Garfish, Manly Harbour, Australia

View of Manly Wharf. Photo © L Royds

If you’re looking for deliciously-prepared, fresh seafood then look no further than Garfish at Manly Harbour in Australia. This popular Sydney restaurant is an absolute must-visit when in Manly or even just Sydney.

It’s set right at the harbour with large glass windows, giving you stunning views. It’s also an easy walk to or from the ferry terminal making a great end to a day on Manly or an easy trip from the CBD.

This seafood linguine was sooo tasty. Photo © L Royds

The menu makes seafood the hero – obvs. But it’s prepared on its own, or with pasta, or in a pie, or in a curry. I really like that they give you many different options to accommodate whatever you fancy that day or a diverse group of people looking for different things. I had a look around at the different dishes and everyone seemed quite happy with their plates and it all looked just as delicious as mine.

Their portions are quite big so expect to leave nice and full – I would recommend that if you plan to have three courses, share one or two of them. I enjoyed a tasty seafood linguine and barely had space for my dessert. I’m glad I found space, though, because that sticky date pudding is probably one of the best I’ve had. It was served nice and hot with butterscotch and a creamy vanilla ice cream. It was moist and not too dense and the flavour was clear without being overpowering. It was absolutely worth it.

Sticky date deliciousness. Photo © L Royds

I’d say it’s fairly priced for Sydney – expect higher prices for most things in Sydney. Garfish looks like a like fine dining restaurant but it’s actually more relaxed and didn’t feel at all pretentious. Plus, I was there with a friend and we were both dressed quite casually and no one batted an eyelid. Looking around people were dressed in a mix of styles – some looked like they had come straight off the beach while others clearly had a chance to take a quick shower and throw on a shirt or a dress. That slightly relaxed nature made the experience great. The waiters were friendly but didn’t hover around you. They found that right balance of being available but not overbearing.

We just walked in and were able to be seated but the place was quite full. So if you’re planning to go, you should definitely make a reservation to avoid missing out on what this Sydney gem has to offer.