Places

Catalina

Lyne Park, Rose Bay, Sydney

• www.catalinarosebay.com.au
• t +61 2 9371 0555

Michael and Judy McMahon met almost 40 years ago – they began working together, then got married, started a family and in 1994 they opened their own restaurant, Catalina. Located in a converted club that closed down years before, the restaurant has a beautiful view over Rose Bay, one of the most stunning bays in Sydney and can also be reached by boat. Their twenty plus years of success can be attributed to the quality of the dishes they serve, the fresh fish and the elegant and modern atmosphere in an authentic family business. James and Kate, Michael and Judy’s children, also work at the restaurant, where they introduced novelties such as the New Year’s Day Party, which for years has been a popular event in Sydney, following their father’s advice “good enough is never good enough”. In addition to the second generation of McMahons, Catalina has also trained sommelier Andrew de Vries, pastry chef Berny Osorio and executive chef Mark Axisa, who came to the restaurant to finish his apprenticeship and never left. “It is important for them to feel like they belong”, says Mr. McMahon, also emphasizing his disapproval for the celebrity chef phenomenon: “Do you know of any celebrity electricians or plumbers? I’ve been hiring chefs for 40 years and what matters is the team effort, not the leadership of a cook, no matter how important he feels”. The menu is also influenced by various cuisines: Italian, Spanish and of course, Australian, from roasted suckling with spicy tomato chutney and mustard to daikon and shiitake salmon, with an important Japanese note introduced by McMahon himself. Interestingly, he admits not being able to choose
his favorite dish: “Pick any one you want, I love them all.”