Open for breakfast and lunch daily, with an evening menu available later in the week, Kew Dining is bringing elegant paddock-to-plate dishes to Erina in a bright and contemporary setting. The early rising crowd has its pick of classic brekky options, like fluffy buckwheat pancakes, poached eggs with smoked salmon and avocado, or the more unusual baked tomato and chickpea ragout, and a dairy free meaty platter of chorizo, serrano ham, manchego, fried eggs and roast olives.
Owner and chef Lawrie Gordan opened Kew Dining in late 2019, and its appeal is as much about the meticulously presented dishes as it is the venue space. What was once The Sanctuary Café (next door to Ken Duncan Gallery) is a harmonious spot for long lunches or afternoon teas with a group.
From midday onwards, you can graze on panko crumbed, lemongrass and ginger marinated chicken bao; pastry tarts of shaved manchego, pumpkin and Tunisian chickpeas; or crowd-pleasing options like fish and chips, organic beef cheeseburgers and pan fried barramundi. All the veggies and herbs come from the restaurant's on-site kitchen garden, so you'll want to add on a bowl of the chats in fragrant Kew Garden herb butter, too.
Kitti Gould
High tea is served from 11am, Tuesday to Saturday, overlooking the green valley of Erina Heights. For $45 per person, you'll get sparkling wine on arrival then your choice between T2 loose leaf teas or Toby's Estate espresso coffee to pair with savouries like sweetcorn and crab samosa and mini tomato and feta quiche. Followed by sweets like vanilla bean cheesecake, sherry trifle lemon curd tartlets, and fluffy scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Images: Kitti Gould