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    Public Dining Room

    4.1 (16 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Public Dining Room Photos

    PUBLIC DINING ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Public Dining Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sue L.

    We were able to park close to the restaurant but it is metered parking for 3 hours. This experience was a Red Balloon gift but was treated as a voucher purchase. That was unusual. The menu for Red Balloon was different to their other menus. We didn't mind paying extra but without seeing what was on offer we had difficulty ordering bread. Our table was next to the window with a terrific view of the water and surrounding area. We also arrived at noon and the restaurant was quite empty. However, it took an hour to get our entree, and the restaurant began to fill up. We looked at the wine list and decided that the prices were ridiculous and stuck with the mineral water. Many people arrived with their own bottles of wine. Unfortunately there was a group of women, each with their own bottle of wine, and plenty to say. The combination of the glass windows and hard floor with people shouting to be heard completely changed the atmosphere. Main meal couldn't come quick enough. We would have cheerfully left before dessert except it was included and we would have missed out on a couple of very nice desserts. The service was good considering how busy they were. The food was OK.

    Laura N.

    Ohhhhh so fancaaaayahhh! We were on an $100/person set lunch menu for a friend's birthday, and from the moment we sat down, we were treated like royalty. Crisp white linens, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, polished concrete - it was an afternoon of casual luxury I'd image Beyonce participating in. Often. Highlights were certainly the market fish, the asparagus that was the size of, ahem, a small water pipe, the fresh, squishy brown bread, and the over-the-top-delicious desserts. Best saved for a super sunny day and a special occasion, I can certainly see myself bringing out-of-towners to knock their socks off with the views and the desserts. Seriously, they were special. Both of them.

    Shoulder of lamb with Brussles sprouts, carrots & mash to share
    Meng L.

    Perfect location by The Esplanade at Mosman. Beautiful views from the dining area. Food is always good and the service excellent. Now that there is metered parking, finding a place to park is much easier. The Fish stew and King Crab Tagliatelle were very good.

    Would you look at that ooze??
    Maria N.

    What a space !! What a vibe !! What gorgeous folk !! LOVE the lower north shore for this reason - suns always bloody shining, the fit bods are out in full force for all to openly ogle at and the food is clean. Apart from having the best real estate in Mosman, Public Dining Room is just gorgeous - floor the ceiling windows that take advantage of that rising sun - this place GLOWS in the morning. They're doing all things right with their breakfast/brunch menu but what sets it apart is the side of fine dining you get with your meal!! Crisp white napkins - check, water refills from s/s jugs glistening with condensation - tick, wait staff giving enough breathing space - tick, impeccable timing from the kitchen - nailed it for a group of 15 !! I just hate that the parking down at Balmoral Beach is a bit of a rip !!

    Helen M.

    I loved Watermark, the restaurant that used to inhabit this site but the good news is, I love Public Dining Room even more. Right on the beach front at Balmoral beach, it's a masterpiece in elegant understatement. Effortlessly casual for a beachside restaurant but don't go here thinking you can hobble in with a wet bottom and sandy legs - this is beach without the sand and it's effortless in the way that Miranda Kerr is...post make-up. The customers are too beautiful to deal with the real stuff, they'll just watch those in the swimming enclosure thank you very much. Beachgoers are like Big Game and the diners at Public Dining room are the affluent tourists paying for the experience of watching them. This is seriously gorgeous fine dining. I've been for dates nights with my husband and for dinner with girlfriends. On all occasions the service has been exceptional. Attentive, discreet and professional. The menu has changed slightly since my last visit but they treated the Cured Ocean Trout that I had with the utmost respect. Subtle, clean and elegantly finished. Portions are surprisingly generous for a fine dining experience, so actually well worth the extra hit on the pocket or should that be diamante clutch. Gorgeous people, gorgeous.

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    4 months ago

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    3 years ago

    One of our favorite restaurants. Thank you for a lovely Saturday afternoon lunch.

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Nice location in Balmoral. Upscale modern Australian with an emphasis on seafood.

