Having hired at car for the day from No Birds in Mascot it was time to hit the road with fellow global local Julie, founder and director at Asia's premiere lifestyle app Eat Play Live to discover - or in Julie's case - rediscover Lugarno Seafood Restaurant, a stalwart to the leisure dining scene of Sydney located on the banks of the picturesque Georges River.
Lugarno Seafood Restaurant offers the freshest of seafood, think cold seafood platter for two including Fresh Prawns, Oysters Natural, Slices Of Smoked Salmon, Whole Blue Swimmer Crabs, delicious slices Of Hiramasa Kingfish Sashimi, Mussels, Octopus Vinaigrette, all served with refreshing Fresh Fruits.
The homemade prawn ravioli served with lobster bisque is a sensation, and guest can even order a classic prawn cocktail prepared for you "off menu" if you want a walk down memory lane. I have to mention here also a favourite - the delicious Snapper Pie served with truffle mash potato.
Lugarno Seafood Restaurant also offer a selection of non-seafood dishes such as the grass-fed eye-fillet served with eschallot tarte tartine, marinated field mushroom, steamed asparagus, celeriac pureé, and a drizzle of mavrodaphne jus. Mouth watering yet? I must say from the start, book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Julie Renyard Eat Play Live & John Gordon Founder Expat Choice at Lugarno Seafood restaurant
A dining institution since 1993, Lugarno Seafood Restaurant is within comfortable reach of much of Sydney at less than 30 minutes from the city, Parramatta and Cronulla. This is the perfect location for a leisurely lunch or dinner for two, a special celebration or a relaxed gathering of family and friends.
The evolution of Lugarno Seafood Restaurant is evident in both the food, service and decor. Starting with classic dishes in the early 1990s, it has grown into a fully fledged, technical, fine dining, modern Australian gastronomic seafood experience, rivalling any other in the city of Sydney and surrounds. 
Decadent Pan Seared Veal Oscar
Simple yet undeniably refined, offering the best of local seafood produce, dishes from the land such as grass fed eye fillet are paired with lobster tail highlighting Australia's finest from the land to the ocean.
There is plenty of choice, so if you are not one to make an educated decision when making your order, their signature Hot & Cold Seafood Platters will have you reeling which serve up fresh prawns, oysters natural, blue swimmer crab, smoked salmon & fresh fruits; grilled prawns, grilled Moreton Bay bugs, oysters mornay, grilled octopus, tempura prawn cutlets, salt & pepper squid, and the token fish & chips.
A huge plus here is guests can book to dine anytime after midday through through until 10pm last order and be served from the full menu right through until closing in the evening around 11pm. Who said lunch couldn't start at 3pm and end at 6pm - which was on our agenda - and we loved every minute.
Freshly Shucked Live Victorian Scallops
The food and service are both second to none, thanks to George and his team. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming with beautiful scenic George’s river views from every table. George’s son Pavlo has joined the Lugarno Seafood Restaurant team to continue to keep the restaurant relevant and innovative, while maintaining a family feel.
It is the fusion of both the best from the past and the future which makes this institution a timeless, unpretentious, approachable and hugely followed classic.
Homemade Thyme & Potato Gnocchi
Lugarno Seafood Restaurant will be celebrating 30 years in 2023 as one of Sydney's finest dining establishments, offering a vista which is second to none, with George Andreou at the helm, son Pavlo holding the reins to a prosperous and exciting future.
Fresh Butterflied Prawns - chilli, garlic, lemon butter
Some of the wonderful starter dishes guests can experience include three-way sashimi, saikou salmon, yellow fin tuna & hiramasa kingfish served with accompaniments, fried local calamari, dusted in flour & fried, served with beetroot aioli, and the grilled cyprus haloumi cheese salad, baby endives, asparagus, vine ripened tomatoes, kalamata olives & balsamic olive oil.
Taking a birds-eye view of the main courses dishes include sumptuous grilled john dory fillets, homemade thyme & potato gnocchi, served with Jerusalem artichoke pureé, crispy fried enoki mushrooms, grilled coral coast barramundi fillet, pea purée, harissa gel, sweet potato shards, lemon olive oil, and the delicious slow roasted lamb shoulder (1.5kg), recommended for two or more with roasted potatoes, carrots, onion, au jus.
a. 1220 Forest Road Lugarno, NSW, Australia 2210
