One might not expect to find some of Sydney’s best seafood in the Hills town of Dural. But that’s exactly what awaits at Cod’s Gift.
AGFG let me in on this gem, asking if I wanted to check it out. Sure. I mean the semi-rural town of Dural is a hike from Bronte, but I was sold with three words: champagne lobster linguine.
And it was totally worth the M2 hustle. Cod’s Gift is top drawer.
And full of surprises
Open daily for lunch and dinner, you’ll find this high-end seafood restaurant tucked into the back of a sleepy Dural shopping centre. The bright whites and blues invite you in. So too the cute courtyard tables and takeaway window that’s very Coogee Pavilion.
Inside the luxe factor is off the richter. The space is coastal luxe, with a colour palette of royal blue and turquoise complemented by brass, marble and velvet finishes. My mojito was even luxe, doused in edible gold leaf.
This poshed-up place might serve champagne lobster, but it still caters to the local family crowd, with offerings such as school holiday Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo-themed high teas. I like that.
The golden mojito
Fresh, sustainable seafood is their thing
Charcoal crumbed prawns, plump rock oysters dressed in chardonnay mignonette, grilled flathead served with mushy peas, barramundi squid ink risotto… welcome to Cod’s Gift.
Seafood is supplied daily, coming mostly from NSW and QLD waters, and no further than Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory. This probably explains why everything is so melt-in-your-mouth fresh. The fact that it’s sustainably-caught seafood, even better.
When we visited for lunch there were actually so many wows. The hand-cut potato crisps dive-bombed through salt and vinegar foam. Each dish’s presentation, complete with sprinkings of microherbs and edible flowers sourced locally. The light and fluffy sourdough, and unbelievable, flavour-filled champagne lobster linguini. Wow, wow, wow.
Potato crisps, with salt and vinegar foam
South Australian mussels, Thai-style with fresh herbs, chilli and bread
QLD calamari, with baby tomato, lemon, chilli, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and bread
QLD champagne lobster, with bloody Mary linguine, chilli and pangrattato
Grilled snapper, with beer battered chips, mushy peas, herb tartare and lemon
Salt and caramel delice
And the portion size! Just get out of town. I’m used to an Eastern Beaches serving of lobster that’s more the size of a fried shrimp.
Cod’s Gift: The final word
Cod’s Gift would have to be up there as one of my best restaurant meals of 2019, so far. Jude’s already asking when we can go back, clearly not fazed by the 41-kilometre drive.
But this is a road trip with a pot of gold at the end. And you can totally make a day trip of it, exploring nearby Berowra Waters or Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Do it!
Cod’s Gift | 4–6/3 Ward Place, Dural, New South Wales
codsgift.com.au