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    Review Highlights - Public Dining Room

    Fantastic view of Balmoral beach from the restaurant, chic but casual interiors, great service and very friendly people.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    People searched for Seafood 442 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Fishmongers Manly - Prawns over salad

    Fishmongers Manly

    4.5(153 reviews)
    4.6 kmManly
    $$

    This little place is off beaten path. It seemed like it served the locals as well as tourists which…read morespeaks to its quality. We ordered prawn bowl and salmon bowl. Salmon was with rice and prawns I had with salad. You can choose whatever option suits you. A glass of Australian wine was a nice accompaniment. Service was quick. It is a small place with most of the seating outside.

    They did not honor the Yelp check-in for a free beer or wine…read more.. Actually, the employee, who I believe was the owner, even said no rudely. Please delete this offer on Yelp. Quality/Quantity - If you like deep fried foods and beer, this is the place for you. Family box $82 - The calamari rings were my favorite. 3 pieces of fish, 4 prawns, 8 calamari rings, 4 oysters, chips, potato cakes, etc. All were fried well and lightly breaded, just the way I prefer. 2 sauces, which they claim were homemade...? The sweet chili sauce tasted the same as the ones I buy in a bottle. They also had tartar sauce. Lemon slices were large and fresh. Atmosphere - This place was not easy to find, in an alley and off to the side. Google maps had it in a slightly different location. Outdoor seating. Open 7 days a week from noon till 8pm. Service - Counter service. But there was a waiter, who was pretty good. Checked on us a few times, and got us everything we asked for. The owner or manager or chef whoever he was, sure did NOT like Yelp... Price - $82AUD, $56. Good value for 5 people. Okay, we are such light eaters. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success and with your 3+ locations...? Please update/delete your Yelp check-in offer.

    Photos
    Fishmongers Manly - 10/30/23 FYI, menu. Outdoor seating

    10/30/23 FYI, menu. Outdoor seating

    Fishmongers Manly - 1/2 Family Box (Serves Two) 2 Fish, 2 Prawns, 4 Calamari, 2 Oysters, Hand Cut Chips, 2 Potato Cakes

    1/2 Family Box (Serves Two) 2 Fish, 2 Prawns, 4 Calamari, 2 Oysters, Hand Cut Chips, 2 Potato Cakes

    Fishmongers Manly - Salmon over rice

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    Salmon over rice

    Fine Fish

    Fine Fish

    4.4(8 reviews)
    2.8 km
    $$$

    I'm the daughter of a professional prawn fisherman. That doesn't mean I know how to talk fish but…read moreit does mean I know a little about the fishing industry what quality fresh fish looks and tastes like. The folks at Fine Fish seem to me to know (like me ol Dad) how to talk fish. I love this concept Fine Fish have adopted of creating a fish counter similar to a butchers counter but with a flavor of a seaside fish and chip shop downstairs and then a fine restaurant upstairs. They have collated a whole heap into a small space that's for sure. It's a tad on the expensive side but that's only if you compare it to the supermarket across the road which buy there's en masse and don't have as strict quality or ethical standards. Quality wise Fine Fish raise the bar. All their seafood is Marine Stewardship Council certified. The MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organization that addresses the problem of overfishing so that our marine environments are kept safe and fish stocks are ample for future generations. Even better is that Fine Fish don't use artificial preservatives to boost water weight and extend shelf life of their fish nor do they use carbon monoxide to enhance colour. Top notch fish to take away, cook at home or fine dine on.

    I discovered Finefish on a public holiday, in a frenzy to find something fresh to give my dinner…read moreguests that evening. Not only was I lucky to find somewhere open, I was lucky to chance on a quality seller of seafood. Finefish exists to give the general public access to top restaurant quality seafood, so it certainly lives up to its name. They are extremely selective about what they sell, usually selling only Australian and NZ catches. The fishmongers who work at Finefish are helpful and offer very handy cooking tips. I recently purchased twelve king prawns from Finefish and the fishmonger offered to peel the prawns, leaving tails on as I requested. That sort of service comes at no extra charge, but such fine fish does not come cheap - $25 or so for my prawns. I guess that is cheaper than a trip to Tetsuya!

    Photos
    Fine Fish
    Fine Fish
    Fine Fish

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    Public Dining Room - seafood - Updated May 2026

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