Stroll like a dandy down Dee Why promenade of a weekend morning and you'll see a few cafes with…read morezero people in them and one with all the people in them. Literally all of them, like some giant baby has been using them as toys and is jamming them all into one room of a huge Barbie play house for it's own infantile amusement. It doesn't make any sense, only, it totally does. The cafe is Seachange. and the reason it's so beloved by locals is three-fold: the servings are huge (no fleck of steak on a giant white plate here), they're happy to change absolutely anything on your order without any pissy whining or "No, the chef would kill me" type excuses, and the staff and management are unbelievably friendly. Wulf (sp?) made sure our group got a table inside to protect the little baby we had with us from the sun, and even though he was run off his feet stopped by the table a few times to drop jokes. I had the acai brekky bowl with banana and strawberry and bircher, at $15.90 it's the healthiest way to start the day while still feeling like you're eating ice cream. The Local with tons of bacon, eggs, and a potato rosti is also a winner, as is, oh, pretty much anything on the menu. When you're done, slop across the road and roll about on the beach like a walrus. Trust me, it's great.

One and a half years later, it still has maintained that same quality. Nice and efficient service,…read moregreat portions and good food. The coffee ($3.80) is enjoyable (excellent latte art by the way!) and the view is simply perfect. I love coming here when catching up with friends. Their toasted Turkish sandwiches are still my favourite ($15 and a large portion). Nothing better than consistency and they have it here. Highly recommended!!

Our tour guide and countless Redditors said to eat at The Pantry when in Manly. That said, it is a…read morepopular spot and with the restaurant being on the smaller end, it's best to make a reservation. We were lucky to secure a booking for 1:00P on the day of. Their menu is considered modern Australian with an Italian flair, which is an interesting fusion of cuisines. They have tapas, entrees (appetizer size), mains (larger portions) and sides, which can be shared amongst the table or paired with a main to make for a more filling meal. + GRILLED TASMANIAN OCTOPUS (A$28): The four of us shared this and it turned out to be a tantalizing appetizer! Three meaty tentacles and one flat piece were served on top of n'duja (spreadable pork sausage) with pipes of lime confit on the side. This was my first time having n'duja, which had a smoky flavor from Calabrian chilis that paired well with the grilled taste of the tender octopus. The lime brightened up the dish with citrusy notes. + SEAWEED PRAWN PILLOWS (A$22): While tasty, if I tasted these blindly, I probably wouldn't think of shrimp and seaweed being the two main ingredients. The shrimp and seaweed were finely minced and made into a batter which was then fried into a fritter. They were crispy and light with a soft mochi-like texture inside. Salt on the plate enhanced the flavor even more. + SNAPPER FILLET (A$44): The snapper was delicate, moist and had a wonderfully seared skin. It came topped with a few zucchini blossoms, but that was the extent of the dish, so I'd recommend ordering a side with this. It was placed on a pool of creamy white sauce (which may have incorporated Jerusalem artichoke as noted on the menu) and dollops of black garlic sauce came on top. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the black garlic which had a very earthy flavor that I found too strong and off-putting for the mild fish. The four of us shared a side of BROCCOLINI (A$14) which was a great pairing with all of our mains. It tasted super fresh since the stems still had a nice snap to them. They were simply tossed with extra virgin olive oil, sliced almonds and chili for a hint of heat. My dad enjoyed their spatchcocked chicken and my sister was happy with her sirloin steak. The steak was cooked more than the medium that she requested, but it was still delicious and had a zesty salsa verde. Overall, we had a lovely lunch here. Our meals were wholesome and I could tell that everything was fresh and of pristine quality. This restaurant is right on the beach, so we enjoyed a direct view of the water, giving this spot a beachy vibe with casual elegance.

I would give The Pantry 10 stars if I could. It is one of the best dining experiences I've had in…read moremy life. It's not fancy or Michelin starred or world renowned, but somehow it manages to find the perfect balance between beach casual and chic, while serving amazing food. We stumbled upon it and popped in for lunch after swearing we weren't hungry for a big lunch. Famous last words, right? We started with the caramel Ed garlic bread and piccolo burrata, both of which were amazing. I wanted to lick the plate but my husband gave me the side eye. Someone at the table next to us had the Prawn Salad, and it looked incredible, so we ordered that to split. The prawn salad is the best salad I have ever eaten, and I eat a lot of salads. There were so many flavors and textures and mouthfeels - the creamy avocado, the crispy salty bacon, the sweet tender shrimp, the light oily vinaigrette, the warm salty halloumi. This is salad GOALS. It was so good that we just went ahead and ordered another entree - the grilled barramundi. It was also delicious, the fish was perfectly cooked, the asparagus was tender but firm, the potatoes were crispy but creamy, and the tang of the goat cheese and sweet roasted tomatoes really made something magic. It was temping to get dessert, but we did stop to check out the breakfast menu on our way out. Also - as a pregnant person, I was so thrilled to see a decent list of mocktails! The Passionfruit Fauxjito was really good and tasted like a true cocktail. This perfect little beach restaurant is so unassuming from the outside, but is worth the stop for the gorgeous views, attentive service, and amazing food!

The setting makes this worth the trip. The food and service are solidly four-star. For two, lunch,…read moreAUD 84.7: Roaring Meg Sauvignon Blanc 10.00 San Pellegrino 8.00 Boathouse Salad -- Salmon -- Half Avocado 32 Dory Burger with chips 27 TIP: Counter service with food served at your number-flagged seat TIP: Bikes prohibited from Manly Beach to Shelly on the weekends

A great place to stop for a drink or snack while wandering the Manly beach area. The interior is…read morebright and open with great water views. Place any orders directly at the bar, or at the food service window and they'll give you a number for everything to be brought to you. We didn't eat here but the drinks prices were reasonable considering the prime waterfront location. Very dog & family friendly as well.

