OB真人视讯

When you hear the words surf club, what comes to mind? I think of ice cream, pizza, and Alf Stewart (I haven't watched Home & Away in years, but I understand the Summer Bay Surf Club is still standing. Poor old Mr. Stewart, I'm not so sure).

The newly opened , from the same team behind Queens Rooftop and before that, Saint Alice and Dr Rudis—ticks at least two of these boxes, bringing elevated club-style eats to one of the city's most coveted beachside suburbs. And you'll find it on Hurtsmere Road, hidden away at the top of its very own mini escalator.

Designed by the legends at CTRL-Space, the spot itself is low-key huge and affords three separate spaces for your dining pleasure. For the best seats in the house, you'll want to hit up the sunny deck at the back, appropriately dressed with stripy beach umbrellas and affording a backdrop that even the best interior designer couldn't pull together (read: panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf). 

There's also a generous indoor space with views of a different kind—the bar, and an impressive pizza oven imported from Italy—and a casual gaming area complete with pinball machines, arcade games, and automated dart lanes (also bought over from Europe) running parallel to yet another sun-soaked deck.

Aesthetics aside, let's talk food. As mentioned, the menu pays tribute to the clubroom faves of old, giving them a sophisticated yet approachable tweak. For starters, you'll be treated to sweet and sour chicken lollipops, baked focaccia and prawns on ice; though personally, I'm rather obsessed with the coconut ceviche ft. generous chunks of fresh fish lightly dressed in a coconut cream sauce, paired with crunchy tortilla chips. As someone who has never been huge on seafood (sacrilege for a Kiwi, I know), this is a testament to how good this dish is (and perhaps, how far I've come).

It's at about this point you'll be wanting something to drink, and I'm putting my full support behind the spicy peach margarita. The colour of a sunset, garnished with a slice of green chilli atop a gigantic ice cube to match the green-chilli infused El Jimador Reposado at its centre, there's only one word for it: Glorious. However, if margs or cocktails in general don't do it for you, there's also beer, wine (shout-out to the orange varietals!), and non-alcoholic options available.

Large plates—think chicken parm, meatball subs and fish burgers—and hand-stretched pizzas are up next, with the latter boasting no less than eight different varieties served atop a purpose-built pizza stand (it's these kind of details I love). I enjoyed every last slice of the #2, which features spicy salami, nduja, pomodoro sauce, and basil (honestly, I just saw the word 'njuda' and knew I was all in). With the taste and texture that can only be achieved in a wood-fired pizza oven, this is the kinda slice that will spoil you, in the best possible way.

Round out the main event with a salad, chocka block with only the freshest garden goodness. The Greek number, featuring an entire block of herbed Zany Zeus feta, is a particularly good time.

Anyone who knows me knows that dessert is my favourite part of any menu—well, that and the cocktails—so imagine my excitement at learning that I can get both with the Naughty Knickerbocker Glory. This nostalgic treat features seasonal fruit macerated in booze, topped with vanilla ice cream made daily from the club's very own soft serve machine, meringues, cream, freeze-dried berries and the obligatory maraschino cherry. However, you can also grab a bowl of soft serve topped with Oreos, hot fudge sauce and other goodies or even a Coke float, if you prefer.

As a parent, I feel it's also important to mention that while this is a great spot for a cheeky drink or a bite to eat with friends/workmates/potential love interests, it's also super family-friendly, offering a dedicated kids menu that your littlies are guaranteed to love—tying into the sense of community that surf clubs are traditionally synonymous with.

For a suburb already saturated with restaurants, I have high hopes for this one. It's got a stunning location, a fun fit-out and a flawless menu to boot—that certainly sounds like all the right ingredients for success to me.

Words: Kathryn Steane | Image credit: Jake Dennis. 

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