It was our third trip to Canal Rocks, near Yallingup in WA’s south, this year. Our previous sojourns and the resultant dining experiences were underwhelming, bland affairs - Wills Domain aside.
A work colleague suggested Blue Manna in Dunsborough, a restaurant that I have never heard of. A quick browse on the web had us salivating over the menu and eager to dine there.
We had booked under the impression that the place was going to get slammed for lunch - it being summer in one of WA’s holiday mecca’s.
But as we entered through the crowdy little doorway, we were surprised to find the place half full and emptying quickly.
Our table was in the quiet, almost vacant, covered courtyard with a lovely wide strip of forest separating the restaurant from suburbia. Gorgeous really.
The staff are all over us and the menu is in our hands as we sit. And its quite an amazing array of dishes mainly seafood, but with a bit of blokey red meat thrown in for those who know little about or are not interested in seafood.
Its pan Asian meets Italy\Australia - marinara, fish stew and a host of other seafood dishes.
The wine list on the other hand is as exciting as Weetbix, with only a couple of international offerings. Disappointing really.
Luckily we spotted an Italian Prosecco on the list, so all was not lost.
The entree list is impressive, with a dozen dishes representing Japanese, Taiwanese, Thai and South American cuisines.
We ordered the sashimi plate of the day to share ($22), pictured, and settled into the delicious Prosecco.
The passing parade of dishes was impressive, towers of whole crab, lamb ribs the size of a house and a fab looking marinara.
The sashimi appeared and was just as impressive, the colours and texture popping off the plate. Generous slices of local salmon, squid and kingfish set against delicious pickled Japanese vegetables.
The tide was out on the bubbles and despite the average wine list, I stumbled onto a Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio, from Central Victoria, and the Blonde, a delicious Raspberry Chili Margarita.
We had ordered the Taiwanese Gua Bao ($22) and it punched above its weight. Two generous, green, bao stuffed with soft shell crab, house made kimchi and a lick of shrimp mayo. Just perfect.
This was easily one of the best, most relaxing and surprising lunches we have had this year. An unpretentious, friendly venue with outstanding food. Go.
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