A structural iceberg rising out of the sea on the southern-end of Bondi Beach, the restaurant's name was picked-up from the existing sea-pool (dating back to the 1930's) visible from the bar and dining room. When the club was rebuilt in 2002, the restaurant opened on the upper floors of the historic swim club to a sea of accolades and filled reservation books. Once you get beyond the unrivaled views of Bondi Beach and smashing waves that crash into the outdoor pool, the two-story design features cool ocean-green colors derived from the sea with comfy wicker chairs and long-loungers for sprawling-out with larger groups. Guests arrive on the upper-level of the restaurant to a dressed-up host eager to direct guests between the bar and restaurant; needless to say reservations are mandatory. The bar features louvered windows and sliding doors with cooling sea breeze and rowdy bunch of beer-drinking surfers who use the locale as an upscale meet-market. On the lower-floor is the more-casual Sundeck Café in the Icebergs Club, where visitors can enter without reservations and enjoy simple seafood specialties and salads - all at half the price as the upstairs restaurant.
The Food
The Mediterranean-style menu developed by chef-Robert Marchetti includes an extensive selection of local seafood beginning with carpaccio of ocean trout with tea-smoked tomatoes and young herbs, or a spaghetti with clams and zucchini flowers. Entrees are a heartier presentation of traditional Aussie-flavors including a traditional calamari with chorizo, adventurous seared flathead fish with Tunisian pumpkin, and Moreton Bay bugs (a local lobster) with wild vegetables. Alternatively there is a variety of fish available cooked-to-order, with a choice of almond aioli, Murray River salt, soft herbs or virgin olive oil. Keep in mind that the restaurant is in high-demand. Guests will be asked to vacate tables as soon as the last fig from the artesian cheese plate is consumed, regardless of how much wine is left in the bottle.
Last Word
The lunch-crowd is always an undressed bunch of hungry locals in flip-flops while dinner is decidedly more dressed-up and usually includes a few local celebrities.
