I find that through fate or folly that I am often the person that people ask where to eat. It’s either readers who are looking for a place to eat in Sydney or interstate or friends or family. I don’t mind of course, it is of course yet another chance to talk about food. But when my sister Blythe visisted Sydney from London she and my family asked me to find somewhere. The brief was simple enough yet it was complicated.
It had to have a gorgeous Sydney view to reorient my sister who was used to London views
It had to be impressive enough for my mother
It had to have reasonably priced meals to make Mr NQN happy
It had to have a shop attached to it as I needed to do some gift shopping
It had to have something to amuse my impossible to please father. Hmm ok that’s a hard one. Let’s just cut our losses and go with the first four points.
Burnt Orange is housed in a Federation style mansion, formerly the Mosman golf club in the 1930s. It is a cafe with a lovely view slash boutique slash gallery. We park at the carpark next door ($3-4 an hour!) and take the short walk down the path to the large timber and stone house. There is a wrap around verandah for diners and inside is the retail store. The Burnt Orange concept was from an Irish company called Avoca (they serve Avoca bread).
Jug of homemade lemonade $8
While we’re browsing the menu we order a large jug of still homemade lemonade which comes out in a pitcher with a wooden spoon, cut strawberries and mint leaves. It’s slightly bitter as of course it is lemonade, too lemony for my mother and Blythe who are not really into home made lemonades but I find it quite pleasant.
Elderflower pressé $6
The Elderflower presse is gorgeously refreshing and floral with the aroma of Elderflower from the first sip and delicate bubbles.
Australian Antipasti platter: Princi prosciutto, Affineur truffle salami and bresaola with mixed olives, dips and house chutney $26
Service is sweet and friendly and from reading reviews it has improved vastly. A very generous serve which could feed at least three for an entree, the antipasti platters comes out with some heavenly bresaola (smoked beef), prosciutto and Affineur truffle salami which is heady in fennel seed. It also comes with the Avoca walnut bread and a sourdough rye both thinly sliced, the Avoca walnut bread the clear favourite with it’s rich nuttiness and almost cake-like texture. There were also two dips in a shared container: hommous and baba gannoush as well as a tomato relish and a pear chutney which were all made on the premises. To finish it off are black and green olives and cornichons.
Tasmanian salmon cake served on a crisp salad of baby cress & granny smith apple with a lemon mayonnaise $21
The mains come out together and we start with the Tasmanian salmon cake which is a nice surprise. We had expected a fried cake (for my mother) but instead we get fresh, well cooked poached salmon, potato, herbs and baby capers with salad. The salmon is fresh and singing with dill and it’s a very generous sized portion and excellent value.
Burnt Orange fish pie with a selection of fresh fish fillets in a creamy leek & white wine sauce topped with fluffy potato mash and a side of green leaves $24
One of the most popular items on the menu is the fish pie which is filled with large, tender chunks of white fish and salmon (not at all watery as some fish pies can be) and a creamy sauce flavoured with fennel and celery which gives some mouthfuls an ever so slightly bitter taste to an otherwise creamy sauce. it’s topped with mashed potato and then baked until it has slightly crispy edges on top and is paired with a large green salad. I did like this dish although I did find some mouthfuls had that ever so slight bitterness to them.
Moroccan-spiced lamb with fig & almond cous cous $25
The moroccan spiced lamb is cooked until soft and falls apart. It was a hit with everyone, especially when we paired it with the tomato relish which we still had from the antipasti plate. The lamb was well flavoured and matched with a fruity sweet couscous which had Turksih apricots and currants in it.
Chicken pie with preserved lemon & rosemary, spring vegetables and flaky puff pastry $24
This one was quite a favourite with everyone-Mr NQN was appreciating the serving sizes here and even he couldn’t finish everything on the plates. The chicken pie is filled with a tomato based sauce, chicken thigh pieces, chickpeas, carrots, peas, preserved lemon and rosemary and topped with a layer of home made buttery puff pastry. The sauce was rich and given a lift from the preserved lemon and the buttery puff was good indeed.
Pumpkin, goat’s cheese & walnut tart with Melissa’s carrot jam and fresh herb greens $18
With the sizeable portions of the other dishes, the pumpkin, goat’s cheese and walnut tart was noticeably smaller by comparison. It was an interesting tart though with a crumbly base almost like a sweet tart base which my mother adored. It was filled with pumpkin and rich goat’s cheese and a spoonful of the carrot jam which was slightly sweet grated carrots and mustard seeds. The walnuts were hidden under the salad which we didn’t quite discover until the tart was finished and we wondered where the walnuts were and it might have been better to put the walnuts on the tart as they would have provided a nice, toasty crunch.
