The Arsonist

The Arsonist in Manly is a dark moodily-lit restaurant and luxe bar that offers a multisensory dining experience, with food cooked over a custom-made fire-pit.

As you step inside the elegant cutting-edge dining room, the campfire-like aroma of food being cooked over the open fire fills the air and you can spy the chef at work in the open kitchen.

Patrons can book a seat in the main dining room or European-style along the bar, where the mixologist works his magic crafting signature house-smoked cocktails.

The delectable menu features small bites (to start or enjoy with a drink from the bar), such as dark stout & rye bread with smoked brisket fat butter; BBQ local prawn with garlic & samphire; smoked beef fat doughnut with Davidson Plum; or Hervey Bay scallop with fermented chilli and parsley.

Small share plates include bone marrow, capers, parsley, cornichons, picked onion & sour dough; beetroot, smoked almonds, watercress, Greek shepherd's cheese and olives or the delectable Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna, charred avocado, sesame shiso and nori crisps.

Larger share plates are a real feast and include slow-cooked Longreach organic lamb, salt & vinegar gem lettuce, rosemary jus & saltbush; macadamia-smoked free-range chicken, fricassee of chestnut mushrooms & jus gras; fire roasted butternut pumpkin & Jerusalem artichoke crumble with smoked goats curd; or smoked Stockyard brisket, local king prawns, Chinese broccoli and XO BBQ sauce. 

Meanwhile, decadent sides include Paris mash with dripping or roast brisket fat potatoes. And leave room for dessert, with options like coal-roast banana parfait with spiced rum ice cream or chocolate pudding, whiskey caramel, dark chocolate and malt ice cream. 

Drinks-wise, The Arsonist offers a carefully curated wine list, a house signature smoky gin and an impressive selection of whisky from around the world including Scotland, Ireland, Japan, the US and Australia. As well as a choice of classic cocktails, try one of the house signature cocktails such as Smoked Chilli Margarita; Short Rib Old Fashioned or Macadamia and Salted Caramel Martini.

Need to know - Limited street parking is available nearby.

The menu may have changed since our visit.