Jonah's

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Overall Rating

7.8

Jonah's Recommended based on its 105 reviews
Calculated using a Weighted average

Food
7.6
Ambience
8.9
Service
8.3
Value
6.3

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Jonah's Details

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Jonah's Address

69 Bynya Rd
Whale Beach NSW 2107
 Map
Jonah's Menu
Jonah's Website


Jonah's Contact Info »

Cuisines

European


Chef

Alfonso Ales


Prices

Average Meal Price $73 - based on one entree & main course only

General Price
Entrees $28.00
Mains $45.00
Desserts $16.00

Breakfast
$50.00
Two course a la carte breakfast including esspresso coffee and T2 teas.

Prices last updated:  07/2011


Bookings

Bookings are essential
Maximum group booking size is 11
Tables of eight or more must be booked directly with our sales manager. Please call 9974 5599 or email sales@jonahs.com.au


Rooms & Capacity

No of Seats 100

The Terrace
Jonah's Private Dining Room
Seating Capacity 40
Standing Capacity 60


Hours

Breakfast
Mon to Sun 8am - 9:30am
Lunch
Mon to Sun Noon - 3pm
Dinner
Mon to Sun 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Remarks
Jonah's Restaurant offers a reduced A La Carte Menu Monday and Tuesday including Flavours of Europe (Classic European Bistro Style dishes) and full A La Carte Wednesday - Sunday.


Specialties

  • King Prawns, QLD, Grilled and served a la grecque with Padron peppers, feta cheese, olives and confit kipfler potatoes
  • Spring Lamb, NSW, Roasted saddle and herb crumbed cutlet with zucchini and peas trifolati, baby zucchini flowers and pea puree
  • Ocean Trout, Tasmania, With a vegetable ratatouille minute, iberico ham, basil and pine nut pesto and olive tapenade
  • Baked apple with milk rice pudding and cinnamon ice cream

Serves

Serves Breakfast
Serves Lunch
Serves Dinner


Classifications

Restaurants


Categories

Accessibility
Wheelchair Access

Awards
One Good Food Hat

Bookings Online
Restaurant Bookings

Business Facilities
Conference Facilities
Fax / Photocopying
Internet Services
Meeting / Banquet Facilities

Dietary Standards
Cater to Special Diets

Dining Atmospheres
Fine Dining
Good For Groups
Romantic and Intimate

Dining Features
Child Friendly
Child Friendly Highchairs
Child Friendly Menus
Has Bar
Licensed
Outdoor Dining
Private Room

View
Beach View
Water View


Payment Types Accepted

Amex
Visa
Mastercard
Diners

Parking

Ample or Convenient Parking
Free Parking


Notes

$10 surcharge on Sundays & public holidays



Help us correct a mistake or add more info!



Jonah's Awards

2012

SMH Good Food Guide 2012 - One Chef's Hat


2011

SMH Good Food Guide 2011 - One Chef's Hat


2010

SMH Good Food Guide 2010 - One Chef's Hat


2010

Luxury Travel Magazine GoldLIST Awards - 'Best Boutique Hotel in Australia'


2010

Australian Traveller Magazine - 100 Best Australian Gourmet Experiences


2010

AHA NSW Finalist 'Restaurant of the Year'


2010

AHA NSW Finalist 'Chef of the Year'


2010

AHA NSW Finalist 'Function Venue of the Year'


2009

SMH Good Food Guide 2009 - One Chef's Hat


2009

Gourmet Traveler 'Wine List of the Year Awards' - Two Goblets


 more…



Overview of Jonah's

Jonah’s Whale Beach is one of Australia’s most luxurious ocean retreats and the only Relais & Chateaux hotel in Sydney - the most prestigious hotel association in the world.

The perfect beachside escape, Jonah’s offers an acclaimed restaurant, eleven Ocean Retreat rooms overlooking Whale Beach.

Jonah’s Restaurant offers Southern European cuisine under the direction of Alfonso Ales. Focusing on Southern European cuisine using Australian and imported produce, his cooking has a significant Spanish and French influence, but it is his passion for finding and using the best and freshest local produce that will ensure Jonah's diners are impressed about the food as they are about the view.

Luxurious, discreet, Jonah’s Award Winning Restaurant & Boutique Hotel overlooking Whale Beach



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    User Reviews of Jonah's, Whale Beach

    Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next

     

    Displaying: 1 - 10 of 105 reviews



    3 Below Average

    Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  6      Value  1     


    My husband and I recently revisited Jonahs. This is a special place for us as we got married here and it was our 10 year anniversary. We have been back many times since and had a wonderful time but on this occasion, we should have stayed local and avoided a very costly weekend to travel all the way to Whale Beach.

