Heading to the local zoo for a premium dining experience isn’t really a thing. Anywhere. And yet it seems Trippas White Group are banking big on this becoming a trend. The owners of popular Sydney venues like Bar 83 at Sydney Tower and Reign have taken over Taronga Zoo’s hidden fine-dining restaurant, Me-Gal, opening it to the public for the very first time.
Whether or not the food will align with the pristine Sydney Harbour view is not something I can personally attest to just yet but the photos alone make this a potentially massive venture for the hospitality group.
Me-Gal (the name means ‘tears’ in Cammeraygal and refers to the surrounding salt water) was previously only open for any guests staying at the zoo’s popular eco-accommodation concept, Wildlife Retreat at Taronga. And the appeal makes perfect sense. Taronga Zoo is unique in the sense that it towers over Sydney Harbour and offers one of the most remarkable perspectives of the city. You won’t find many zoos around the world that come with this kind of wide-ranging vista.
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Huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows mean Me-Gal’s stylish dining room gets much of its character from Sydney’s best side, complemented by a very clean, elegant aesthetic, ideal for Executive Chef Stefan Schroder’s new menu. For the food, he has gone with native ingredients and sustainable produce sourced from local farmers, expressed with dishes like 12-hour slow-roasted Flinders Island lamb shoulder with heirloom carrots, lime and mint, and stuffed zucchini flowers with wattleseed ricotta, macadamia crumble and butternut squash puree.
You’d find mostly Australian wines on the drinks list with what should be a strong by-the-glass menu since the restaurant makes use of the Coravin system. Those siding with cocktails can expect botanical ingredients and local spirits.
If Me-Gal turns out to be all it’s hyped up to be, Sydney’s north is looking at a bit of a dining renaissance. The Lower North Shore already has the likes of Rafi and Petermen tempting city loyalists across the bridge and nearby you’ve got solid options like L’Heritage Chowder Bay – one of Sydney’s very best French restaurants – and The Bathers’ Pavilion.
