Moby Dicks Whale Beach, Whale Beach

After attending the very picturesque wedding ceremony at Snapperman Reserve under the glaring, hot Australian sun (at a scorching 35°c!), the wedding party eventually moved to Moby Dicks Whale Beach on the other side of Palm Beach peninsula.

Outside Restaurant

Upon arrival, I was welcomed by multiple wait staff offering champagne and beer before even stepping a single foot into the reception venue. A steep set of stairs lead off the main road, past a small outdoor courtyard, and down into their function room/hall, which has floor-to-ceiling windows facing Whale Beach (would be awesome for sunrise).

View of Whale Beach

Bar

Drinks are available at the bar whilst the usual selection of sparkling and still water, along with red and white wines, are left at each table. Peculiarly, each table started off with a new bottle of San Pellegrino sparkling water, which the staff then refilled from the tap. As a result, there were a few occasions in which the "sparkling" water was flat.

Drinks

To start off the reception, multiple canapés were offered - everything was beautifully presented and had subtle flavours (although I would have liked something that packed a punch in flavour):

Kingfish Carpaccio, Charcoal Sesame Cracker & Orange

Blue Swimmer Crab, Sesame Leaf & Radish

Stuffed Zucchini Flowers With Ricotta & Whale Beach Honey

Seared Scallop, Crushed Broad Bean & Lemon Oil

The stand-out canapé for me was the deep fried zucchini flowers - freshly cooked with a crispy exterior, creamy ricotta stuffing and sweetened by honey syrup. Whilst the kingfish carpaccio was fresh and light, the charcoal sesame cracker was unexpectedly chewy and slightly sticky.
 
Interestingly, the sourdough and accompanying butter weren't handed out until just before the mains were served.

Sourdough and Pepe Saya Butter

The mains were a surprise as it was served on share plates so everyone got to eat both the beef eye fillet (barely pink; soft-as beef that melted in the mouth but lacked any form of sauce or particular seasoning) and salmon (crispy skinned and well-seasoned; probably cooked a little over but still tasty), along with a selection of sides. Surprisingly, the steamed vegetables - a selection of broccoli and broccolini - were cooked perfectly (i.e. not overcooked to become a pale comparison of its former glory) with a distinct crunch/bite.

Beef Eye Fillet, Watercress & Fennel

Atlantic Salmon, Quinoa and Sweet Corn

Endive, Sprout, Apple, Roasted Pecan, Parmesan & White Balsamic

Seasonal Tomato Salad, Basil & White Balsamic

Crispy Skin Potatoes, Lemon Thyme & Sea Salt

Steamed Greens, Garlic, Lemon & Butter

One benefit of the shared menu is that you can eat whatever you want and if you run out of a dish, you can just ask the staff for a refill/top-up of food (although this was not publicly announced).

Dessert was either a salted caramel tiramisu or lemon & strawberry cheesecake:

Boathouse Caramel ‘Tiramisu’

Lemon & Strawberry Cheesecake

I had the tiramisu, which had strong salted caramel flavours, not too strong liqueur flavour, and surprisingly not that sweet (although the biscuit crumb was a tad too salty). According to my neighbour, the cheesecake also wasn't that sweet, which was good thing in my books.

Following the main meal, a large cheese board - basically a 1-2m wooden plank with random chunks of cheese, fruit, pate and crackers - was available at the bar to grazing:

Cheese Platter (to the Left) - Local & Artisan Cheese
served with Boathouse Lavosh & Fresh Fruit

Cheese Platter (to the Right)

The wedding reception was bolstered by live band, that officially began playing after the speeches and sit-down meal. I personally wasn't a fan of the band as the lead singer tended to go off-tune/pitchy at times and the music was so loud that people started congregating near the entrance to chat.

Live Band

Now, we can't end this post without the token picture of the wedding cake:

Wedding Cake

Overall, Moby Dicks Whale Beach has exceptional sea views, service and food. In my research for this place, I was surprised that the cost per person for the shared menu actually wasn't that bad ($115pp), however they must make up for it through their beverage options that cost a mint, ranging from $55 to 95pp! At these price, I'd be expecting endless bottles of San Pellegrino sparkling water.


Food: ✰✰✰✰
Service: ✰✰✰✰
Atmosphere: ✰✰✰✰
Overall: ✰✰✰✰
Summary: Shared menu meal with calming coastal views