    When we arrived, we went to the terrace and had a very nice cocktail and ordered some marinated olives. These were lovely but basically the same as the ones I buy from the local deli but still it was a beautiful view and we were on a high reminiscing.

    Our bad experience started as soon as we entered the restaurant where the air conditioning was turned down to a temp where it was freezing. Everyone in the place had their jackets on. We had to ask 3 times during the night for the temperature to be raised until by the end of the night it was perfect. Still we looked over that to wait for the magnificent food that we remembered.

    The wait staff were very polite and attentive but our waitress who was vegetarian couldn’t comment on the taste of any of the dishes as she hadn’t tried them even the vegetarian risotto.

    Both of us had the prawn entrée which my husband loved and I thought was Ok but a bit pricey for what was basically 2 prawns with the same marinated olives we had on the terrace and some feta cheese. Still waiting for a taste sensation we look forward to our mains.

    My husband had the beef which for $50 we were expectiung to melt in your mouth but it was tough and the steak we had at home 2 nights previous was actually better. My main was the snapper at $48. It was about ½ the size of my palm and I don’t have big hands. It was tough and tasteless and the 2 prawns with it were overcooked and rubbery.

    I didn’t enjoy it all but ate it as we had paid $48 for it. The bowl of chips we ordered also did not come with the mains and we had to wait for them. When they did arrive the serving size was tiny. Despite pre ordering the souffle at the beginning of the meal it took 45 minutes and my coffee had been delivered and finished 20 minutes before it arrived. The souffle was also raw in the middle.

    By now we wanted to get home so we ordered a cab to take us back to Newport. This is no fault of Jonah’s but no cab would pick up the fare so we waited over an hour until my husband created a fuss and they agreed to use the Jonah’s mini bus to drive us back. The best part was our driver who was the nicest and most helpful all evening and he was the one who got our tip.

    I know there is a new chef and reviews seemed to be much better prior to his joining. I think this restaurant has gone downhill and we definitely will not be back.

    Jan 17, 2012 

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    Carolynne E.
    1


    8.5 Highly Recommended

    Food  7      Ambience  10     


    The ocean and beach view is amazing! Usually I just rate the food, but this restaurant is very special! Situated high up on the hillside overlooking Whale Beach, it is breathtaking! The outdoor terrace and garden are stunning!

    Now the food: Good Modern Australian. The Peking-Aylesbury Duck was delicious, tender and not too salty. The Black Angus Beef Scotch Fillet was medium rare as requested and not overcooked, but they could have trimmed off more fat. The Ocean Trout was a bit undercooked and too salty.

    Loved the complementary appetisers and dessert tempters, nice touch! A peaceful haven for special occasions with menu prices to match!

    Nov 04, 2011 

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    addictedtoyumcha
    40


    1 of 1 reader found the following review helpful

    4.8 Average

    Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  1     


    Apart from the view, Jonah's is a totally overrated experience. The duck tasted like offal, it was dry and inedible, we sent it back almost untouched, the octopus was the chewiest blandest dish I have ever tasted and the Kingfish was a teeny tiny piece of fish served with a tasteless broth, half a carrot and half a beetroot.

    The steak what not a nice thick fillet, it was a few thin pieces of fatty scotch fillet (at best, definitely not the kind of cut you can eat rare because all the fat doesn't have time to melt into the meat. We ended up eating the bread for lunch. We cannot comment on dessert, we couldn't stomach the thought of another disappointment.

    To top all of this off, when we got home we found that we had been overcharged by $200! If you have no idea about what food should really taste like and you think that because it is expensive it is good. You will love Jonahs.

    If you are a real foody go elsewhere! Most of the local cafes in Avalon will give you a better feed than this.

    Sep 20, 2011 

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    simgio
    5


    10 Highly Recommended

    Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     


    I came her to dine for lunch with my daughter a few weeks ago and was really impressed, what a stunning place. The food was exceptional and we left very full after 2 courses. I had the beef for main and the baba for dessert. We didn't get a window seat, but found the lounge very comfortable and it's raised so we didn't miss out on the view. The staff were attentive and helpful and all over a wonderful dining experience.

    Sep 19, 2011 

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    bokthefish
    3


    1 of 1 reader found the following review helpful

    9.8 Highly Recommended

    Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     


    Unbelievable to say the least. I suggested to friends we dine here after seeing Jonah's on MasterChef earlier in the year and was blown away from the moment we walked in the door through to when we departed.