Bilpin apple crumble served with vanilla bean ice cream $10
We had saved room for dessert of course! Blythe has had her eye on the salty peanut slice and reasons that a slice is “like half a dessert so we could have two slices and that could count as one person’s dessert”! We start with the Bilpin apple crumble which is strong in clove rather than cinnamon and is served with little plums or dates and apple pieces and a butter crumble top.
Basil pannacotta with vanilla roasted peaches and almond crisp $12
Mr NQN and I first tried basil panna cotta a while back and I always liked the flavour of a creamy panna cotta with basil. This one has an appealing wobble and a true basil flavour to it. The vanilla roasted peach is an ideal sweetness and the almond biscotti is divine.
Salty Peanut Caramel Slice $4
The salty peanut caramel slice is just that. A thick, slightly chewy slice with roasted, caramelised peanuts with a light saltiness to it. I find myself wondering how to make this as I would like to reproduce it at home.
Mars Bar Slice $4
I’m less besotted by the Mars Bar slice which has a thick layer of super sweet milk chocolate on top and very uncrunchy almost soggy rice bubbles on the bottom. We enquire with the waiter if this is indeed how it should taste and he brings a fresh one from the fridge which is markedly better although not as nice as the salty peanut caramel slice.
Our two hours almost up with the parking Mr NQN and my father go off to take care of the car while I do a bit of shopping including some gorgeous vintage Christmas cards and some invitation sets.
Downstairs there is the newly minted kiosk which sells Muffins, toasites, Daylesford and Hepburn flavoured sparkling mineral waters and Serendipity ice creams as well as picnic fare such as sandwich or salad picnic boxes ($40 for 2) or platters for $20.
So tell me Dear Reader, are you often the ones that is asked to choose where to dine?
Burnt Orange
1108/1109 Middle Head Road, Mosman NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9969 1020
Burnt Orange at The Club House is located at the end of Middle Head Road opposite HMAS Penguin,
with a sign-posted car park before the building.
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52 Comments | Add your own
This is my favourite place, I’ve been there so many times! And that walnut tart is my favourite dish, it’s so delicious!
I would guess it has nothing to do with fate or folly, but more your expertise
All the food pictured looks like the type I would happily eat (except the dreaded Mars Slice stale or not).
How do elderflowers taste like? I’m curious!
Wow, that’s quite a lot of criteria to be satisfied for a meal! LOL. I’m glad everyone was pleased.
I like the name Burnt Orange too, although naming an eatery after an overcooked fruit is rather weird!
I love Avoca in Ireland, its amazing, I will have to check Burnt Orange out!
I love the look of the goats cheese and pumpkin tart.
I really like the sound of the panna cotta as I made a basil and lime tart last week and it was amazingly good!
oh yay, that looks like a nice sort of place to take my grandma or mother in law! love the honest review and think I might skip the mars bar slice!!!
homemade lemonade? oh how yum!
Love Burnt Orange. The breakfast there is a lot of fun. The view is sensational and I love eating amongst the trees. I never have any luck with bought mars bar slice – nothing beats home-made for me.
What a beautiful place with beautiful food! I should love to go here. The big question is – what did you buy at the gift shop?
Oh yum, everything looks so tasty! I love the look of the desserts and sweet things!
What a lovely place, must give this place a go next time I’m around.
I’ve heard so many good reviews about Burnt Orange. The Fish Pie looks delicious. Not to mention that fantastic Anti Pasto.
Oh my! Pumpkin tart, Chicken pie and salted peanut caramel slice.
Possibly my perfect (if very filling!) meal. I want it right now….
Yes this is a great location for visitors to the city and ‘homeys’ alike. …and the food is excellent and good value. I just wish it wasn’t such a long drive across Sydney for me – breakfast sounds fantastic.
I like your sister’s theory about a slice only being half a dessert. I must remember that one.
WOW – everything looks wonderful! that apple crumble and vanilla bean ice cream just looks fantastic!
will definitely check it out!
I want an elderflower pressé NOW!
What a gorgeous part of the world Mosman is! The drinks look lovely, and I could demolish that antipasto platter!
~~When I visit ” Burnt Orange,”( love the name) I shall order “Tasmanian salmon cake.” This looks simply devine. I get so hungry reading and looking and savoring your blog, Lorraine. Sooooo Hungry
So when i’m visiting Sydney that’s where you’re taking me too, right?
That salty peanut caramel slice is MINE!
What a lovely spot for a Sydney lunch. Glad most of your party were satisfied!
I was asked by a colleague to suggest a city lunch spot recently, and I told her to try Greenhouse by Joost. Winner! She calls me ‘the foodie’ now
It can be difficult to please everyone, but this food looks like it must have come close!
Looks so pretty and everything looks delicious. I love Bilpin apples! I went apple picking there about two weeks ago, still working up some time to blog on it
Salmon cake and basil pannacotta, please! Relaxing surrounds, beautiful views and interesting enough a menu to tempt many obviously.
