Stylish dining at The BOX Ettalong
Since opening on Ettalong’s waterfront a few years ago, The BOX on the Water has breathed new life into fine dining on the Peninsula.
The stylish box-like structure blends beautifully with its seaside location, using floor-to-ceiling glass doors to offer a stunning panoramic view of the bay and beyond.
Whether the doors are thrown open to a balmy summer’s eve or closed tight against a wintry morn, there’s no better place to enjoy Ettalong’s picturesque waterfront.
Letting the water views speak for themselves, owners Monique Keogh and Natasha Nicholson maximise the small space with a minimalistic approach.
A lush hanging garden coupled with Plywood tables and walls creates a warm and natural setting that also looks modern, urban and eco.
Monique and Natasha did the styling themselves with help from their husbands who chipped in to build the breakfast bar.
Background beats and lots of chatter give The BOX an instant warmth and atmosphere.
On any given day there are ladies lunching, Champagne celebrations, family feasts or breezy brunches taking place in the idyllic seaside location.
It’s exactly how Natasha and Monique see The BOX – not just a place for special occasions but a ‘local’ that’s great for brunch, lunch, dinner or an afternoon vino with a view.
With small share plates around $20 and mains around $30, the menu has been pitched at everyday fine dining and special occasions.
For brunch we’ve indulged in French toast with poached pear or duck waffles, for lunch we’ve had crispy-skinned barramundi and for dinner we’ve treated ourselves to oysters Kilpatrick, twice-cooked pork belly, tender slip-off-the-bone roast lamb and flaky white-as-snow John Dory.
During Sunset Sips, grab a beer or chilled glass of wine and indulge in the delicious bar snacks including oysters with semillon jelly, seafood tasting plates, baked camembert with honey and truffle, and whitebait fritters.
Whether we choose the comfortable wishbone chairs inside, or plant ourselves right on the waterfront in the outdoor furniture, literally a stone’s throw from the sea, it’s a total treat whiling away a weekend gazing out over Broken Bay in this glorious restaurant on Ettalong’s foreshore with a glass of vino (or espresso) in hand.
