The Boathouse Group has announced that it will be opening its latest venture, The Mona Social, at the Mona Vale Golf Club later this month.
The new bar and bistro will reside above the golf club’s headquarters, but it will be separate to the club. It will feature an a la carte bistro restaurant and a casual bar with sports viewing areas, pool tables, in-house golf simulator, and tap beer.
Mona Vale Golf Club general manager Andy Hugill stated: “We are thrilled to have the team from The Boathouse Group launching a brand-new venue concept above our clubhouse, it will bring a whole new dimension to Mona Vale hospitality options, along with our newly renovated clubhouse and cafe.”
The Boathouse Group head of culinary, Mark LaBrooy, along with new head chef Cameron Johnston have developed a menu with the intention to appeal to not only golfers, but the general public.
“The Mona Social is the first menu I’ve developed with The Boathouse Group from scratch, and it was only natural to serve up a new style menu to cater to locals, visitors, and golfers alike,” LaBrooy told Club Management.
“The venue leans more country club than our other venues, and the bar and bistro menus are both intended to be enjoyed by friends and family. We’ve strived to strike a balance that is both sophisticated and accessible with the two dining formats where you can stop in for a quick drink and meal in the bar or sit in for a long lunch or dinner in the bistro.”
To reflect a more country club style venue, LaBrooy said there’s a shift from the group’s signature seafood classics to more contemporary takes on modern favourites, such as venison tartare with zesty horseradish and chargrilled prawns on the bistro menu, and the Mona Social club sandwich, an anchovy crumpet or an epic fried chicken sandwich on the bar menu.
The drinks offering includes a fun cocktail list with creations such as the signature Caddy Issues, a mix between a cosmopolitan and a sea breeze, and the On the Green with kiwifruit, gin and Japanese melon. The venue has also collaborated with 4-Pines to launch The Swingers Lager.
“Each dish on both the bar and bistro menu has been created with the ability to share with friends or family. Whether dining straight off the golf course, or visiting for a long lunch, both menus cater for everyone,” LaBrooy said.
“We’ve had a bit of fun with the cocktails to inject a bit of golfing lingo, including specialty creations such as the signature Caddy Issues and the On the Green, perfect to sip on before having a swing in the golf simulator in the bar.”
The Boathouse Group is best known for its waterside venues across greater Sydney, including the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA). In addition to the Mona Vale Golf Club, the hospitality group is slated to open another venue in North Wollongong next month, which will be the group’s first location outside of Sydney.