Our Five Favourite Ettalong Restaurants to Visit Sharpish

Head over to the Peninsula end of the Central Coast to experience the very finest Ettalong restaurants in all their glory. 

From a fancy feed to a more casual catch-up, Ettalong Beach has recently been dubbed the epicurean epicentre of the region, and for good reason.

Here are some of the hand-picked Ettalong restaurants to put on your Coast foodie bucket list…

1. The BOX on the Water | Coastal bliss

Seaside kiosk by day, sophisticated diner by night, this Ettalong restaurant joins the cast of boujie bars and bistros in town. The BOX on the Water offers prime, panoramic water views of the Ettalong foreshore in a contemporary, stylish space that serves modern Australian cuisine all week. With reasonable prices, it’s a perfect place for a weekday lunch from 12pm, or a weekend breakfast from 8am.

Dinner is also offered from Thursday to Sunday from 5:30pm. The kiosk is open every day from 7am. Start off with the Wagstaffe waggles with candied pecans before moving to the citrus cured kingfish or jackfruit tagine, then wrap it up with a dark chocolate crème brûlée. Beverage choice is endless from coffee to cocktails, craft beers to boutique wines, making it an ideal location for any occasion.

RELATED: The Most Romantic Central Coast Restaurants

Top Five Best Ettalong Restaurants

2. Bar Toto | the trendsetter

Jazzy and chic, this trendy Ettalong spot is so much more than a cocktail bar. This is the ultimate tapas hideout for keen bar hoppers and hipsters alike. Italian from head to toe, with a hint of Africa, Bar Toto trattoria and bar is home to some of the sharpest and buttery cheeses hailing from the faraway land. Create your own antipasti board with a range of artisan products, including 24-month aged prosciutto, or turn it up a notch with Nonna’s meatballs, which are sure to make you feel at home.

Stretching across almost four pages, the cocktail list is sure to please all tastebuds with an entire section dedicated to the espresso martini. Open from Thursday to Sunday, 3pm till late, Bar Toto is the perfect way to end the week. Prices are moderate to fair. Get there at 4:30pm and you’ll be able to make the most of mini cocktail happy hour.

3. La Fiamma | A family affair

Brought to the Ettalong restaurants scene back in 2007, La Fiamma has mastered the art of producing an authentic Italian dough topped with the finest ingredients. Their woodfired pizza is genuinely made following a strict traditional discipline set out by the peak Italian pizza-governing body. No kidding.

On top of pizza, the funky La Fiamma also champions some of the most wholesome Italian classics like Sicilian meat balls, carbonara pasta, and eggplant parmigiana. You won’t be able to get past the mozzarella and pea arancini to start. Waltz on in for dinner from 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday, or pop in for lunch on Sunday at 12pm. You definitely won’t bust the bank with this place. 

4. Chica Chica Ettalong | Relaxed Vibe

Opening at the tail end of 2021,  Chica Chica has a slight South American influence to the menu. Try the Argentinian Prime Rib, comprising of a sexy 300grm 6+ marble score Black Angus cooked over open coals, and topped with  chimichurri & Salsa Roja. For the vegies, we’d reccommend the whole roasted calulflower, with garlic, lime and coconut yogurt. Delicious! And while the food is undoubtedly the drawcard here, you’ll be returning for the cocktails. This is one of the best places on the Coast for a margarita. Head over on a Monday for a margarita madness at just $8 a pop.

5. The Ettalong 

Recently renovated into a smick new outing destination with a beer garden, kids play area and Sandbar bistro, this classic pub-styled fav in the heart of Ettalong Beach is the perfect spot to enjoy a hearty lunch or dinner or engage in one of their many fun, organized events. Whether karaoke, live music or trivia is your thing, there’s always something happening at this upbeat spot, so be sure to keep updated on their website.