Get ready to set sail to Belmont this summer, because Martha officially opens at Belmont 16s Sailing Club on Thursday November 30.

The stunning 120-seat restaurant is part of a $20 million transformation of the historic sailing club that also includes upgraded sailing and entertainment facilities.

We’re already picturing how we’ll spend our summer (and beyond) at Martha – lunches on the terrace sharing food and soaking up the views, balmy evenings with friends lingering over dinner and drinks in the restaurant, and date night cocktails at the bar. 

While Belmont 16s Sailing Club has always been a go-to for dining in Lake Macquarie, the addition of Martha has really upped the wow-factor.

With an architecturally-designed fitout, a Mediterranean-inspired menu, and spectacular views of the lake, Martha is breathing new life into Lake Macquarie’s dining scene.

Chef Tyler Rolfe provides a menu that centres on the kitchen’s Mibrasa ovens – ovens that cook food at high temperatures over hot coals, imparting a subtle smoky flavour.

From the shares menu, we’re eyeing off the saganaki haloumi, served with pickled cumquat and a honey drizzle; the chargrilled split prawns topped with Pukara Estate lemon and dill olive oil; and the beet salad, coal-roasted and served with pistachio tarator, goat’s feta, cranberry, and toasted buckwheat.

When it comes to mains, highlights include the market fish paired with charred asparagus and heirloom tomato; la brasa marinated chicken with a freekeh and pomegranate salad, preserved lemon yoghurt, and sumac onion; Riverina lamb rack, charcoal-roasted and served with tabbouleh and labne; and a Great Southern Pinnacle Black Angus pasture-fed scotch steak.

You’ll need something to drink to pair with all that food, of course, and there’s an excellent selection of cocktails, local and international wines, beers, and spirits to choose from.

We can’t go past Martha’s signature cocktails, playfully named ‘Martha & Friends’ – all featuring names you might find among your grandma’s circle of friends. 

Local Earp Distilling Co gin stars in the Madge, a concoction of gin, blackberry liqueur, St Germain, lemon, and sugar, while the Elanor is made for summer, featuring Beenleigh white rum, lime, mango, passionfruit, and mint.

You might be assuming Martha is named after an esteemed member of Belmont 16s, but Martha was actually a 30-tonne schooner built in 1799 that sailed into Lake Macquarie by accident on its way to collect coal from the Hunter. Its captain, William Reid, became the first European to visit the lake, and it was dubbed ‘Reid’s Mistake’ as a result.

The staff at Martha were tasked with creating the cocktail list before knowing the story behind the name, hence the references to the more traditional ladies’ names!

It makes sense that Martha pays homage to the lake, and the interior design certainly plays a significant role.

The restaurant is as waterfront as you can get in Lake Macquarie, and the space takes full advantage of its views.

Martha’s outdoor terrace offers sweeping vistas of the lake and seamlessly connects to the restaurant’s interior. The space is casual yet stylish, with tones of pastel pink and sage green, timber accents, and an eye-catching cocktail bar.

Keen to see it for yourself? Time to book in for lunch or dinner at Martha – we have a feeling it’s going to become Lake Macquarie’s summer hotspot.