Kick On At The Bucket List

By Vicki Heath on October 16, 2012 in Food

Photo: Grant Brooks

The Bondi Hipsters would like it here: there’s vegetarian and gluten free, it’s by the sea and you can arrive on the 333.

Despite initially being described as a ‘pop-up’ bar when it opened last December, The Bucket List is here to stay, and this summer it’s set to be the place to rest your surfboard and have a bevvy with sand still in your togs, or to celebrate the most glamorous occasion.

The deceptively large venue is the ultimate mix of large scale and intimate, accommodating up to 450 but still boasting corners where you can escape the crowds. As part of the Bondi Pavillion, The Bucket List boasts a captivating panoramic ocean view. It’s in such close proximity to the edge of the Pacific that you can pitch your martini olive pit onto the sand.

On entry there’s an eclectic mix of sink-into-me outdoor lounges with ocean blue cushions and a scattering of Bondi’s signature milk crate seating style. Lanterns and umbrellas enclose the perfect haven for afternoons laced with jugs of sangria and Pimm’s, Bloody Marys that pack a punch and salt-rimmed margaritas that zing in all the right places.

Inside, choose your nook, be it a table by the floor-to-ceiling glass ocean frontage or a booth in the dining area out the back. There’s no lack of function options either, be it The Green Room, The Blue Room or Uncle Barefoot’s Garden Terrace, and for groups of twenty or more, you can indulge in the Slow Roast Porchetta Feast with sensational crunchy crackling (48 hours notice required).

Don’t be fooled by the bar snacks and fish and chip buckets flying out to tables as fast as the beers flow on a balmy day – The Bucket List also offers gourmet dishes and the new spring menu is loaded with light but satisfying creations.

Cool down with oysters or fish carpaccio, dunk a chunk of Iggy’s sourdough into the Bloody Mary ‘Kinkawooka’ Mussels from SA, or crunch on vegetable crudités with avocado yoghurt and raw shaved zucchini with marinated fetta. For something more substantial, the grilled half chicken features the tastes of quinoa tabouli and tahini and the lamb ribs, marinated with preserved lemon and herbs, are delicious.

The Bucket List is a case of come one, come all. It’s kid friendly with a secret ‘soccer lawn’ out the back, and there’s spag bol and Calippos on the menu to feed the little tackers. The venue has become a local community meeting spot and is an affordable locale to laze away the sunny days with nothing on the menu over thirty bucks.

If you’re looking for somewhere that epitomises the relaxed beachside lifestyle, kick on at The Bucket List.

Restaurant: The Bucket List
Location: Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach
Phone: (02) 9365 4122
Website: www.thebucketlistbondi.com
Seats: Up to 450
Price: $10 – $30
Open: 7 Days, 11am – 12midnight
Cards: Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS
Licensed/BYO: Licensed only