The Venue

“Below a gently curved ceiling echoing the ocean’s waves and nestled between hues of dusty sandstone and orange blush sits Marra Bar and Grill. Offering an array of grilled meats, seafood, and more; there’s no better place to enjoy a delicious meal.⁣

Relax and indulge with full table service, a modern Australian menu of flawless simplicity, cocktails brimming with our neighbourhood’s personality, and a wine list showcasing Australia’s best wine regions.”

It is a marvellous indoor venue that is a little dark in comparison to outdoor areas. We sat at a side window seat that was open giving us a fresh outlook. The staff were young and friendly, and quite professional. They offered suggestions and we looked for them to say goodbye, we don’t usually do that, but when they are so attentive, it would almost be rude not to thank them. The wine was perfect for our meal and funnily enough, without looking we hit our budget to the cent.⁣⁣

The People

Marra Bar and Grill has some of the best service in Sydney – on both occasions they have nailed the service, not too crowding and always attentive. On our most recent visit I got up to take some pics of the venue and this lovely Samoan (I think?) girl came to our table and kept Granny company while I was absent, that is the height of customer service.

Also, on both occasions we have asked multiple questions about the food and what is there favourite dish and each time they have answered with confident knowledge and almost, dare I say it, passion – if you could get your trainers to visit every Sydney establishment this would be grand haha. On both times we have ordered nearly all their recommendations and the only one we regret was the burger, it was their signature dish (more on that below) and it has now departed.

I didn’t meet the chef on our recent visit but I gave him a wave and a mouthed thank you. I will take a guess that the chef has changed between visits? The food was a bit more refined and subtler in its execution than the first visit.

What we ordered…

November 2022

🌽 SWEETCORN RIBS – chargrilled w dashi butter, and lime. Sriracha mayo ⁣(still on the menu but cooked different)

⁣🥑 NACHO SPRING ROLLS – beef, smoked guacamole⁣ (no longer available)

⁣🐟 ORITZ ANCHOVIES – grilled sourdough⁣ (still available)

⁣🐠 WHOLE BABY TROUT – lemon, burnt butter, capers⁣ (no longer available)

⁣🌿 ASPARAGUS – truffle butter, parsley⁣ (no longer available)

🍤 TIGER PRAWNS BURGER – Marie Rose dressing, iceberg w lobster mac & cheese croquette & served with fries⁣ (no longer available)

November 2023

🦑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐃 – lemon, aioli ⁣

🧀 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐌𝐈 – olive jam, lemon, honey⁣

🐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐍 – lemon potatoes, wild rocket⁣

🍝 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐂𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀 – prawns, tomato, parsley, garlic sauce⁣

The Food

2022 – Everything was brilliant except the one dish which we both almost hated. The Tiger Prawns burger Granny called “awful” about a dozen times before I dropped her home. I have to agree with her – it was all sauce with 2 or 3 prawns halved, and a bun similar to a Fillet of Fish – sadly the Lobster and Mac Croquette was wonderful so we started referring to it as the Croquette Meal with a side of burger.⁣

The trout was pure heaven, although the sauce was all butter and a lot of it, and the Ortiz Anchovies is always a fave. Granny eats here regularly and I will be back – the burger should remain as pub grub and not be served in the restaurant, but it hasn’t ruined the venue for me.

2023 – Granny stopped me from ordering the Corn Ribs and the Anchovies as we had them last time, but they are my fave!! LOL

The squid was wonderful due to it being so light and fluffy and the halloumi was a winner because of the honey and the olive jam was epic and unique – I can’t say I have ever had halloumi with olive jam or tapenade – truly great!⁣

And the veal was huge and so crispy, it was a perfect veal “schnitty” and I loved it, Granny’s pasta was just divine, I had some meal FOMO, I did try it but it was so beautiful I would’ve smashed it with Gusto, for me, next time!⁣ The Casarecce Pasta would probably be my favourite dish at Marra from two mouthfuls.

In Conclusion

Sitting opposite the beach the Coogee Bay Hotel is as important to Coogee as the sand, it was and still is (somewhat) a music icon and part of Australian and International Rock History. I saw the Smashing Pumpkins there in the 90s and it was so packed my feet didn’t touch the floor for about an hour. I was so scared but the alcohol and drugs sorted that hahaha

It has been quite gentrified since then but it is still such an iconic venue – The Arms of the South-East perhaps.

Part of its attraction these days and part of every pub’s attraction is the food, no longer able to get buy with some fried chips and pies pulled out of a warmer after putting them in there three days prior, if the food isn’t good people won’t come and based on this both recent times I have been Marra Bar and Grill has been packed.

SCORE BREAKDOWN: 2/3 food, 2/2 service, 1/1 drinks, 1/1 venue & ambience, 1/1 cost, 1/1 toilets & 0/1 bonus

*** Spooning Australia was invited, with thanks, by the venue ***

All photographs are Copyrighted by Spooning Australia and Jason King – please feel free to share with full credit provided.

Marra Bar & Grill Deets

Website

https://coogeebayhotel.com.au/marra

Phone

(02) 9064 0028

Address

253 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee NSW 2034

Bookings

Yes

Pricing

Medium

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 11am – 10pm

Saturday: 8am – 10pm

Sunday: 8am – 9pm

Vegetarian Options
A Few

Takeaway
Unsure

Local Delivery
Unsure

Gluten-Free Options
Yes

Kid Friendly
I wouldn’t take them