Now Open: Sandy’s Serves Up Casual Poolside Fare at Urbnsurf, From the First Waves Till the Last

The waves are pumping at Urbnsurf, the 3.2-hectare wave park that officially opened in Homebush this week. The water conditions are perpetually perfect – with sets for both pros and beginners rolling through the lagoon – and the first of Applejack’s eateries is open. While we’re still waiting for Rafi 2.0, the more casual Sandy’s is up and running.

Rafi executive chef Matias Cilloniz has developed a menu that’ll keep your energy up soon after the first wave, till the last. “Sandy’s is a little bit of Californian beachside vibes meets Byron Bay,” Cilloniz tells Broadsheet. “It’s a sand-less beach, so we wanted to bring the sand into Urbnsurf.”

In the morning there’s avo toast dressed up with a peanut chilli crunch, and a loaded brekkie burrito stuffed with a fried egg and a hashy, plus chorizo and house-made refried beans. Or keep it light and simple with yoghurt and poached fruit or a Sonoma pastry. There’s a stack of fluffy hotcakes too, made with buttermilk and butter from Pepe Saya.

While the morning menu’s a winner, it’s later in the day that Sandy’s really gets going. “I’ve been in Sydney for a year and a half – I’m from Peru – and I’ve been craving really good tacos, like the ones I’ve had in Mexico City,” Cilloniz says. “I haven’t tasted them yet in Sydney, so I wanted to do what I felt Sydney was lacking in taco.”

There is, therefore, a range of corn tortillas, sold in pairs, that Cilloniz and Patrick Friesen (Applejack’s culinary director) have worked to perfect. There’s the smoky slow-cooked beef barbacoa with a red-hot salsa, and a habanero-topped crispy fried chicken. Plus, a veggie number filled with roasted cabbage and peppers.

The burger menu’s stacked with classics, and there’s a crispy fish burrito done Cali-style, with fries joining a crunchy slaw. The snacky starters menu adds guac and chips, empanadas and cheesy corn. The drinks list is approachable and locally driven – think Grifter’s Serpents Kiss, Mountain Culture’s hazy pale ale and a couple from the Young Henrys line-up. Or, make it a fun one with a post-surf Margarita slushie.

Urbnsurf’s lagoon will be split into sessions for all experience levels, with the capability to pump two-metre waves every eight seconds. The poolside lawn is a top spot for a picnic, or nab one of the seven 10-person cabanas (that have surf-side service from Sandy’s).

When Rafi Urbnsurf opens, it’ll add a 200-person dining room – with views across the waves – to the park. An open date is yet to be announced, but it’s tipped to be this winter.

“I’m not a surfer – yet,” Cilloniz says. “But I’m really keen on having a go.”

Sandy’s
Urbnsurf, 15 Hill Road, Sydney Olympic Park

Hours:
Daily 7.30am–8pm

sandys.au
@sandys_surfside