Johnny Tapas — Restaurant in New South Wales

Located beside the Island cafe just a stone throw away from the ocean at Norah head is Johnny tapas, it’s miss match decorated with faux greenery, funky black on white wall murals, sports on all tvs with booth and bar seating. The small restaurant had an unusual and slightly uncomfortable atmosphere, I felt like I was at a pub bar rather than a restaurant.

We were greeted and shown to our table.

The menus consisted of modern tapas, sides, pizzas and banquets ( with min 2 or 4 p )

We ordered separate entrees ( from the tapas menu ) and separate mains from the pizza menu ( but were not sharing )

The baby octopus ( $22) was the first and only thing to arrive at our table and it was an extremely tiny portion although it was fairly flavourful wasn’t overly good. ( not mine but I did taste it ) To give perspective to size, the entire dish would barely fill half my palm, a knife and fork was placed next to it in the picture to give perspective of just how ridiculously small this was.

Half way through the squid the main of ham and pineapple pizza ($26) arrived ( again not mine ) I didn’t try any but was told it was disappointing and not good, and most of it was left uneaten. ( The pizzas are a small-med dinner plate sized )

I’m still without any food at this point.

About 5 minutes later my buffalo chicken pizza ($26) ( my main ) arrived. The generous topping of chicken was good but overall it was ordinary, just sauce and chicken and few spring onions really, and the wood fire pizza base was really unpleasant and hard to eat, not a nice texture at all. Chewy and tough, more than half of it was left uneaten.

The pork belly bites ( $23 ) ( entrees ) arrived about 10 minutes later. They were beautifully presented and tasted good, the pork a touch on the dry side and fairly over salted but still pleasant enough to finish. The apple sauce was delicious but just not enough of it to counteract the dryness and saltiness of the fried pork, strangely they were delivered last although it was our entree and was ordered specifically as such, as an entree. No apologies or explanations from staff why this occurred.

When deciding what to order, I was very tempted to order the olive bread as it was highly recommended …but once I seen the price !!! Wow !!! in this crazy economic climate I just couldn’t justify spending $19 on a slice of bread, and in hindsight I’m really glad I didn’t. .. I was in total disbelief at the price, even the fanciest fine dining restaurants don’t and wouldn’t charge $19 for bread .. I could near buy 3 whole artisan loaves for that price.

The service was basic, semi professional and semi attentive.

Music was a good level, a strange eclectic mix of mellow modern I’d never heard any of it before but wasn’t too bad.

Would I return.. no. would I recommend.. probably not. Nothing was dreadfully bad ( well the pizza base was pretty bad ) but nothing was very good either.

It was a dissatisfying dining experience and we left hungry although the bill was over $100. We were In and out in under 35 minutes. My dinner guest was starving and went and ate elsewhere. I went home and had cereal which was strangely more satisfying than my dinner was.

Suitable for .. 2-4 or small groups only.

Seating at the bar for 8 ( individual) Booth seating 3 that seat 2-4 at each. High long bar tables 3 of about 8-10 seats at each.

Reservations are essential ( with...

Norah Head is a sleepy part of the Central Coast, boasting a lighthouse, a boat ramp, and a lovely tidal rock pool constructed with natural rock walls rather than cement. While not known for its restaurants, you will find one or two, like pandemic-baby Johnny Tapas, tucked in behind the popular Island Cafe. With bar stools and sticky tables pointing to its popularity as a drinking venue at night, we kept our elbows up and settled into a high booth for a family lunch.

As you’d expect, drinks are good, across the classics like a Tommy’s margarita ($18) and their own creations. These include cocktails based upon popular ice blocks, like the Icypole and the Frosty Fruit, as well as my chosen Sea Gypsy ($18) that combined Sailor Jerry’s rum, Bacardi, lychee and habanero to good effect. The menu is largely divided into three big sections: tapas and sides, tacos and wood-fired pizza drawn from a large dome-shaped oven visible in the open kitchen.

From the tapas and sides, the chickpea salad ($15), teams locally produced Little Creek Cheese goat feta with roasted capsicum, red onion and cherry tomatoes in an understated cranberry-mustard dressing. Slow-cooked for 16-hours, the brisket tacos ($16/2) are a bit wet with gherkins, dripping ‘slaw and chipotle mayo., but the long strands of pulled beef taste good. Pizzas like smashing pumpkin ($22) with the orange root vegetable set off by feta, red onion, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, fresh chilli and balsamic dressing, read well but had me reaching for Tabasco to differentiate the sweet with some actual chilli bite. Dried cranberries were a cute idea on the BBQ chicken pizza ($24) against bacon and thick slices of roast chook. The bases were a bit bland, sitting somewhere between thin and crisp, and those crusty Neapolitan ones we city-siders have come to adore. Suspect they are designed as drinking food for those settling in for...

During our search for a late afternoon dining spot while we were driving throug the entrance, we stumbled upon a true hidden gem. This place exceeded our expectations in every way, leaving us with an unforgettable dining experience. The staff, in particular, stood out with their warm and friendly demeanor, making us feel right at home from the moment we walked in.

One of the remarkable aspects of this establishment was its opening time. Being the sole option available in the area at 3pm, we decided to take a chance, and boy, were we glad we did! Our culinary journey at this restaurant was nothing short of exceptional, leaving an indelible mark on our palates.

From the moment we stepped foot inside, we couldn't help but fall in love with the place. Its inviting ambiance and cozy atmosphere created the perfect setting for an enjoyable meal. Every corner of the restaurant exuded a distinct charm, making it a delightful haven to unwind and indulge in delectable dishes.

Speaking of the food, we were treated to a culinary symphony that tantalized our taste buds. The menu boasted a wide variety of dishes, each crafted with finesse and attention to detail. Every bite was a revelation of flavors, expertly curated to offer a memorable gastronomic adventure. It's safe to say that our taste buds danced with delight throughout the entire meal.

What truly sets this place apart is its ability to make guests feel like cherished members of an extended family.

Needless to say, this restaurant has swiftly become our go-to destination whenever we find ourselves in the area. Its enchanting ambiance, delectable cuisine, and welcoming staff combine to create an experience that is simply unparalleled. We have found our new favorite place to dine, and we eagerly look forward to our next visit.

Here are some photos we took of some of the food! We forgot to take more as we were...