Where To Eat On The Central Coast 2021

Headed to the Central Coast of NSW for a break? These six eateries are some of the latest and greatest to open on the Central Coast! There's a place for brunch, pastries, yum cha, special occasion Italian and for seafood by the water! Plus some restaurants that are open on Monday!

For Sweets: Bouffant, Terrigal and Gosford

For Instagram worthy pastries, visit Bouffant pastry with locations in Terrigal and Gosford. The signature pastry is the Bouffant, a cronut filled with curd and then topped with meringue in flavours like Biscoff or raspberry & mint which are as luscious and sweet as they sound.

If it has dough, they make a version of it with their own design including lemon meringue tarts, salted caramel or Nutella donuts. The donuts are tasty and puffy and they also have a selection of savoury pies including a delicious chicken, white wine and thyme pie. Open on Mondays.

Bouffant: 6 Pine Tree Ln, Terrigal NSW 2260. Open 7 days6am–6pm (also in Gosford)

For Brunch: South End Social, Gosford

For those travelling from Sydney, one of the first stops once you reach the Central Coast is Gosford so a great spot to stop for lunch or brunch. South End Social is a cafe with a good amount of outdoor seating as well as indoor booths. The menu is a mix of sandwiches, salads and burgers.

My favourite item is the Cubano sandwich. While not strictly a traditional Cuban I adore the soft, fatty pork inside this. It's not for people that cut off the fat off bacon or the fat phobic. This is for people that enjoy that gorgeous, velvety texture of pork belly. Even Mr NQN who doesn't like pork belly makes off with 3/4 of this polishing it off before I can protest. Who knows what is happening to this man. Maybe I'm changing him.

The crispy chicken burger is an enormous fillet of crunchy chicken on a bun with bacon jam, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and fries. The chicken fillet and the bacon jam make this a great burger that you just want to devour. Open on Mondays.

South End Social: Shop 1/32 Mann St, Gosford NSW 2250 Monday to Friday 6am–3pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am–3pm

For Yum Cha: Yellow Tail, Terrigal

Yellow Tail in Terrigal offers yum cha from Friday to Sunday at lunchtimes. There's also outdoor seating and within the yum cha menu there's an optional set menu for $49 per person which pretty much gives you every dish except for one type of oyster and sashimi. Click to read more about Yellow Tail.

Yellow Tail: Shop 3/1 Campbell Cres, Terrigal NSW 2260 Monday to Thursday 5:30–10pm, Friday to Sunday 12–2pm, 5:30–10pm. Phone: (02) 4384 6656

For Lunch: Woy Woy Fishermen's Wharf

Woy Woy's Fishermen's Wharf is a popular stop on the Central Coast for day trippers or those staying on the Central Coast. It is a casual restaurant known for its simple approach to seafood. There you can order fresh seafood and sit on the wrap around deck watching boats go by. Click to read more about Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf..

Woy Woy Fishermen's Wharf: The Boulevarde, Woy Woy NSW 2256 Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday & Saturday 9am–7pm, Sunday 9am–4pm. Phone: (02) 4341 1171

For Serious Foodies: Osteria il Coccia

If you're looking for a special meal head to Osteria Il Coccia in Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast. Helmed by married team Nico and Alexandra Coccia it has Modern Italian food with a wonderful Italian and French wine list. Click to read more about Osteria il Coccia

Osteria il Coccia: 40/189 Ocean View Rd, Ettalong Beach NSW 2257. Monday to Wednesday closed. Thursday to Saturday 5–8:30pm. Sunday 12–2:15pm. Phone: (02) 4327 8952

For A Long Sunday Lunch by the Beach: The Box On The Water

Sunny day? Check! Sweltering hot day? Check! We head to The Box On The Water at Ettalong Beach for a seafood lunch to end all lunches. We breathe in the salty beach air and feast on an enormous seafood platter, paella, oysters and salads! Click to read more about The Box On The Water.

The Box On The Water: Ettalong Beach Waterfront Reserve, The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach NSW 2257. Monday to Wednesday 12–3pm. Thursday and Friday 12–8:30pm. Saturday 8am–8:30pm. Sunday 8am–7pm. Phone: (02) 4339 3369

For A Special Occasion Dinner: The Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells at Killcare

The Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells at Killcare is the new Italian restaurant at the stunning Bells at Killcare hotel. It's the hotel's main restaurant and has a Mediterranean focus with food with food director Sean Connolly. Click to read more about The Wild Flower at Bells.

The Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells at Killcare: 107 The Scenic Rd, Killcare Heights NSW 2257. Sunday 12:00 PM - 11:00pm. Monday to Thursday 4pm - 10pm. Friday & Saturday 12pm- 11pm. Phone: (02) 4349 7000

So tell me Dear Reader, do you plan your holiday meals ahead of time? How often do you eat out when you're on holidays?