With its big-box design – eatery meets funhouse, bar, florist, ice-creamery and café – and popularity with families, the Pavilion can sometimes seem a bit like a restaurant-Ikea by the beach. But the diversity of spaces and dining options, sprawled over three big floors, keeps interest high and appetites piqued. For casual bites, snag a stool by the bar and feast on some of the city’s best Neapolitan-style pizza, bubbly and gently charred from the wood-fired oven. Segue to the tables for the likes of sweet roasted bugs, amped with chilli and crisp curry leaves, or tender beef on an aromatic salad of sawtooth coriander, Thai basil and bonito cream. The rooftop, which is off-limits to children, has a separate menu of Middle Eastern snacks (haloumi grilled in vine leaves, lamb chops dressed with zhoug), augmented by smart takes on kebabs. Service can at times seem chaotic, but the pace is typically quick and the focus firmly on fun.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Wine: ★
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
