My favourite places to eat in Forster

I'm lucky enough to have some friends that live in Forster and one of the things I love about visiting them is when they take us out to the amazing restaurants and cafes around here. Although it was hard with so many options I've tried to list my favourite places to dine when I come to beautiful Forster-Tuncurry. See if you agree.

Anatolia Turkish Cuisine

A favourite of my hubby. The food is authentic and they are always busy which tells you something. They have a fantastic choice of vegan and vegetarian food such as baba ganoush, hummus and dolmades but if you are into meats (like my hubby), their mixed grilled platter is out of this world. The shish kebabs of chicken and lamb are the most tender of meats.

Recommendation: Mixed grill platter

Beach Bums Café

One thing is for sure - Forster does breakfast well! My favourite place for brekky would have to be Beach Bums Café. This café is located on Forster Main Beach and the views of the Pacific Ocean are superb. Ranging from the typical big brekky to the healthy acai bowl and breakfast burrito, the menu offers a good choice of options. After 11:30am, the breakfast menu changes to lunch and offers fantastic daily specials. Keep an eye out for the passing dolphins or whales in winter time.

Recommendation: Mexican brekky wrap or seafood chowder

Tartt Café

Another amazing place for breakfast is Tartt Café. Tartt roasts its own coffee blend called “Little Street Roasters” and their menu is as eclectic as their friendly staff and art displays. My favourite breakfast meal is the “Marsupilami”, a slow cooked beef brisket with salami, melted cheddar, pickles and sliced tomato on a toasted focaccia. If you want something a little healthier, there is plenty to choose from. If you liked their coffee, Tartt has a little sister located on Forster Main Beach and is called Wingman Espresso; it is a cute little hole in the wall that serves a few pre-made sandwiches, coffee and soft drinks. Great for a quick coffee and snack after a dip in the bullring.

Recommendation: Their coffee and their southern fried chicken benedict (my hubby loves it!)

Plunge Café

Plunge Café prides themselves on their perfect coffee! Everything is made to order and their pastries are outstanding. On first visit it was a tiny nook with maybe room for 8 people. On my most recent visit they extended their premises to take in the building next door. This shows how popular this place is. The owners Renee and Heath have a combined 30-year experience in the hospitality industry and it shows! Make sure you try one of their home-made pies or one of their smoothie bowls.

Recommendation: Their homemade pastries which change daily. You can't go wrong with any

Spice Monkey

If you want to have a scrumptious lunch with a view in Forster, Spice Monkey is the place to go and deliver a fantastic food experience. This, along with it's neighbor Si Senorita (see below) are always busy so make sure you book. Spice Monkey is an Asian inspired restaurant that specialises in Japanese cuisine. The sushi is super fresh, their bento boxes change regularly and the prices are reasonable. Wash it all down with a Monkey Magic lager or one of their signature cocktails and your culinary journey is complete.

Recommendation: Duck wontons, tempura prawns and Korean chicken wings.

Si Senorita

We used to frequent the former Reef Bar and Grill but since it's opening last year we've loved Si Senorita Mexican Cantina! The décor of the place is well appointed and gives you a feel of being in a laid back surfy town in Mexico. The food has all the favourites like nachos, tacos and burritos but it also has a few distinctive dishes. My favourite is the Peruvian snapper ceviche with jalapeno, onion, lime and bullhorn peppers served with corn chips. Another outstanding dish is the tuna sashimi tostadas served with avocado, chipotle mayo, crunchy walnuts and shallots. As you would expect, the drinks list emphasizes on tequilas and mezcals with a vast selection of margaritas.

Recommendation: Tuna sashimi tostados and ceviche.

Pezzella’s Pizzeria

I. Love. Pezzella's. It's the place to go to if you want fresh authentic Italian wood-fired pizza. Their menu uses as much local quality produce as possible and the flavours are exceptional. The local buffalo mozzerella they use is my favourite. They seem to be adding more and more to their menu on every visit. They also have blackboard specials where every day they display a fabulous new dish. The venue is quite small, so you will need to book in advance as they are always busy.

Recommendation: Tartufo pizza with the local mushrooms