On a recent venture to the south coast, dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON  “happily munched my way through new and relatively new dining spots in Batemans Bay, and around Mogo and Mossy Point.” 

Here are my dining highlights for those heading down the coast for the holidays.

Savour the sea and toast to today at the Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar, on the bay’s boardwalk, with fab water views. Oysters are fresh and cocktails creative, including the classic margarita ($22). Order oysters natural, with mignonette, blood orange gin vinaigrette and pickled ginger, or coconut liqueur vinaigrette ($5.50 each). Tapas is also the go. 

On Orient Street is the reformed, heritage-listed Bayview Hotel, under new owners. Canberrans do a double-take because the décor mirrors the Kingston Hotel and Civic Hotel, complete with bright red tartan carpet and fake library books (no coastal theme here). The menu and wine lists are more-or-less the same. Still, this hot spot is filling what had become a major gap in the bay. The steak was juicy and cooked just so ($34.90 for 300 grams of Angus Porterhouse or $39.90 for Angus Scotch Fillet).

For a quick, delicious coffee and a massively tasty Jaffa ($14), head to small but mighty Open Face, which opened about a year ago. It can be noisy, but that Jaffa, created with quality ham and cheese on Lagom Bakery bread ($14), is worth the visit. 

Although far from new (established 1978), the Batemans Bay Ice Creamery is a hot spot on the Clyde River and perfect for pancakes, waffles and more than 50 flavours of ice cream. On a brilliantly sunny morning, I indulged in the short stack of three pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup ($18).

Across from the Marina on Beach Road is Sawaan (Quays Hotel), well-known for tasty Thai. Sit by the windows for water views. As a large group, we shared heaps of dishes. Loved the minced pork and prawn dim sum (four pieces, $11.90) and worshipped the red roasted duck curry ($27.90). Note: Sawaan hadn’t secured its liquor licence on our visit. BYO wine only. 

Further afield is Foxdog Distillery with its stunning architecture, massive feature wall of gin bottles and sweeping views of the Wandera Mountain and Mogo State Forrest. It’s an idyllic backdrop. We sipped award-winning Mandarin gin and Samphire gin (both $16) before sharing deep-fried, but super light, beer-battered butternut pumpkin tacos ($20). Next was Soprano pizza ($29), loaded with Italian pork sausage, mushrooms, cheese and white truffle oil (burnt around some edges but not the end of the world). 

The Arlo Restaurant, Oaks Ranch, Mossy Point, is a must-visit for more of a fine-dining experience. I’ll have more to say in an upcoming full review of this special spot.