Recently I celebrated a birthday (the big 30). Regular EPLT readers will know there was a fuck tonne of celebrations involved in honouring this milestone (you can read about them here, here and here).
Despite this, I couldn’t let my actual birthday (a boring Wednesday) go past uncelebrated. So I gave Jude (thy husband) a list of four restaurants where he was allowed to book a surprise birthday dinner. He chose the newly-refurbed, newly-relocated Panama House – good choice.
Panama House is back
At the start of the year, one of Bondi’s favourite children took some time out, packed its bags and moved beachside, relocating from Bondi Road to Campbell Parade. The result: Panama House has returned, better than ever, with a new menu and new look, and it’s a heckuva lot bigger – 2.5x to be exact – now seating a whopping 125 people.
Beachside dining at its best
Entering through Bondi’s Pacific apartment complex, I was concerned Jude had ignored my instruction and organised a dinner date in the Woolworths Metro. Because, you know, nothing says happy birthday quite like a hot roasted chicken. “Climb the bloody stairs,” he tells me.
Sure enough. On level one of the building that houses QT Bondi is the new house of Panama.
Opening out onto the esplanade of Bondi Beach, you don’t get much more beachside than Panama House’s new locale. And the coastal vibe is in keeping, with brown leather banquet seating and ironbark hardwood tables, interspersed by splashes of bright blue. Then there’s the outdoor balcony, with its summery outdoor lounges, coastal cushions and marble tables.
Central American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner
This all-day restaurant favours the flavours of Central America. That means starting the day with the likes of huevos rancheros – that’s scrambled eggs, cheese, Veracruz beans, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo on a flour and corn tortilla. Or chicken ‘n griddle cakes of crispy fried chicken, ricotta hotcakes, bacon and jalapeno maple sryrup.
Panama House’s all-day breakfast stops at 4pm (and if you’re still after eggs at this time you may as well go back to bed), making way for a more share-style dinner menu.
Jude and I had a bit of a stand off over what to order. He wanted the chicken tacos, pork belly and handcut fries. I wanted the oysters, octopus and mac and cheese. Neither side would surrender, so we ordered it all. Hell, you only turn 30 once!
Sydney rock oyster, with mezcal mignonette
Chargrilled Clarence River octopus, with chorizo esquites and salsa verde
Macaroni, with pancetta, manchego bechamel, parmesan crust and charred jalapeno
Slow-roasted Mojo pork belly, with celeriac slaw, jalapeno cream, desiccated red chilli and chervil
‘Tinga’ Chicken tacos, with cabbage slaw and caramelised onion
The chargrilled octopus with chorizo and corn was absolutely unbelievable. I didn’t share much of it, nor the macaroni. The other three restaurants on my pre-approved list were all Italian, so I felt it only fair I got my pasta fix from this delicious dish in a saucepan.
Panama House’s dessert menu is small, and by small I mean there’s a choice of one. The night I was here this was an oreo cheesecake, and despite having seriously overeaten up until this point, you can’t go to bed on your birthday without cake – and it was very, very good cake.
Sydney loves a bottomless brunch
Have I mentioned the bottomless brunch, yet? No. That got your attention didn’t it! As it should, because Panama House’s bottomless brunch offering is top shelf and certainly one of the best in the Eastern Beaches.
For $35pp, you get bottomless food, tea and coffee. Then add $45pp or $65pp for a two-hour or three-hour bottomless booze package of bloody marys, mimosas, tecate, michelada and rosé.
And you can do this every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between the hours of 10am and 4pm! If you’re looking for me, you know where to find me.
Image credit: Where To Tonight
Panama House is…
Any restaurant that can make you feel like you’re on holiday has a big tick from me. And put me in a kaftan because Panama House has this affect. With the sound of waves crashing below and the sight of palm trees blowing in the breeze, you can easily fool yourself into thinking you’re in Port Douglas, Seminyak or Ko Samui.
Especially when you’re drinking cocktails that go by the names of ‘Caught In The Rain’ (plantation pineapple rum, coco-piña puree, lemon curd and charred coconut) and ‘Oh! What a Thrill’ (pampelle grapefruit aperitif, four pillars ‘bloody shiraz’ gin, grapefruit, sparkling wine and peychauds bitters).
Panama House | Shop L104A, The Pacific Bondi, 180–186 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 8090 5882
panamahouse.com.au
