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Catalina

Catalina Article Lead - narrow
Catalina Article Lead - narrowSupplied

Good Food hat15/20

Contemporary$$$

Once a Rose Bay fixture, the Catalina flying boat was among the most dependable aircraft ever made. Just as dependable is this enduring restaurant. Harbour views scream, nay, screech Sydney, as does the user-friendly surf-and-turf menu. An entree of confidently handled seared sea scallops with sweetcorn puree, morcilla and pancetta impresses, as does crisp confit of pork belly with pear compote, quinoa and spanner crab salad. But it's with main courses that things really take off. Pan-fried snapper fillet is a chunk of warm, meaty fish with a tantalisingly soft bed of potato and garlic mash, while an equally good pan-roasted lamb rack with chive spaetzle is perfectly, pinkly cooked. Desserts (which can be shared as a selection of five, if you dare) run from strawberry pavlova with lime curd and strawberry coulis to classic lemon tart with mascarpone. Service is efficient and considerate, while the well-heeled crowd is appropriately studded with Sydney high-flyers.

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