Perched gracefully above the rugged coastline of New South Wales, Rick Stein at Bannisters has established itself as a premier destination for those who appreciate the intersection of fine dining and the raw beauty of the Australian seaside. Located at 191 Mitchell Parade in Mollymook Beach, the restaurant offers a dining experience that feels both sophisticated and deeply connected to its maritime environment. The atmosphere is defined by its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, providing a backdrop that changes with the tides and the shifting light of the day, making every visit feel unique.
The philosophy behind the kitchen is rooted in a profound respect for the ocean’s bounty. By focusing on the freshest local ingredients, the culinary team crafts dishes that celebrate the natural flavors of the region. Whether you are visiting for a long, leisurely lunch or an intimate evening meal, the restaurant aims to provide a sense of place that is both welcoming and memorable. It is a space where the rhythm of the waves complements the artistry on the plate, inviting guests to slow down and savor the experience of coastal gastronomy.
Defining Features of the Experience
Coastal Provenance: The menu is heavily influenced by the proximity to the ocean, emphasizing the importance of sourcing high-quality, locally caught seafood. This commitment ensures that the flavors remain vibrant and reflective of the surrounding waters, supporting regional producers while maintaining a high standard of culinary excellence.
Panoramic Ocean Views: The architectural design of the space prioritizes the connection between the interior dining room and the vast horizon. Large windows and open layouts allow guests to enjoy an immersive experience where the sights and sounds of Mollymook Beach become an integral part of the meal, enhancing the overall sense of tranquility.
Refined Hospitality: Service at the restaurant is characterized by a balance of professionalism and genuine warmth. The staff is dedicated to creating a comfortable environment where guests feel well-cared for, ensuring that the focus remains on the enjoyment of the food, the company, and the spectacular coastal setting.
A Harmonious Atmosphere: The interior aesthetic is thoughtfully curated to mirror the relaxed yet elegant nature of the South Coast. By blending modern comfort with subtle nautical influences, the restaurant provides a versatile setting suitable for both celebratory occasions and quiet, reflective dining experiences.
A Lasting Impression
Rick Stein at Bannisters serves as more than just a place to eat; it is a testament to the beauty of the South Coast and the joy of shared meals. By combining a dedication to quality ingredients with a location that captures the imagination, the restaurant continues to be a significant landmark for visitors and locals alike. As you look out over the Pacific from the comfort of your table, the experience serves as a reminder of the simple pleasure found in good food, thoughtful service, and the enduring charm of the Australian coastline. Whether you are a frequent visitor to the region or discovering Mollymook Beach for the first time, a visit to this establishment offers a meaningful connection to the culinary heritage and natural splendor of the area.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Outdoor seating
On-site services
Dine-in
Delivery
Highlights
Fireplace
Great cocktails
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great wine list
Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Healthy options
Spirits
Vegetarian options
Wine
Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar on site
Toilet
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy
Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Tourists
Planning
Brunch reservations recommended
Lunch reservations recommended
Reservations required
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Menus
Photos
Reviews Rick Stein At Bannisters
Agnes
30-05-2026
Came here to celebrate my husbands birthday and it was very lovely. We left very full. We orders oysters, tuna is passionfruit marinade, sashimi, scallops, shellfish soup and fish with rice. All very good and very understated which … More
William Crendal
30-05-2026
We had a nice view from the terrace, and the food is delicious. We chose a Local white wine that we did not know and were pleasantly surprised by the quality. More
Kylie
30-05-2026
Have eaten at Rick Steins in Mollymook & Port Stephen’s on many occasions over the last 10years. It was once a highlight of visiting Bannisters, enjoying a seafood dinner. Definitely not anymore. The last 3 times have been disappointing to … More
B C
30-05-2026
World class service, venue requiring some TLC - leaking ceiling, false fire alarms, etc. which is okay, if the food was the hero which it wasn’t.
Food was good without being sublime, nor value for money $502 for 2 people … More
Thabani Ndlovu
30-05-2026
Close to being one of the best five star dining experiences of my 2024. The food was exquisite and wonderfully presented. The waiter was polite, friendly and cautious. It’s very hard to find these kind of old school service people who … More
Ivonne Lienau
30-05-2026
We had a brilliant night and loved the warm welcome and personal touches. The little anniversary surprise was very appreciated. We enjoyed everything we had but the scallops, John Dory and chocolate soufflé were the standouts for me.We’ll have to come back when the famous Fish Pie is back on the menu. More
Angela Chand
30-05-2026
Our dining experience was good. The service was really good. Thanks to Diasy who looked after us tonight. It was a real treat for me from hubby for my birthday
Fine dining restaurants should acknowledge special occasions and offer at least … More
Scott Grambau
30-05-2026
We loved every second of time , every piece of food ,and every bit of ambience to the restaurant and resort. Daisy our waitress added to our whole experience and was just a delight.The night finished in amazing style with a night cap at … More
Allison Cropley
30-05-2026
We have just returned home and have reflected on the wonderful time at Rick Stein’s at Mollymook. We felt very special and were greeted as though we were. The room was lovely and quiet with the sound of an occasional wave crashing below. The restaurant was outstanding service and the food was to die for. Thank you. More
Ohm May
30-05-2026
Loved the atmosphere and the service was great. We started with a few entrées — the oysters themselves were amazing, but the dressing was a little too acidic. The tuna ceviche was just okay; after dining at Harbour House the next day, their … More
Martin G
30-05-2026
A very nice meal, as expected. No negatives. Staff were friendly and attentive and we had a very enjoyable evening.
