The BOX on the Water

4.5

1842 Reviews

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 18, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Great for scenic views
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

The BOX on the Water is situated in prime position on both the Ettalong foreshore and beach. Its absolute waterfront location has panoramic views out across Broken Bay to its namesake, Box Head, and over to Sydney's northern beaches.

Architecturally designed with a stylish, modern aesthetic, The BOX on the Water restaurant, bar and beach kiosk is just an hour and a half drive from central Sydney or twenty five minutes on the passenger ferry from Palm Beach.

Both the restaurant and kiosk offer fresh, modern Australian cuisine and friendly, efficient service. Experience stylish, casual, 'fun dining' with arguably the best outlook on the Coast!

Additional information

Location
Ettalong Foreshore, The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach, AU-NSW 2257
Phone number
(02) 4339 3369
Price
$41 to $100
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Seafood
Hours of operation
Kiosk Daily 7:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Wed, Sun 8:00 am–12:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:45 am–3:00 pm Sunset sips Fri–Sun 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 5:30 pm–8:30 pm Sun 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
There is free parking bays along the foreshore next to The BOX and plenty of street parking very close.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Experiences

Hot & Cold Seafood Feast (Minimum. 2 people)
A$89.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Enjoy our hot & cold seafood feast Kids menu available for children under 12 years old for $15pp. Please see our website for the menu
The Box Grazing Feast (min. 2 people)
A$89.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Push the boat out and experience our four course summer grazing feast, curated by owners Monique & Natasha. Our grazing feast showcases everything we love to eat this season, and includes an optional wine pairing to complement each course. Full menu available via our website.

Oyster bar (minimum 3)A$6.50
- Natural with lemon - Cucumber & jalapeño granita - Salmon roe, chives, soy & ginger dressing
Just prawnsA$26.00
Fresh unpeeled, BOX seafood sauce
CevicheA$24.00
Local white fish, passionfruit, lime, chilli, avocado purée, kumara chips
Seafood teaserA$28.00
Natural oysters, fresh prawns, white anchovies, ceviche & kumara chips, BOX seafood sauce
Grilled sardinesA$22.00
Peperoncini, lemon oil, focaccia
Duck liver pâtéA$21.00
Port jelly, house pickles, focaccia
Octopus terrineA$24.00
Crispy potato, kale chips, macadamia crumbs, chilli
XO musselsA$23.00
XO sauce, focaccia
Tempura zucchini flowersA$24.00
Pumpkin & pine nut filling, beetroot tartare, herb oil
Crispy pork belly bitesA$23.00
Salted dulce de leche, aji amarillo
BurrataA$24.00
Roasted eggplant, pomegranate & walnut relish
XO musselsA$39.00
XO sauce, focaccia
Market fish
Specially prepared local seafood
Baby barramundi for two to shareA$65.00
Whole fried baby barramundi, sautéed greens, ginger & soy dressing
Grilled king prawnsA$44.00
Three to a serve, Pernod & chilli butter, fennel & herb salad, chunky croutons
THE BOX pale ale fish & chipsA$32.00
Baby leaf salad, BOX tartare sauce
Roasted cauliflowerA$32.00
Beetroot hummus, Zhug yoghurt, seeded crisps
Confit duck saladA$42.00
Roasted sweet potato, baby spinach, orange, maple pecans, goats cheese, bourbon dressing
Bavette steakA$49.00
300g, medium rare, chimichurri, roasted corn ribs, watercress salad

For two or more to share

THE BOX hot & cold seafood feastA$89.00
Cold course: Natural oysters, fresh prawns, white anchovies, ceviche & kumara chips, BOX seafood sauce Hot course: Grilled market fish, XO mussels & focaccia, sardines, grilled king prawns, chips, salad, BOX tartare sauce

Sides

ChipsA$12.00
Rosemary salt, roast garlic aioli
Waldorf saladA$12.00
Celery, apple, walnuts, iceberg lettuce, buttermilk ranch dressing
Grilled broccoliniA$12.00
Almond tarator, chilli & anchovy oil
Truffled smashed chatsA$12.00
Shaved parmesan, aioli

Dessert

Dark chocolate mousseA$16.00
Candied ginger, white chocolate soil
PavlovaA$16.00
Chantilly cream, berries, lemon sorbet
Pineapple cakeA$16.00
Coconut & lime sorbet, passionfruit coulis
Lemon possetA$16.00
Pistachio ice cream, house-made limoncello, tuille
Sorbet of the dayA$16.00
Ask your waiter for today's flavour
Cheese plateA$24.00
Local & imported artisan cheeses, fruit & nut rolada, lavosh
AffogatoA$21.00
THE BOX Coffee, Frangelico, vanilla bean ice cream

