On the Bay Restaurant

On The Bay Restaurant is a waterfront dining venue at Stewarts Bay Lodge in Port Arthur, with views across the bay and a setting that connects the meal to the landscape of the Tasman Peninsula. It is described as Port Arthur’s only fully licensed waterfront restaurant, offering breakfast, dinner and a bar service. Inside, the space is air conditioned and has two log fires, while the deck provides an option for taking in the waterfront surroundings. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, with the restaurant positioned just moments from the lodge’s cabins.

The food is centred on Tasmanian produce, local seafood and modern Australian cooking with influences from around the world. The menu uses native ingredients including pepperberry, wattleseed, saltbush, lemon myrtle, quandong and bush tomato, pairing them with produce from Tasmania and the mainland. Standout dishes include saltbush and native pepper squid with kunzea aioli, coconut and blood lime ceviche, charred lamb with native dukkah and barley, and market fish with a black lime crust. There are also Tasmanian oysters, Cape Grim beef, beer-battered fish and chips, a Tasmanian cheese platter and desserts featuring ingredients such as Davidson plum, riberry and leatherwood.

Vegetarian and vegan diners are catered for with a separate menu rather than just a small selection of substitutions. Options include native pepperberry mushrooms, jerk-spiced cauliflower with plantain and pineapple salsa, grilled halloumi with dukkah and native pickles, and BBQ mushrooms with native XO. Breakfast includes both lighter and more substantial choices, while guests staying in the lodge can pre-order a Farmer’s Breakfast Hamper or Gardener’s Breakfast Hamper for their cabin. The hampers require advance notice and are intended for a slower breakfast on a private deck or in the cabin kitchen.

The restaurant’s culinary approach is guided by a head chef whose work is described as fine but casual, drawing on shared stories, cultural influences and local ingredients rather than short-lived trends. Tasmanian wines and beers are selected to complement the menu, with pairing options available as part of the dining packages. On The Bay suits a special meal or celebration, a relaxed dinner after exploring the Tasman Peninsula, and lodge guests wanting breakfast without leaving the property. A kids menu and family-friendly choices make it practical for groups with children, while the waterfront setting and considered food also lend themselves to a date or an unhurried meal with friends.