Food is great. Good selection of traditional Mexican and healthy stuff my wife and daughter eat…read more Nice to be able to eat food that is not USA-franchise-mass-produced-tasteless-cardboard like the big franchises serve up as though it's food........and have to have good local authentic mexican that is obviously put together with more care and better ingredients. Please stay in business. Now to close with my favourite saying "It's OK if you sometimes fall apart.....Tacos fall apart.....and we still love them!"

Fantastic and fresh Mexican food, we had the special sweet potato fries with cheese sauce which was…read moregreat. Along with pork tacos and beef open burrito, all to share. Nice atmosphere on a warm evening, highly recommend.

Im afraid if i write anything to explain how nice the food is that it may get too busy.read more

I grew up down the street from Mayview and now live in New York and haven't been back to Australia…read morein two years but I am going back in December. Mayview is the first place I am eating! Love it. It's not really a dine in spot, the interior is average but the food is so good! My favorite things to order: honey black pepper steak , combination omelette and the spring rolls. Can not wait.

Stopped by for an early lunch with a mate, All the options on the menu sounded really good!…read more To start i got the matcha milk green tea with coconut milk. So yum and light. Then we got the kale pesto noodles, the nachos with beans and because we really wanted to try the Banana bread and bacon! Wow - I am not a vegetarian nor a vegan but i like trying new things! Loved them all and I told the chef i don't think ive ever had so much tasty veggies in one sitting! Staff were friendly too, will indeed be back!

First time customer & won't be my last visit!…read more I had the Nacho Salad, i'm a big fan of Nacho's but wanted a healthier option - Bingo.... What an explosion of taste & beautifully presented, seriously impressed. I'm not vegan, gluten free required or vegetarian, I just enjoy food & different flavors / ways of exploring / eating food, i'll be back to try the other food items & also test out the coffee!

I was really surprised to find Manna in Dee Why the last time I went to this restaurant it was…read moreIndian. Anyway things change and I don't think anyone will be complaining about Manna as it is excellent. You have to go there for the Beef Short Ribs. The Korean recipe for Beef ribs is the best ever and whenever I dine Korean I order ribs if they are on the menu, if you like ribs you must check it out. Manna also offer a delicious deep fried chicken dish as well. If you want the full Korean experience though, Manna offer Korean Liquor as well as a small selection of reasonably priced Australian wine and beers. Go get the ribs, you won't be disappointed.

A great location, the restaurant has been here a long time. I can remember dropping in regularly…read morefor their fresh baked muffins while on maternity leave (15yrs ago) ! Recently went with my Mum for brunch. Service was friendly, not overly welcoming but friendly none the less. Decor well worn from popularity. Menu was easily navigated with a typical offering. Tried the only different thing in the menu, crab omelette, something we wouldn't cook at home. Not sure what we were expecting but it didn't float our boat. It was not light and fluffy, it was dry and the texture felt like it had curdled (?).... Maybe they are meant to be this way.... We also shared an avocado toast with poached eggs. This was lovely, clean flavors and good quality produce,sliced avo, not smashed which was refreshing . Good coffee and busy local atmosphere. We'll go again, but will not order the crab omelette.

I'm very surprised the very high reviews this restaurant gets...I was wondering how many of them…read moreare actual customers. I go get dinner once or twice every week in Manly and discovered a quite few nice restaurants in the area. However, the food at this restaurant is below average, nothing special. What bothers me is that it also looks not clean and somehow smells. I'm concerned with their hygiene. I now live in Manly and know the locals don't go there for many reasons...

We're from the east and we don't often get to the North Side, but we do enjoy exploring the beaches…read moreand the cafes! A day off gave us the opportunity to head over and enjoy brunch at Little Collins, Freshwater. About 5 minutes walk from the beach, located on the strip of shops in Freshwater, the cafe is on a corner spot, uncover but open to the breeze and daily sunlight. Stylish and casual fit out with wire chairs, hanging pendant lights and flowers for a decorative element. Staff are friendly and hospitable, make your order at the counter and food is brought to you when ready, and it is quite efficiently. We begin with our coffee, made using Campos beans, and had this with our healthy brekkie bar for a nice little snack while our meal was prepared. Drink wise, there's plenty of juices and smoothies or milkshakes and kombucha. The menu sports all day brekkie and lunch from 11am with your traditional brekkie favourites, as well as super healthy items like acai, Bircher and salads for lunch. We order savoury dishes; the smashed avo, lemon labneh + dukkah with cherry tomatoes, and dukkah. We added mushrooms to the dish. We also ordered the scrambled eggs with a side of kale and relish. The eggs were nice and creamy, with crispy bread. It was a great brekkie and a good option since you can choose from a range of add ons. The food can be ordered eat in or to go, and if you're in a rush, there's also plenty of food ready in the window, from muffins, croissants to healthy slices and we had a few of these too. Coffee is by campos, a mainstream favourite, and there's also plenty of options for tea, juice or smoothies. Food here is well priced and the cafe overall is very approachable.

Popped in here randomly cause I was hungry. Ordered the chili eggs and wow!! Sooo good!!! The…read morefirst time since living in Australia where I've finally found food with flavor that's not Asian. This would be the closest to "Mexican spices" I've found. Definitely worth checking out! Staff was friendly too.