What 1,842 people are saying

The BOX on the Water reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Central Coast
Best Overall
Central Coast
Best Food
Central Coast
Best Service
Central Coast
Best Ambiance
Central Coast
Best Value
Central Coast
Good for business meals
Central Coast
Healthy
Central Coast
Hot spot
Central Coast
Neighborhood gem
Central Coast
Good for special occasions
Central Coast
Lively
Central Coast
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The BOX on the Water offers an unforgettable dining experience with "amazing food" and "spectacular views" over Ettalong Beach. Guests rave about the "friendly and attentive staff," providing a "wonderful atmosphere" for special occasions. While the menu focuses on seafood, the diverse options and "delicious desserts" ensure every visit is memorable.

1,842 Reviews

J
Jocelyn
New South Wales1 review
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service and ambiance. Food lovely but grilled king prawns a little awkward getting them out of the shell.
Is this helpful?
I
Ian
Brisbane1 review
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great location and outlook across the bay Delicious seafood options on menu
Is this helpful?
LC
LynnC
New South Wales3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful setting on the water Delicious food Attentive service
Is this helpful?
L
Lee
Sydney7 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our party of 6 had a fabulous evening at The Box. We have dined here many times and it’s consistently good.
Is this helpful?
R
Rodney
New South Wales1 review
5.0
Dined on February 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a wonderful experience for my wife’s 50th thank you to your entire team!
Is this helpful?
d
denise
New South Wales1 review
5.0
Dined on February 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We have been coming to Box for many years now. It is and always has been our favourite restaurant on the Coast. The food and service is consistently good and we have never had a bad experience here. Highly recommended to all our family and friends. This restaurant is the perfect place to showcase what the Central Coast has to offer. The view and ambience are second to none. We are both Hospitality workers from Sydney originally, so understand how hard it is to run a restaurant, keep good staff and have have amazing meals coming out of the kitchen every time. Box on the Water ticks all these boxes. Not to be missed!
Is this helpful?
A
Anni
New York City4 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Lovely meal and the staff were sweethearts. Would love to come back on a warm night highly recommend
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R
Russell
Sydney1 review
4.0
Dined on February 19, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
What a great location and perfect for lunch with friends. The food was excellent with the service friendly and relaxed. Exactly what we were looking for. We'll certainly be back.
Is this helpful?
K
Karen
Sunshine Coast2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely lunch for my birthday, with my son and his two young children. The staff were very attentive and pleasant.
Is this helpful?
L
Lea
Sydney2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dined here with friends for Valentine’s dinner. Food was fabulous and service was top notch. Had a great night!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The BOX on the Water is rated 4.5 stars by 1842 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 18, 2025

7:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

Experiences are available.

Ettalong Foreshore, The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach, AU-NSW 2257

Additional information

Phone number
(02) 4339 3369
Price
$41 to $100
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Seafood
Hours of operation
Kiosk Daily 7:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Wed, Sun 8:00 am–12:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:45 am–3:00 pm Sunset sips Fri–Sun 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 5:30 pm–8:30 pm Sun 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
There is free parking bays along the foreshore next to The BOX and plenty of street parking very close.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The BOX on the Water

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Hot & Cold Seafood Feast (Minimum. 2 people)

The Box Grazing Feast (min. 2 people)

While you are deciding

The BOX olivesA$6.50

Tamari almondsA$6.50

House-baked focacciaA$6.50

À la carte - Small

Oyster bar (minimum 3)A$6.50

Just prawnsA$26.00

CevicheA$24.00

Seafood teaserA$28.00

Grilled sardinesA$22.00

Duck liver pâtéA$21.00

Octopus terrineA$24.00

XO musselsA$23.00

Tempura zucchini flowersA$24.00

Crispy pork belly bitesA$23.00

BurrataA$24.00

XO musselsA$39.00

Market fish

Baby barramundi for two to shareA$65.00

Grilled king prawnsA$44.00

THE BOX pale ale fish & chipsA$32.00

Roasted cauliflowerA$32.00

Confit duck saladA$42.00

Bavette steakA$49.00

For two or more to share

THE BOX hot & cold seafood feastA$89.00

Sides

ChipsA$12.00

Waldorf saladA$12.00

Grilled broccoliniA$12.00

Truffled smashed chatsA$12.00

Dessert

Dark chocolate mousseA$16.00

PavlovaA$16.00

Pineapple cakeA$16.00

Lemon possetA$16.00

Sorbet of the dayA$16.00

Cheese plateA$24.00

AffogatoA$21.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The BOX on the Water restaurant rated?

Is The BOX on the Water currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day