    The staff were extremely knowledgeable, attentive and true professionals (especially the Sommelier - a German gentleman) but they were over shadowed by the food. I believe they have a new chef who has previously worked at Bilson’s & El Bulli (not a bad resume with El Bulli a previous winner of the World’s best restaurant). I had the scallops for entree and duck for main and couldn’t fault either. The entire group will be back soon and will book earlier to ensure we get a window seat as we missed out due to booking late.

    Sep 01, 2011 

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    kemp78
    4



    8 Recommended

    Food  7      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7     


    Came here for lunch on a beautiful Sunday. Beautiful view and ambience.
    Service - our waitress was fantastic - very attentive. Entrees - we had the oysters, scallops, jamon and anchovies - delicious. Main - Had the veal and the duck. Quite disappointed - good concept with the duck but the sauce was too sweet for my liking. The duck was also slightly over cooked. Veal - could have been more tender. Desserts - could do with some improvement too.

    Overall, great entrees, and great view. The attitude of the sommelier was very disappointing as well - very cold and unwelcoming. That's what brought the experience down for us.

    Aug 29, 2011 

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    derwooblegie
    29


    1 of 2 readers found the following review helpful

    5 Average

    Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  10      Value  3     


    Last night my wife and I decided to go and eat at Jonah’s at Whale Beach. We sat down and our waitress was sweet and attentive and was knowledgeable about the wines and about the menu. She suggested a bottle that was one of the best Rieslings I have ever had and then went out of her way to write down the wine so as my wife and I could purchase it again. She was knowledgeable about the menu and was able to answer any questions we had and gave us her recommendations.

    The food on the other hand was a total different story. As we had already looked at the menu online I was excited at a few dishes then was disappointed to see that there were things online that were not on the menu in the restaurant. The food was plain and bland and overall disappointing for the price we were paying. The entrees were nothing to write home about and not memorable dishes. For mains my wife had the kingfish and scampi, the scampi was so watery it was inedible. I ordered the duck which was overcooked and dry. We had some sides of a salad and chips. The salad came out with the meal and it was a bunch of salad greens with a bland dressing I could have made it at home.

    Disappointing. We had also ordered chips which did not come out until ¾ of the way through our meal. The waitress was again apologetic and genuinely embarrassed at how long we had to wait for our chips. For dessert we shared the macaroon it was chewy and tasteless and we were again disappointed in our choice.

    I cannot believe that a restaurant can be charging as much money as it is for food that is not anything special and has amazing flavours. I have never been as unhappy with the food at a fine dining restaurant and will definitely not be making the long drive from the city to eat at Jonah’s again.

    Aug 06, 2011 

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    MikeBallinger
    1


    0 of 1 reader found the following review helpful

    5 Average

    Food  2      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  1     


    I am surprised by how poor the food was at Jonah's and cannot understand its reputation. The portions were very small indeed for the money. I could have lived with that had the flavours been commensurate, but the duck was extremely dry and so salty as to mask any flavour and actually render it inedible.

    The salad was no better, being bland, bitter and with a very unspecial dressing.

    I am ordinarily a very good eater and not fussy, but I actually left much of this tiny meal on my plate. It really is hard to understand how even an average kitchen staff could make something as universally delicious as duck into a negative eating experience! If it had not been a special event organised by others I would have made an issue of paying for this very poor meal.

    I eat out a lot so I have plenty to compare this with. I now wish we had gone to a local cafe rather than spending a small fortune on such disappointing, dare I say, bad - fare.

    I should mention, though, that our lady server was absolutely excellent. She was very knowledgeable and an extremely polished serving professional.

    Aug 02, 2011 

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    Delila2
    6


    1 of 2 readers found the following review helpful

    3.5 Below Average

    Food  2      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  1     


    Have been to Jonahs 3 times now having moved to Avalon and trying out local restaurants and have been disappointed each time. The last meal there was abysmal, being a week night had their winter special of schnitzel and maybe they need to visit a Sydney pub to find out how to cook schnitzel. The entree was ok. Beats me how they are a one hat restaurant. We won't be back.

    Jul 21, 2011 

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    Lc H.
    2


    1 of 2 readers found the following review helpful

    5.5 Average

    Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  4     


    New menu - bland, dry, no special flavours, disappointing.

    May 01, 2011 

    Was this review helpful?   |


    christinee
    1

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