St. Alma

Overview

Freshwater welcomed a new Mexican eatery in 2022 that boasts an expansive set menu of food and drink. A sibling to Avalon's Alma, St. Alma joins the long-standing venue in the northern beaches, 30 minutes south of the OG eatery.

Located on Albert Street, the restaurant joins a bustling food and drink neighbourhood, with a host of bars, cafes and restaurants occupying the same corner and Freshwater favourites Harbord Hotel and Pilu just down the road.

"What people don't know is we signed a lease in Freshwater back in 2017 before opening Avalon, but unfortunately it fell through," owner Jack Leary. "Ever since Freshwater has been on our wish list for a restaurant venue – you can't beat the location for its beach vibe and sense of community."

At St. Alma you can start with freshly prepared chips and guac, scallop tostadas and mezcal-cured kingfish served with pistachios and preserved lemon.

Continue down the menu, and you'll find a selection of tacos. Choose between a changing fish taco with coleslaw and peanut macha aioli and the carne asada taco with guac, flank steak and a rich burnt chilli sauce.

While the majority of the menu is set up for a banquet-style experience, there is a spread of impressive larger mains on offer that can be served as a personal feast or work as the centrepiece to a table of share plates. These change seasonally, but you might find confit mushrooms, chicken in adobo, grilled octopus covered in pickled turnips and prune mole and crispy pork belly.

The drinks list stretches on just as far as the food. If you're prepared for a big night, tasting flights are an ideal place to start, offering up four tequilas and other Mexican spirits for you to try.

Bevs include seven different kinds of margaritas, plus a slew of other classic Mexican cocktails. Eight tequila and mezcal tasting flights are also available for those looking to learn more about these increasingly popular agave-based tipples.

End your afternoon of feasting with a walk along the beach at Freshwater, and there you have a pretty marvellous day out in Sydney's Northern Beaches.