Why Everyone is Talking About Whale Beach's Best Restaurant

For 86 years, Jonah's Restaurant has sat perched high on the hill overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful Whale Beach. Just 40km north of the Sydney CBD, Whale Beach is the ideal beachside escape and the contemporary Australian cuisine at Jonah's complements it perfectly.

Since 2009, the award-winning kitchen at Jonah's has been run by Peter Ridland, one of the true stars of Australian cooking. But Jonah's is now pleased to introduce a fresh face and new Executive Chef, Logan Campbell.

Campbell joins the team fresh from his stay in Singapore, where he has been helping to establish one of the most talked about new restaurants in the city. A 12-year veteran of Lucio's in Paddington (which enjoys a reputation for exceptional Italian), Campbell says he is both excited and honoured to take the helm at one of Sydney's oldest restaurants.

Campbell will be responsible for the a la carte and degustation menus in the restaurant, and with such a strong background at Lucio's, you can be sure to see some Italian influences creep into the kitchen. But Campbell assures Jonah's isn't turning Italian, and you can still expect the same modern Australian choices. It's just that portion sizes will be a little larger (in true Italian style) and there might be a few new pasta dishes available, including Campbell's signature dish.

In keeping with its seaside location, Jonah's will continue to serve some of the finest seafood in Sydney.

For Campbell, the intention is to not mess with a winning formula. Jonah's is more than just a restaurant – it's an institution. Since its opening as a roadhouse in 1929 by Constance Vidal, 'modern day' ladies and gentlemen would set off in their motorcars to enjoy a weekend excursion to the popular eatery. It has been home to thousands of dining memories and attracts a large number of loyal diners. The perfect combination of old meets new and the sensational view are what keeps people coming back time and time again.

Then there's the cellar…

Jonah's is home to an impressive cellar, housing more than 5,000 bottles of vintage Australian and international wines. They are passionate about wine and the menu presents some of the world's most interesting and exciting wine labels. In fact, the wine list features as many as 1,500 wines!

And overseeing it all is another newbie, who comes in the form of respected sommelier, Luke Collard.

Prior to taking his position as Head Sommelier at Jonah's, Collard was Head Sommelier at Alessandro Pavoni's two-hatted Ormeggio. Before that, you could find him at Giovanni Pilu's renowned Pilu at Freshwater, winner of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Wine List of the Year.

Between the stunning view, contemporary Australian menu and the extensive wine list, it's hard to beat a visit to Jonah's. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, you can enjoy a set breakfast menu for just $50 (inclusive of tea/coffee/juices) and mains from $39. For those who enjoy a lighter bite, there's also The Terrace, where guests can sit back and relax over some very yummy grazing delights.

Getting there

Getting to Whale Beach is as easy as hopping in the car and travelling the picturesque 50 minute drive from Sydney's heart up through the Northern Beaches. If you want something truly memorable, however, why not arrive in style by Sydney Seaplane and enjoy a magic day with a special someone.

Feel like making a weekend of it? Jonah's also offers a boutique hotel, part of the prestigious hotel association, Relais & Chateaux.  Offering eleven Ocean Retreat accommodation rooms, complete with hand-crafted furniture, king-size beds and views over the Pacific Ocean, you have no reason not to stay and take in the magnificent sunrise.

If you know someone who'd love a trip to Jonah's, why not get them the gift of a Good Food Gift Card? They can deduct the amount from their bill when dining at Jonah's (and can even use the balance at another restaurant!).

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Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour has been an entrepreneur for 35 years in the hospitality sector. French born, she has been an accomplished business owner and operator for a number of Sydney venues. Leading the industry with high profile institutions such as Lamrock Café Bondi, she has endless passion for the industry, and now has the pleasure of supporting restaurants to fill their tables with the new Good Food Gift Card program.

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