Coogee Pavilion - Coogee Beach

Now that summer is only a season away, it is time to make the most of the good weather..& this is exactly what we did last Monday. All of a sudden, out of the dreary rain, we were welcomed with a beautiful day, which could only be spent by the water. Chucking on a skirt (I was so excited to not wear jeans), we headed down to Merivale’s new establishment, Coogee Pavilion.

I had walked through the venue a few weeks ago after our Coogee to Bondi walk and had it on my radar to return. Having heard that there was a 3 week waiting list for weekends, we made the smart move to visit on my Monday off. Walking right in at lunch time, we were taken to a communal table (which we had to ourselves) right near the big open windows looking out at the beach…Bliss!

Not being too packed, I was able to snap some beautiful shots of the beach chic fit-out. By the time we left, more of the tables around us were occupied, so it’s good that I took these early.

My dining amigo in blue to match the furniture.

Now for the fun bit…the food! The venue kitchen is setup in different sections, with the menu being split into raw items, small dishes, salads, in a roll, fish & shellfish and the grill. No matter what mood you’re in, I’m sure you can find something to tickle your fancy. The venue is completely open plan, so you can watch the chefs slicing your sashimi, prepping your pizza, or the barmen shaking your cocktail .

Unfortunately there were just the two of us dining, so I don’t have an array of dishes to share today. Number one is the Beer Battered Flathead with Chips, Lemon and Homemade Tartare Sauce. The crunchy coating is delish and the fish moist on the inside. My favourite though is the chips in the tartare, such a good combination.

I chose the Poached Chicken, Lentil, Radicchio, Witlof, Celeriac, Parsley and Goats Curd Salad. There is plenty of chicken, and the lentils add some more bulk so I am pleasantly full once finished. There is nothing worse then ordering a salad and still being hungry afterwards. The goats curd also adds that slight bit of tartness which I like in a salad.

After eating we take a wander around the rest of the venue to uncover more of it’s awesome interior. I especially love the light shade shown above, which was actually knitted with humungous knitting needles. You can check out a photo of it’s creation here.

The one and only whale!

Ginormous Scrabble board to keep the young and the old occupied.

Don’t forget to pick up a bunch of flowers at the entrance, with a florist also in existence on the ground floor. Once the whole venue is complete (levels 2 & 3 are being worked on now), the Pavilion will be your one stop shop for all things in Coogee. Things still to come include a breakfast menu, barber, more food offerings and a rooftop bar for the summer nights.