Dunes Restaurant - Palm Beach

I took my wife to this restaurant on a sunny Saturday afternoon in late July as a birthday treat. Palm Beach is the playground of Sydney's glitterati after all - and we remembered that on a previous visit the restaurant had lived up to both its surroundings and our expectations. I should perhaps mention that although it's very close to the beach you can't actually see the water from the dining area.Our reception was warm and we were invited to sit where we liked as the restaurant wasn't busy. A charming waiter suggested mineral water while we were waiting, but inexplicably forgot, ten minutes later appearing with a bottle of tap water. This was quickly rectified, but it soon became clear the waiter didn't speak English very well and didn't appear to know much about the details of the menu. At some point a second (European?) waiter took over, but his command of English wasn't particularly good either.For starters, we both chose scallops with a herb topping, but these were quite small and not particularly tasty. They were accompanied by a small piece of sourdough bread. My wife selected duck from the å la carte menu, while I chose venison in a red wine sauce (an unexpected treat in a Sydney restaurant) from the Specials blackboard. Sadly, my wife's duck was a disappointment - cooked too much on the outside and not enough on the inside, on a bed of mushy (chestnut?) risotto. My venison however was delicious - tender, tasty and cooked to perfection, reminding me of my days living in Germany where venison and wild boar were often to be found in winter on the menus of even the humblest corner restaurants.We both finished the meal with affogato... a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of freshly brewed espresso - a perfect way to end a meal had it not taken 25 minutes to serve. Now you may think my comments are a little picky - on average the Dunes gets Four stars - but on this occasion I can't say it was very good value for money. The bill for two came to $150 including two glasses of wine, and for this I would have expected fewer rough edges. On this occasion I can only award 3 1/2 out of 5...

We celebrated a major family birthday with three generations and friends on a sunny autumn afternoon. The staff were very attentive and helpful without being over-the-top. The food was great and supported the great atmosphere of the room (or in our case, the extension).We definitely recommend this restaurant, even if it is a long drive.

My son and I enjoyed our casual lunch at the kiosk. He had the chicken wrap which was toasted and I had the seafood basket. Your name is called when the food is ready. Our meals were ready at different times but it was ok as it was very busy. The food was tasty and good value for Palm Beach

Winter wonderland indoor outdoor with magic slow cooked lamd or duck plus a seafodd platter just great with happy and bubbly staff . Winner winter Summer or whenever ...must see and eat!

Attended with wife and another couple, small but interesting menu, food was fantastic - could not fault. staff were attentive and polite. Venue (at night) was relaxing - not too busy but sufficient patrons to create a great relaxing atmosphere. Will go back soon to try a lunch time.