Saddles

The iconic twin servos on the Pacific Motorway have nothing on Saddles, a destination dining hub just one hour from Sydney. Flaunting a paddock-to-plate restaurant, bakery, a nursery and a sprawling picnic area with a coffee caravan, it’s one of the most versatile – and impressive-looking – venues on the Central Coast.

The kitchen led by head chef Kodi Southgate (ex-Bathers Pavilion) serves refined mod-Oz fare all day. Breakfast highlights might include burnt-butter omelettes with WA blue swimmer crab and samphire; and granola with sheep’s yoghurt, rosella and melon. As the day progresses the kitchen ramps up with share plates such as a slow-cooked lamb shoulder or whole fish with lemon and capers. Saddles’ pies and pastries are alone worthy of a daytrip.

Perched on the edge of a freshwater dam, the classic sandstone homestead was reimagined by Gosford’s White & Dickson architects and interior designer Michelle Leslie. Owner and Mount White local John Singleton wanted the venue to seamlessly blend with the rugged bushland surrounding the 25-acre property.