This seafood feast is not only about taste, but also about sustainability

Sitting under the romantic glow of hanging candles, listening to spa-like music and the soft chatter of other diners, my husband and I tried to remember the last time we took such a long break and felt so relaxed.

Apparently, all we needed was a two-hour meal that was only a 14-minute drive from home.

Indeed, at Sailmaker Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney’s CBD, you can pretend you’re at an all-inclusive resort that’s miles away from reality.

Indulge but not pretentious

The Seaman’s Dinner has been hailed as Sydney’s most luxurious and sustainable seafood experience, but as you read on you’ll discover it’s great value too. The choices on the three-course menu seemed like a steal for $89 per person – I actually closed the menu to check I was grabbing the right dish.

But the set menu dinner also included a buffet of fresh snacks (which I had to warn my husband not to eat, lest he spoil his appetite for the main course) and warmed igi bread with seaweed and tahini (I had to stop I Asking for help a third time).

In fact, Seaman’s Dinner offers enough options to satisfy every diner, while streamlining the experience into a streamlined selection that eliminates the feeling of being overwhelmed by often choosing the same, safe options.

While the menu was largely inspired by the ocean, we were also given non-seafood and vegetarian options to choose from. My dining partner, who has his own dietary preferences, still had plenty of options and was very pleased with his Pulled Burrata, while I was very disappointed when I looked down at my plate that my Ulladulla Yellowfin Tuna was gone; it was definitely the highlight of my meal.

We really struggled to choose a main course as they all sounded good, but it turns out we can close our eyes and point because you can’t go wrong. His Corner Inlet King George Whiting and my Aquna Murray Cod were both equally delicious. Sorry, next time I’ll have the Coffs Harbour Crusted Mahi Mahi.

The drinks menu was extensive and they gave us wine pairing suggestions, but we settled on some cocktails that sounded interesting. While his warm banana bread cocktail was a great choice for the winter, my summery Tiki Cool cocktail served in a Tiki glass really added to the atmosphere and tasted great too.

When the waiter came over with the dessert cart—we could each choose two desserts!—it was a bittersweet moment because we knew it was almost over.

Sustainable seafood is more than just fish

The three-course menu changes seasonally to celebrate the fresh harvest and support local businesses, with ingredients indeed all coming from sustainable fisheries that use eco-friendly farming or provide wild-caught products.

However, the thoughtful menu is only half the story at Sailmaker, as its commitment to sustainability isn’t just a symbolic statement made to sound impressive—it’s at the heart of the entire operation.

True sustainability also involves consideration of social and economic factors, as well as impact on local communities. Sailmaker truly embodies Hyatt’s culinary philosophy, “Food. Carefully Sourced. Carefully Served,” which guides the way Hyatt designs menus to better serve guests, communities and our planet.

I particularly noticed that Sailmaker’s suppliers and their environmental credentials were on display at the snack table, which was filled with imperfect yet perfect products fromA local farm.

The hotel has a micro-farm that provides fresh, locally grown produce, and food waste collected by the hotel is processed through a cocktail of microorganisms that converts solid waste into liquid waste, which is then disposed of in a responsible manner.

The staff were also clearly proud of the restaurant’s eco credentials, occasionally giving a little insight into Sailmaker’s sustainability efforts, which in turn impressed us.

While it has the potential to become our new “normal,” I bet we’ll be back the next time we need an affordable escape from reality.

For more information and reservations, visit sailmakerrestaurant.com.au/whats-on/seafarer-dinner