See the pics for our choices.
The restaurant could do with some updating (see other reviews) but we came for the food and were not disappointed.
The setting at Bannisters Head overlooking the ocean is spectacular.
Many thanks.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$200+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
deb smith
30-05-2026
An amazing day. Went way above my expectations. From when you arrived and greeted then taken to your table, I knew it was good. However the food took it to the next level. And staff just perfectly timed conversation and service. Happily recommend. More
Gem
30-05-2026
The menu pricing was not unreasonable when compared to similar establishments. However, the quality and the standard of the food left a lot to be desired. I concur with some other comments, in that, it is living on past glories. We shared a entreè of sashimi which we enjoyed. The overuse of butter in both the kipfler potatoes and the chicken dish main course was really unacceptable for a restaurant of this ‘standing’. Also the topping on both was overwhelming. Our main waitress ( I forgot to ask her name - the girl from Canberra!) was delightful but service was quite slow at times.
Ironically, I dined here about 5 years ago and had a similar experience. It’s a lovely prompt but I shall not be returning to the restaurant.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$60–80
Food: 2
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Seating type
Indoor dining area
vee
30-05-2026
We had a fantastic experience at Rick Stein at Bannisters. The food was absolutely incredible - fresh, beautifully presented and full of flavour. What truly made the night unforgettable was our waiter, Luke. From the moment we sat down he was warm, attentive and genuinely engaging, making us feel so welcome. He took the time to explain the menu, gave great recommendations, checked in at just the right moments and made sure everything was perfect throughout the evening. His friendly personality and attention to detail really made our night special and turned a great dinner into an amazing experience. The food was outstanding, but Luke’s service is what we’ll remember most. We can’t wait to come back. Thank you Luke!
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Helene Potter
30-05-2026
Mainly seafood dishes! 7 nights dinner and lunches Fri to Sunday. An acclaimed, high-end restaurant located within the Bannisters by the Sea hotel in Mollymook, NSW. It is renowned for serving fresh, locally sourced seafood in a relaxed, coastal-inspired setting with panoramic ocean views, often featuring dishes inspired by Rick Stein's worldwide travels. Top-tier dining experience, offering a refined yet relaxed dining experience on a headland.
A must-go!
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$80–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Seating type
Indoor dining area
M Russ
30-05-2026
Definitely a dining experience not to be missed if you are a lover of fine cuisine. The staff were very welcoming and extremely attentive.All of our dishes were absolutely amazing in particular the lobster, which was to die for. Highly recommended. Food, wine and service 10/10. Loved the Dom!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$200+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Wait time
No wait
sally wood
30-05-2026
Seems the food quality is not as good as I remembered. We had to wait a long time for dessert but that may have been because I had a shuffle. This may have caused the crème believe to be cold so it wasn’t great. Indonesian seafood curry tasted like every other seafood curry I have had in Bali… but very light on seafood quantity. For the price I expected more. Location , atmosphere and services impeccable though 👍🏻
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$120–140
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Outdoor patio / terrace, Booth seating
Barbara
30-05-2026
We stayed at Bannisters Mollymook for our 25th anniversary. We'd previously had our 10th anniversary here, also dining in Rick Stein's. Not sure if our expectations were lowered as on our previous occasion we were not really impressed. However, this time we really enjoyed the experience: the meal was faultless, the service excellent. we really appreciated the friendly and knowledgeable service we received. the standout for me was the Fish and Shellfish Soup with Rouille, Parmesan and Croutons and for my husband was the Indonesian Seafood Curry with Blue Eye Trevalla, Squid, Prawns and Mussels
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$120–140
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
1 person, 2 people, 3-4 people, 5-8 people
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking
Jess Pine
30-05-2026
My partner and i visited this restaurant and were greeted immedietly as we were early for our booking we were seated with a drinks menu and the waitress was very helpful with a great selection of wines. For our starter we had scallops and fish tacos, the scallops were cooked perfectly and the flavour of the hazlenut was a perfect companion with the succulant buttery scallops, however the fish tacos lacked flavour. For our entrees we had mushroom risotto and muscles, both had such vibrant flavours and were just the right balance for our palet. The mains we had were the lobster bisque and the snapper, the lobster bisque was a little salty but still flavoursome and the snapper was absolutely perfect with every single bite. Would recommend this restaurant if you are in the area.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100–120
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
2 people
Rodrigo Duran
30-05-2026
What a great time. From the moment you arrive, the host welcomes you warmly, and the service from the well-trained staff is impeccable
Andrew what a surprise!!! Your benchmark in the service as usual excellent. And the view… simply beautiful.
The food is straightforward — less is more, as we say. Pure quality ingredients. I love it when the waitress asks where you’d like your oysters from 🦪 (three different locations to choose from). The snapper with hollandaise sauce was just yummy 🤤.
For dessert, the classics: pavlova with white chocolate (stunning) and crème brûlée, which made me feel like home
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reviews Rick Stein At Bannisters