Our booking was for 4:00pm on a Sunday, so I was surprised to see the restaurant almost full, particularly as it was pouring with rain.
2024 marks 30 years for Raes and the Argentinian-style beauty has received a number of facelifts since Vincent Rae sold to the Catalano family in 2014. Her energy is elegant and fresh, works from local artists like Todd Hunter and commissioned pieces from Dinosaur Designs (including huge blue sculptured door handles) complement original features like antique Italian and Spanish tiles. The killer north-facing ocean view overshadows all this.
Our lovely waiter Christine advised that the wine we ordered needed some extra chilling. So she brought us complimentary glasses of a stunning white from Santorini that had been grown in baskets on the vine. My husband ordered the dishes I had been raving about since my last visit, including the ‘cornetto’ snack ($15) – miniature cornetto pastry filled with finger lime and caviar – and the market fish. This is a dish that delivers to all five senses and one I am not likely to forget. Brought to the table on burning coals by Executive Chef Jason Saxby, the fish lay above paperbark and lemon myrtle. You can imagine the aroma, it’s like fine dining in the bush.
Every dish we ordered was delicate and exquisite, from the house-made bread with caramelised wattleseed to the dry-aged and spiced honey-glazed duck ‘a l’orange’ with carrot, mandarin, persimmon, native ginger and cinnamon myrtle. Which I guess is what you would expect from a venue awarded Two Hats in the 2024 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. Food writer John Lethlean commented: ‘NSW chef Jason Saxby’s arrival in Byron Bay was bound to produce something special,’ when, in 2019, Raes won Hottest Regional Restaurant in The Australian Hottest 50.
We left inspired and immensely satisfied. Our region is fortunate that Raes is cared for by a family who has what it takes to deliver best-in-class experiences.
Raes Cellar Bar, with a snack menu from $5.50 to $30, is open from midday until sunset daily on a walk-in basis. Raes Dining Room offers lunch from midday and dinner from 6:00pm Monday to Saturday. On Sundays a long lunch is offered with the final sitting at 4:00pm. $95 two courses ($85 vegan/vegetarian). Entrée or dessert can be added for $30.
Reservations are recommended.
Locals are invited to a special celebratory lunch on 28 August by Jacob Davey of LVN Adelaide Hills and Jason Saxby of Raes with wines from Bird in Hand. $195 per person.
Go to raes.com.au for more information.
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