Father’s Day is almost here, and our local kitchens are pulling out all the stops for Sunday 6 September. Whether Dad prefers a sprawling smokehouse feast in Worrigee, treehouse dining under the paperbarks in Woollamia, or a casual lunch right by the water in Hyams Beach, we’ve found five outstanding local options to suit every Dad.
A Spacious Family Lunch in Worrigee
The Growers by Ponte over in Worrigee has cracked the dad code for a mega feast. They are throwing open their doors for a massive BBQ and buffet lunch that strikes the elusive balance between a premium culinary experience and zero stress.
Executive Chef and sommelier Thiago Menezes and his kitchen team are firing up the coals for a Father’s Day feast made for sharing, with a selection of smoky, slow-cooked meats including soy ginger chicken thigh, marinated pork belly, chimichurri lamb rump and salted rump cap beef. Alongside comes a generous seasonal buffet of salads, roasted vegetables, cheeses and freshly baked bread, with plenty to keep everyone at the table happy.
At $72 for adults, it is a hearty flame-grilled feast that pairs perfectly with a cold beer, or perhaps a bold Shoalhaven shiraz from their extensive drinks list.
The family has been well considered too. Teens aged 12 to 17 can choose from the smokehouse meats or a chicken schnitzel with chips and gravy plus dessert for $42. For kids aged three 11, there’s a $22 kids’ menu and toddlers aged one to three can order from the kids’ meals or enjoy a complimentary bowl of chips, although a seat still needs to be booked.
The Growers’ spacious outdoor area is another reason this feels like an easy family lunch, with a children’s playground, generous lawns and garden views giving younger diners a little room to move while the grown-ups settle in.
There are two sittings, from 11.15am to 1.15pm and from 1.45pm onwards, with the later sitting offering a good excuse to settle in and let lunch stretch into the late afternoon. Bookings are essential.
If handing over the barbecue tongs means actually getting to enjoy Father’s Day with the family, this one is worth considering.
A Little Luxury Amongst the Paperbarks in Woollamia
If Dad has plans during the day, Father’s Day celebrations do not have to end at lunchtime. The Gunyah Restaurant at Paperbark Camp offers a memorable evening experience, tucked amongst the paperbarks in Woollamia, where settling into the Australian bush as afternoon moves into evening is all part of the experience.
Executive Chef Elliott Platz is serving his new spring menu embracing Australian native ingredients and European influences.
On Father’s Day, alongside the regular menu is a premium rib eye special available from 5.30pm to 8pm. The kitchen is serving a generous shared 800g premium rib eye on the bone for $135 per person, with a minimum of two people per order. The rib eye comes with crispy Sebago potatoes and aioli, plus a fresh green salad, making it the kind of meal to settle into with a good glass of red and a little extra time together amongst the stillness of the Gunyah’s bush setting.
It includes a glass of Robert Stein’s 2023 preservative free organically grown shiraz, with its bright, bold fruit flavours and soft tannins sitting beautifully alongside the richness of the rib eye. If it proves a favourite, a bottle is available for $70.
The two-course set menu finishes with dark chocolate torte, cardamom and wattleseed cream.
And while the Father’s Day special is certainly one for the meat-loving dads, Elliott’s new spring menu offers plenty of other reasons to explore, such as the blue swimmer crab croquette with Mazavaroo sauce brings a deep robust chilli heat, balanced with sharp garlic and a bright, tangy citrus punch inspired by a touch of Mauritius.
The new spring menu is also available as a three-course dining experience for $95 per person, with gf, df and vegetarian options available.
Piles of Sticky BBQ Ribs by the Bay in Huskisson
With its chic new deck and views stretching across White Sands Park to the Bay, Sandbar has given us another reason to settle in for a long, lazy Father’s Day lunch.
From midday, the kitchen will be firing up the barbecue for a Father’s Day favourite: a stack of smoky bourbon glazed BBQ ribs $35 served with an ice-cold schooner of your choice of beer from the menu. Their full seasonal menu will be available throughout the day, with plenty of options for the whole family.
