Jelly Fish

JellyFish cafe Manly is located directly opposite the beach at North Steyne.
It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We went there for a romantic dinner in a cold, stormy night. There were free,off street parking directly opposite the restaurant, and we brave the rain and wild wind, dashing into the little charming restaurant.




Jellyfish live up to it's name and location. The entire restaurant was decorated with very simple, yet chic oceanic theme, with sandy and light blue as the main colour. There are also white seashells, and lot's of candle throughout the whole restaurant. It was very warm and comfortable in here,and for a moment, we forget that it was actually pouring heavily outside.
We were being seated immediately, and drinks menu were offered.
While husband was eager to drink something, i was happy with the just the water offered.


Mix Berry Frappe ($5)

It was just after 6pm, and people are slowly filling in those empty table around us. Mainly couples. There were only 2 large group of guests insight, 1 group was obviously celebrating a hens' night, with 10 moderately loud ladies, having a good time, and the other group seems to be a very low key wedding dinner, consist of mainly family members of about 10, including 2 children. The restaurant was almost full by the time the drink arrive, but the ambiance is still fairly quiet and intimate. Conversation can be easily made, and our privacy is being respected too.
The mix berry frappe arrive in an unattractive glass, with a straw. But sipping the thick berries blended with crush ice, send happiness into our spine, and who minds the glass?!


Seafood Testing plate ($32)
front to back : deep fried softshell crab with Asian Herb and bbq lemon, grilled kingfish fillet, Seared trio of scallops on bead of green salad with tangy dressing and pan fried Atlantic salmon fillet top with salsa Verde.

The dinner menu was offered, and the excitement begins.
Husband was craving for thick slices of sourdough dipped in flavoured olive oil, so we choose the sourdough to start. I wasn't into the whole oil dipping business, and decided that we could also order an entree to share. After careful choosing, we both agree to try their salt and pepper squid with chili, lime and coriander.
Despite their oceanic theme restaurant, located by the beach, and being named JellyFish, their signature dish is actually lamb!! It's even stated in their menu that it's a house specialty for over 20 years! How ironic, and how exciting for a lamb lover like husband.
On the other hand, i opt for the seafood testing plates, which consist of 4 entree size of seafood dish.


seafood testing plate: Atlantic salmon, scallops, kingfish and softshell crab

We waited for a good 20 mins and nothing arrive, not even the sourdough. Finally, just before i was about to ask them about our orders, the seafood testing plate arrive. It was a serve in a glorious longish plate, with 4 good sized seafood dish. Before i could take a pic, the lamb and squid arrive together. I guess, the waiter must be mistakenly assume that we were to share the seafood testing plate, as he re-arrange the seafood testing plate in the middle, and place the squid infront of me. So be it. After extensive photos taking, we realise the bread was never going to come, but with so many food infront of us, we decided to leave it, and ready to dig in.


Salt and Pepper Squid with Chili, Lime and Coriander ($17)

The squid is tender and juicy, with great flavour.
There are actually 3 pieces of deep fried softshell crabs, they are fried to perfection, with a crispy crunch, and surprisingly meaty and juicy inside. More often i find myself encounter with very dry softshell crabs which are mainly shells than crabs. But these were good value. The kingfish was sweet and tender, scallop was just lightly seared and and incredibly fresh. My fav of all the seafood was no doubt the Atlantic salmon fillet. The skin was pan friend to crips, and yet the flesh was still raw and pink, it was absolutely delicious, pairing with the salsa Verde.


BBQ backstrap of lamb with asparagus, roasted eschallots & garlic, red wine eschallots reduction and a spring of rosemary ($27.50)

While husband enjoy my share of seafood selection, he is totally blown way by this signature lamb. It was so soft and tender that it fall off the bone. Every mouthful is of euphoric effect. I can't stomach lamb so i let him enjoy the whole dish but i did nip on the eschallots and red wine reduction, it was indeed, very good. In fact, good was such an understatement that we order the sourdough that was never arrived again, to mop up all the juices.


Sticky fig pudding with a vanilla toffee sauce, garnished with a balsamic
fig & vanilla ice cream. ($12.00)

It was still raining heavily outside when the last drop of juice was devoured.
We're in no hurry to leave, so we decided that we could still do with dessert. ( Who couldn't?)
We're happy to share the fig pudding, and i ask if they could give me chocolate ice-cream instead of vanilla. Unfortunately, they don't have chocolate ice-cream, but they can drizzle chocolate sauce on it instead. I figure i will survive, and the dessert came less than 5 mins later.
The fig pudding was just about the right size, warm, and fragrance, top with vanilla ice-cream with the promised chocolate sauce, and the whole pudding was soak in sweet, sticky toffee sauce.
It's a very sweet way to end an incredibly sweet night.


JellyFish Cafe Manly
Shop 5
93-95 North Steyne
Manly 2095 Australia

e: jellyfishmanly@optusnet.com.au
t: 02 99774555
f: 02 99775400