Scratchleys on the Wharf

Took my Missus here for her Birthday on the 4th of Jan 2025 & yep nothing has changed, great location, sensational food & we would need too commend the staff on there impeccable service! Hadn’t eaten there for 30 years before that night out but will be making more trips up there in the future just for the experience again! Great going & THANKS

Somewhat disappointed. Attended last night for my daughters birthday. Staff were great, menu doesn’t seem to change much, same old same old. For the cost I expected a lot better.

Approximate cost: $320

We were very impressed with the service from all the staff. I have a number of dietary restrictions and through a conversation with Jackson before visiting we were able to sort out a main meal and a desert for me. Both courses were delicious and I didn't feel I was compromising at all. My husband also enjoyed his meals.The view was fantastic. It was a great way for us to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. We will be back.

Hit & Miss
Disappointing as this had been a family favourite. P
Entree - tempura prawns fabulous, salt & pepper squid batter hard to cut through and neither salty nor peppery.
Mains - swordfish in broth divine, seafood plate chips and squid (still not salt or peppery but this time batter not tough) both room temp, prawns warmer.. fish appropriately hot.
Wait staff were on point, but off day in the kitchen - over hour between entree cleared and mains served.
Disappointing spend of $160 for three people .

Approximate cost: $160

Certainly a long time favourite - I remember coming here with my parents over 20 years ago. This is a seafood restaurant and i am not an eater of seafood so the menu options are really quite limited but we go because my husband enjoys it. The views are beautiful and the ambience is pleasant. Staff are generally attentive providing the restaurant is not too busy.

This is a great place for a formal date or casual dining. The service was fast and friendly and the meals were great. The only downside is the price but I guess that's what you get if you want the good service and views. Will be back.

Love going for lunch or dinner either at the restaurant or take away! Their calamari is amazing and always fresh! Also enjoy grabbing an ice cream from their after a beautiful walk along the foreshore! Delicious food :)

This is a fabulous venue, fast Service, Excellent food and a wonderful veiw. I highly reccomend the oysters, they are so delicious aswell as the garlic prawns.

Approximate cost: $60

great place for a date, great atmosphere great service and great quality and serving size of the food as well, never disappointed

Service is friendly with a smile. Food is always fresh an tastes devine. Food is well set out. The view of the harbour is spectacular. Expensive though.

The views from here across the harbour are amazing. On a summer day this is the perfect place to eat. The staff are friendly and the steak is always cooked exactly as you want it. The prices are typical for a fine dining restaurant and I will happily pay them again for the meals I have received.

Great seafood!! Great steak! Great customer service!! The whole experience was extremely enjoyable! The food was amazing and the best seafood I have had in a long time!!!

Approximate cost: $20

I have been to scratchleys restaurant several times in the past mostly for birthdays etc, however in recent years I've just found it too expensive for what you get. The food is always high quality and the waiters are always lovely but I just find it too expensive now. The views are great though, you can look out across Newcastle Harbour, sometimes you will need sunglasses though if you go for lunch! I recommend it if you're willing to splurge on an expensive meal.

Approximate cost: $35

A personal favourite of mine and my husbands. We are both lovers of seafood and we make it a yearly event to go to Scratchleys. Usually timing it around our wedding anniversary. I am not one who usually likes to order the same thing when i go somewhere, but for scratchleys i make an exception as their cold seafood platter is second to none. I have asked them before for their recipe for the pesto on their grilled seafood but they wouldnt share.. damn.
Hubby and i usually fight over the balmain bugs, which are cooked to perfection. I always take the oysters as he doesnt like them. It looks like a peice of art when they bring it to the table, stacked high with fresh fruit and prawns. The service has always been quick and they are very professional when it comes to knowledge of wine matching etc.

Approximate cost: $30+ up

I've visited Scratchley's only the once for an anniversary. We had a seafood platter for two and I couldn't fault it! I had the best grilled pesto seafood of my life! As expected there was plenty of fruit & chips to fill out the platter, however there was just enough seafood. We struggled to finish it. Quite expensive, this was more of a one off fancy treat for us. If you can afford it however I highly recommend to give it a go! Lovely location overlooking the harbour.

Great location but I just dont get the hype...

Food is reaonsable but relatively expensive - high expectation due to the "Scratchleys" hype but I have just not felt particularly inpsired or impressed on recent visits.

I don't think I would be bothered going again - expectation of disappointment outweigh potential for being thrilled.

This is a wonderful seafood restaurant set on the water. Love the Sweet Chilli Crab. It is too die for. Service is a little slow but worth waiting for. YUMMY!

We love Scratchleys take away! It's our family weekend treat. Fish is yummy. Chips are yummy. Calamari is yummy. We never bother eating in the restaurant cuz it's too expensive. Take away fish and chips on the adjacent lawn is perfect after a family bike ride on the foreshore!

Scratchleys is a lovely resaurant. Overlooking the water, great design/decorations. And the best fresh seafood direct from the fishing co-op. The seafood plater for two is a must for couples. It has everything including fruit, goes great with a nice bubbly or fruity white. Meals are expensive but well worth it. Bookings required as its very busy.

Approximate cost: $25-100$

been to Scratchleys for dinner a while back with my wife ,the food was excellent .the service was great ,i could not complain about the price it was very Resonable for a Saturday night .

Approximate cost: $110

Just had lunch there. The 2 of us had Lobster which was exactly the reason we went there. I always have mine Natural & as usual it was totally delicious. It's very difficult nowadays to get fresh lobster natural anywhere so well done! If I wasn't having Lobster I would probably choose other local seafood restaurants that are generally much better quality & value wise. Scratchleys almost feels like it's for the tourists and not the locals!

Visited Scratchley's for an anniversary dinner and loved loved loved the seafood platter!! We chose the healthy option platter and the basil pesto seafood was delicious!! It was the best seafood platter I've ever had. Great location, there's lovely seating close to the window overlooking the harbour. Plenty of parking, however it is always busy along there! Service could have been better.

Taste of the food is amazing, portion sizes are great - better then most. Service was great and we had our meals in a reasonable time.

The food at Scratchley's was delicious and the portion size of the mains was better than expected. The Sydneysiders with us enjoyed the harbour views and we loved the service. With entrees, mains and wine it only ended up costing roughly $50 pp which was extremely reasonable.

If I could describe this place in one word, I'd say it is overrated in terms of value for money and quality of the meals. After the first time there, we weren't overly impressed and decided we'd give it the benefit of the doubt, however the second instance didn't get any better. While service was to a high standard, the portion sizes on all occurrences were disappointing. Quality of the food is also a concern - Paymasters is hands down a far superior experience all round and is just a short stroll away.

Approximate cost: $35

Scratchleys has a pretty big reputation in Newcastle and it is very nice. The service is great but the food is on the expensive side as is the wine. It's the views that you're paying for so it's a once in a while treat.

Amazing Views, beautiful fresh seafood, staff very attentive but friendly & efficient, and to top it all off a very extensive wine list with some very good older vintage wines.

Approximate cost: $36

this has become a family favourite - the garlic prawns are worth the drive, can be busy on the weekend but staff are really great!

Approximate cost: $300.00

This place has ok food but really needs to do something about the noise. When there are a few people in here you cant hear the person across the table.

Approximate cost: $35

This place is quite nice to eat at and there is both a seafood and non-seafood menu and a lot to choose from.