
    A fabulous, quintessential Sydney restaurant with sparkling views of the harbour. Catch a seaplane there to make the occassion extra special.

    16/10/2008

  • Lola_H   12 reviews
    I have been to Catalina's a few times now and on my last visit discovered that they have a Master Sushi chef here. The sashimi was amazing! An absolute must next time you want to treat yourself to a good meal.

    16/10/2008

  • Justine Sc  Foodie   62 reviews
    We have been to Catalina's on two occasions now for work lunches and both have been spectacular. I cannot fault the food and service and would highly recommend the cheese platter to finish off as it is a perfect end to a meal for all cheese lovers.

    16/10/2008

  • Monday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Tuesday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Wednesday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Friday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Saturday:
    12:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Sunday:
    12:00 PM-6:00 PM

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Restaurants

Dining Options

Indoor Dining A-la-carte Outdoor Seating Eat-in Alfresco Functions Harbourside Dining Bookings Water View Corporate Dining Banquet

Cuisine

Modern Australian Seafood

Price Guide

Mains under $50 Mains over $30 Mains $30-$50 Mains over $50 Entrees over $30 Entrees under $30

Licensing

Licensed

Features

Group Bookings Private Function Valet Parking Bar Sea View Family Friendly Parking Function Room Outdoor Seating

Menu

Dinner Lunch

Editorial Reviews

  • Catalina

    Ultimate Sydney

    Sunday, August 02, 2009

    You couldn’t get more Sydney if you tried – dining alfresco on amazing seafood, watching seaplanes and the pelicans that come to perch while you dine on the balcony at one of the classiest places to lunch. Catalina deserves its great rep. Sydney rock oysters? Check. Great seafood? Check. Views? You bet. All we have to add is: if you can’t decide what to order, make sure you or your lunch date plumps for the ever-so-lightly grilled barramundi with lemon butter and a serve of the very indulgent and perfectly whipped mash. Simply delish.

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