Mention of ‘Bilpin apples’ brought a tear to my eye. My father-i-law was the first in the area to have a large, commercial apple orchard on the S side of Bells’ Line of Road just 11 kms from Bellbird Hill. Originally a Pitt Street farmer – it soon became far more than that. The fabulous gardens he developed at ‘Tarapark’ brought tertiary horticultural students ex Sydney in droves to view and learn. I had such fun taking out my ‘aggressions’ on the assembly line’ at harvest time Jan-May! Brought up my children there. Sorry, but the memories flood in!!
Free parking is available on the left hand side just past HMAS building.
What a request but looks like you found the perfect spot! I could easily go a salty caramel peanut slice right about now!yummmm!
love that place. I would go back just for the fish pie
Christine – where did you go apple – picking? Red Delicious and Rome Beauties coming in about now, no? Would love to know whether the name ‘Tarapark’ is still known in the area? Lived over 20 years in N Rivers and S Qld and now SW of Sydney after – so have lost the plot!
Sorry, sorry, sorry Lorraine! No, you are not the communal PO Box!
Oh Lorraine, what have you done to me? Instead of paying attention in my lectures, I am reading your blog on my phone!
I always get to choose but my father only likes Chinese cuisine so the choice is limited quite drastically!
As someone who eats lemons straight, no lemonade could ever me too lemony for my liking
But look, let’s be real here. All I have eyes for is the caramel peanut slice. Lorraine, *please* recreate that for us, I mean yourself, soon!
This place looks adorable! Eat and shop – sounds like the perfect afternoon!
I love mars bar slice. It is so easy to make and delicious! I usually put a layer of dark chocolate on mine and it’s best eaten cold. I have never seen it on a menu anywhere. That salmon pattie looks delicious as well. I love dill!
Yes!! I do get asked all the time, b/c even though I ask first, ppl switch it up on me haha. My friends are indecisive, and greg wants what’s best for me. There’s pros and cons to all that. But! I’m getting trained to be more decisive
Those pics are gorgeous! Lorraine, what camera and lens do you use btw? 
Always, coming from a family of hospitality people, I am always asked where the best place to go is. But, I will say, some of the best adventures have been when we have gone to places I didn’t book or recommend.
I love the look of this place, very cool.
Looks like an awesome place and what? you are shopping for Christmas cards?
Your photos are seriously gorgeous. The fish pie looks particularly appealing and sitting outside on the deck so nice. We’re hoping to get to Australia next year. Have added this to our ‘must see’ places
Great spot – you have made me hungry.
I like the sound of this place, the lemonade, I want some now. The Moroccan lamb, the pie, the platter it all looks so tempting.
Note to self – get to Mosman.
this looks like a really good place, wonder if it is near Sergant mess. The chocolate rice bubble looks good from the pic thou. lucky they replace you a better one
Me want Elderberry Presse” please. I have an Elderberry tree in my backyard, have never made anything with the flowers but I would try to make that drink if I had the recipe as it looks delicious.
I’m always the one to book or be asked for suggestions as to where to go for lunch/dinner or special occasions. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I’m constantly thinking,cooking, tasting, talking and dreaming about food? lol My family think I’ve gone mad because I’ve been trying to bake croissants from scratch ( it’s a labour of love and spans nearly two days) and have failed twice but I’m not giving up until I get it right!
Lorraine are you excited? Taste of Sydney this weekend, can’t wait
The food here looks so good! Wish I could go enjoy some of it
I hadn’t heard of this place – what a little gem. Looks like you had a gorgeous meal, I’m a fish pie fanatic
Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog sweetheart. And yes, was very flattered!
This looks absolutely gorgeous – I love the look of that Moroccan tagine (reminds me of being in Marrakech – I really should try making one soon), and the basil panna cotta sounds so unusual and gorgeous! Would you recommend trying it at home?
Briony xx
I always get asked, but knowing the industry, I’m more inclined to tell them where NOT to eat! It’s a small city, and hard to hide mistakes.
This review was lovely and the food looks so inviting, you’d be inclined to linger over the food if the parking was cheaper
Oh wow, glad you found the perfect spot to meet your checklists requirements!
I was told once a tweet ago that Burnt Orange is home to one of Sydney’s best scones and I have been wanting to visit since!
this place looks delightful, I’m absolutely keen on trying this out soon, thanks for the review.
I was just there the other day and thinking when you would blog about this place!
What a lovely looking lunch spot. I often find I can be disappointed with the food in places that have a view AND a gift store, but this seems to tick all the boxes!!
And yep, I’m the go-to girl but I suddenly get a mind bank whenever I am asked
My mind went exactly where yours did, how do I make that salty peanut caramel slice.
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