You Beauty — Restaurant in Bangalow

I’ve admired chef Matt Stone for some time now and have always hoped to experience one of his restaurants, renowned for their innovative and visually stunning dishes. During a recent holiday in Byron Bay, I had the pleasure of dining at his restaurant, You Beauty, in Bangalow, thanks to a friend whose brother is one of the talented chefs.

You Beauty is a collaboration between Matt Stone and publicans Matt Rabbidge and Luke Sullivan, also known for their ventures Ciao Mate! and the Eltham Hotel. The restaurant’s design reflects a contemporary take on the classic corner pub, with rustic wooden furnishings, soft ambient lighting, and vintage-inspired décor creating a warm, relaxed yet refined atmosphere. Whether seated indoors or enjoying the outdoor space on a sunny day, the setting feels effortlessly inviting and perfectly complements the thoughtful culinary experience.

The dining experience was exceptional. We began with the Sydney Rock Oysters, paired with a delicate mignonette that elevated their natural flavours. The Bar Plate followed, with the salumi being a standout. One of the highlights was the Salted Snapper, served atop a bed of crispy fried potato; the balance of flavours and textures was exquisite. However, the dish that truly captivated me was the Croc Toast—a sophisticated take on the familiar sesame prawn toast, replacing prawn with crocodile tail. Paired with a flavourful chilli oil, it was unforgettable. For dessert, we indulged in both options: the Liquorice Ice Cream with Cherry and the Chocolate Mousse with Fig. Although hesitant about the liquorice ice cream initially, we were pleasantly surprised by its subtle flavour, which harmonised beautifully with the cherries. It was an unexpected favourite.

For anyone visiting Byron Bay, I highly recommend taking the short trip to Bangalow to experience You Beauty. It offers a truly unique and memorable dining experience. A special thank you to Ben for curating such an outstanding meal. Dining at You Beauty was an absolute highlight of my trip, and I look forward to returning...

Easily one of the best dining experiences this year.

A humble corner store restaurant located in the sleepy hamlet of Bangalow in Byron’s Hinterland.

This place punches well above its weight. The service is no fuss, super friendly and next level “bloke/shiela next door” vibes. This is a hatted restaurant however didn’t come with any pretentious air and or attitude.

The portion sizes are tapas style, so you can basically go for your life and order one of everything! We opted for a few “snack” dishes including the delicious Croc Toast - crocodile tail with sesame paired with one of the best sauces (so good it’s a secret), the BBQ’d prawns with burnt butter and blood orange, smoked beet with macadamia and green ant (yes ant)! The mains were tough to choose from (in a good way) but opted for the chook with mash (best I’ve had this year) and super sumptuous gravy, as well as the winter side salad (for the record this was maybe the only slightly disappointing dish , mainly because I wanted the Jicama that was listed prominently on the menu but was substituted with radish - it just needed the sweetness and crunch that jicama could have given it). For dessert we went with both (how could you not) the Blood orange pudding was moist, sweet, but not too sweet and the bush lemon sorbet had a great tanginess that rounded out the night so well.

Great range of local Aussie wines and a good roundup of cocktails - the main tai was ace!

Overall this place would give its big city counterparts a good run for their money! Already looking for an excuse to head back...

Staying in Bangalow for one night on our way north, my husband and I booked to dine at You Beauty having read and heard good reports. We were surprised and delighted at the exceptional quality of innovatively cooked and beautifully presented locally-sourced foods, organic wine selections, and casual but perfectly understated service alongside keen attention to detail. The manager made our selections easy, having noted that we eat pescetarian, non-dairy fare. We could not name a favourite plate after choosing several to share. So, the anchovy on toast with Aleppo pepper and green chili , raw swordfish with cucumber, barbecued zucchini with roast almonds and lemon, roasted beetroot with rocket, and the king oyster mushroom with asparagus and grains were all perfection! The natural rosé from the Adelaide Hills followed by wattle seed and honey liqueur on ice, and vegan cacao ice cream finished off a wonderful, delicious unforgettable meal and experience. Needless to say we will be back, and highly recommend You Beauty for food, wine, service...