For seafood-loving Dads, the freshly shucked Greenwell Point oysters $6.50 each, with a minimum order of three come in five styles including natural, cucumber and lychee salsa, baked prosciutto and Brie, Kilpatrick, or gin and orange.
If grazing is more dad’s style, the $38 Charcuterie Board is made for sharing, with cold cuts, local cheeses, olives, pickles and crackers for two to four people. Add a few small plates to the table and you have a grazing banquet.
No long lunch should finish without something sweet. The $16 dessert menu includes baklava ice cream with rosewater jelly among the choices.
With the new deck, views across the bay, a cold beer in hand and plenty of good food to share, Sandbar has Father’s Day sorted from midday into the afternoon.
Shepherd’s Pie by the Sea at Hyams Beach
Father’s Day gets a suitably relaxed setting at Cooked Goose on Hyams, where Head Chef Jayden and Chef Dan are serving up a comforting shepherd’s pie for the occasion, just a short drive from Huskisson on the shores of Hyams Beach.
The $32.50 Father’s Day special is made with slow-cooked lamb, rich gravy and vegetables beneath a layer of creamy potato mash, baked until golden and crisp. It comes with a choice of sweet potato fries or side salad, plus a schooner of Jervis Bay Brewing Co’s lager or pale ale for Dad.
If shepherd’s pie is not quite calling it for Dad, the regular breakfast and lunch menus will also be available. Owner Maddie has shared a few of her favourites with us, including the zucchini and corn fritters for $23, served with cherry tomato, feta, avocado and alfalfa salad, mango chutney and sweet potato crisps. Add two poached eggs for $7 if Dad is feeling extra peckish.
For a hungrier Dad, the Big Goose Roll is $18.50, loaded with bacon, egg, hash brown, chorizo and cheese. There are also plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free choices.
The bar opens from 11am, with cocktails, an extensive wine list and local Jervis Bay beers available if lunch turns into an afternoon affair. The dog-friendly deck is another draw when the sun is shining, although seating is first come, first served and can fill quickly.
The best way to finish the day is a lovely stroll along the white sands of Hyams Beach, soaking up the spring sunshine.
The Father’s Day shepherd’s pie is available this Sunday only and until sold out. Bookings are recommended, particularly for large groups.
Size Matters: Tomahawk Experience in Huskisson
The Huskisson Hotel is manning up for Father’s Day with a 1.3kg mammoth chargrilled Tomahawk for $220. It’s a serious steak worth sharing, accompanied by the best chips in town, house slaw, corn ribs, and a side of refreshing, herbaceous chimichurri sauce to help cut through all that protein.
There’s a strictly limited number of these beauties available only this Sunday, so we recommend arriving early to secure yours.
If dad is looking for something a little lighter on the pocket but still after that protein fix, the kitchen offers a 300g Rump Steak for $38.00, or you can step it up to the premium 300g Sirloin Steak for $52.00. Both of these classic cuts come with your choice of sides, either a comforting buttery mash and green beans, or the pub-classic combination of chips and slaw, plus a traditional house sauce: gravy, pepper, mushroom, or Diane. If you really want to spoil Dad, you can upgrade either cut with a Surf & Turf topper for $14.00, which crowns the beef with pan-fried garlic prawns swimming in a rich cream sauce.
For those seeking an elevated alternative, the remarkable 600g Rib-Eye on the Bone (MB 2+) for $95.00 is a great option, perfectly marbled, expertly cooked, and one of our personal long-lunch favourites. It rightfully swaps out the standard sides for a curated match of crispy Italian fried potatoes and a vibrant splash of chimichurri. Like the other steaks, it can also be levelled up with the Surf & Turf topper for the ultimate weekend indulgence.
Tables for Father’s Day always fill up fast, so if you want to secure Dad a front-row seat to the best beef in the Bay, you can reserve a table online.
