Neptunes Brighton Le Sands is a bayside favourite that has recently reopened from a multi million dollar refurbishment. Offering panoramic Botany views to La Perouse and Kurnell, this bustling Grand Parade cafe specialises in understated and contemporary cool.
Friendly and relaxed with a touch of sophistication, the outdoors have been brought inside by the understated green and neutral palette and abundance of potted and hanging plants.
The new Mediterranean and European inspired menu stretches from breakfast to small and larger sharing plates, substantial salads, pasta, burgers and steak. But we have one thing on our minds when we smell the wood-fired oven from up the road: pizza.
Two cocktails straight up while we peruse the menu: an elderflower spritz and a gin delight. Fresh and zesty aperitifs from the bountiful upstairs bar.
We share a pizza capricciosa and the tempura oyster pillows with coriander yoghurt and salmon roe for entree. The pizza is wood-charred and beautifully puffy and crisp with a generous lathering of topping. The oysters are elegantly presented and moreish, with the sweet pop of fish roe to freshen the palette.
The baby back pork ribs with sticky toffee basting is served with a side of steakhouse chips. The marinade is irresistibly sweet and the only thing holding the pork to the bone. We don’t even need the usual rib provisions of wet towels as the meat morsels fall straight onto our fork.
The BBQ grilled lamb and chicken breast skewers arrive with the perfect accompaniment, flat bread, cucumber yoghurt and a well dressed salad and chips. The Mediterranean inspired herbs deliciously coat the lean, succulent and perfectly cooked skewers. This is a very generously portioned meal.
Neptunes utilises their new wood oven for dessert and we taste a house favourite: caramelised banana wood-fired donut with vanilla custard, banana, roasted white chocolate, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Definitely for those with a sweet tooth, the donut was beautifully crunchy and stuffed full of smooth custard.
The chocolate lava pudding cake with crushed honeycomb vanilla ice-cream and berries was rich and decadent. We were excited to see a gush of chocolate lava and the tart berries provided a perfect balance to the sweetness of the ice cream.
Service at Neptunes is warm and attentive with friendly and knowledgeable maitre’d and wait staff.
The refurbishment includes an open galley kitchen and bar. Perfect for families and functions, Neptunes boasts a variety of menu options and is entirely ready for a busy seaside party season. Book now to enjoy the best from this great venue.
Neptune’s
87 The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands NSW 2216