Hi all-

We're leaving in a week for OZ and can't wait! Neither of us have been there before and we'd like to have at least one nice dinner out in both Sydney and Cairns. We're looking for restaurants that have a fun atmosphere with a variety of choices (not exculsively seafood).

Thanks!

Try the Red Ochre Grill in Cairns. We loved it! We had a sample platter that had crocodile, ostrich & kangaroo. Very tasty! There's also a great greek place in Cairns, but I don't remember the name of it! I don't think there were many Greek, and I know it was right downtown. Have fun!!!

Hi,

While we enjoyed the food at Red Ochre, we pigged out on the seafood platters for 2 ( actually feeds a healthy family of 4), we found the food at The Garden Room, near Pat Woolford's Lilybank B&B, sublime.

We'd sponsor Phoebe , one of the owners , if she'd consider setting up shop in Santa Fe.

AndrewDavid

Thanks for the suggestions!

As for Sydney, there is a great book called, "Sydney - Cheap Eats", it lists a lot of restaurants both cheap & not so cheap, and talks about each one, describing the food, prices, atmosphere, etc.
Also another book handy for Sydney, is SBS Food Lovers Guide to Sydney. This book describes restaurants with ethnic flavours, and their descriptions of each, is similar to the above.
Both books can be purchased in bookstores, eg. ABC book shop, Collins, etc. and sometimes newsagents.

Really nice restaurant a short drive or bus ride away from cairns in Holloways Beach is Coolum's, billed as "the only waterside restaurant in Cairns." (This is because there is a park all along the water in Cairns city and no buildings on the beach.) The food was reasonable and good (fish better than the beef) and the ambiance was wonderful--really on the water with waves rolling in right off the deck. We went early and got a table right at the edge of the deck. In Cairns, we looked over the menu at the Red Ochre and decided to go for the italian restaurant next door. We'd had kangaroo,etc. in Uluru and didn't need to repeat the experience.
In Sydney, the area in Darling Harbour called Cockle Bay Wharf (near the aquarium--which is open to 9 pm BTW. Go later, it's not crowded) has a lot of interesting restaurants. We had a great barramundi meal at Nick's. There is a life-sized lovely sculpture nearby of glass whales (mother and baby) with skeletons inside, up in this tower. Also a fountain with sculptures of brolgas (birds.) I wish WE were going to Oz in a week--we really enjoyed ourselves there. BTW, it was pretty brisk in Sydney, bring your wind-jacket and a warm layer. They eat outside everywhere, though. The Cockle Bay restaurants all have what we call "California heaters"--what do Aussies call them? The gas things that cook one side of you while the other side is quite rare.
Sally

Here's a few more for Cairns:
Italian: Ciao Italia - great food but not so great on ambience - upstairs in Pier Market Place
Japanese: Yama - near Cairns International Hotel
Greek: Yanni's
French: C'est Bon (food really is)
Indian: Marinades
Chinese: Cafe China - excellent Chinese for lunch and dinner with lunchtime yum-cha
The best fish and chips (you'd need your own transport as its about 5 minutes south of the city in Portsmith) is at Trawler Takeaways - place looks dreadful but fish is divine - straight off the trawlers - all the fishermen eat there. Very cheap, too.

Snr - I've eaten at Coolums on and off for years - it keeps changing management - gorgeous setting and lovely restaurant but the food has just never been that good. Last time my rack of lamb was nearly all fat. It's a bit of a fib for them to claim its the only beach front restaurant in Cairns - the Angasana at Palm Cove has beachside dining and the food is far better.

Sorry, the restaurant at Palm Cove in Angsana Resort is called "Far Horizons".

Yanni's! That's the Greek place we ate at too. It's wonderful!

Cairns

I have been to Yanni and there I was feeling very festive and actually got up with the belly dancers. (red faced). I think some plates got smashed!

I enjoyed the food but do issue a caution about the entree (apetiser) they are very greek and may require acquired taste for some things.

The main courses were great bbq etc etc and were very big helpings. And a liquer coffee afterwards made me very happy.

The atmosphere was totally fantastic though I was there on a Friday night, maybe quieter during the week.

I also had a mexican meal which was ok but if you are from the US you may find we lack in this area of food. Asian food is probably our forte.

Also had an Indian meal that was very nice but somehow Indian food didn't suit Cairns, can't quite explain it as it is one of my favourites.

We did a very famous lunch at Coco cafe which was good value if you enjoy some champagne or dacquiri with lunch as this was included. It was all you can eat style of food and was very very well done. The desert counter was to die for.

Sydney

Read a great review today for The Establishment.

Also hear celebrity types flock to Longrain in Surry Hills. I think Doyles at Watsons Bay is a must do just because we automatically take all Sydney visitors there ...tradition more than any other reason.

I eat at suburbs more than downtown, it is a long way from from the city at night. I think you find most people that live here do not eat in the tourist area too much unless they work nearby.

When we do eat downtown it is always in Chinatown or Fish markets. Food a lot cheaper and usually a lot better.

Chinatown has some good places for yum cha (dim sum?) but also we have great thai restaurants just about everywhere, they almost come with a guarantee they will be good.

Happy eating.!

nd have been

Something went wrong there when I tried to reply so here we go again. Sorry I forgot to include Coco's (Cairns International Hotel) - for hotel food its exceptional. But I don't understand why you think Indian food isn't conducive to Cairns or area - our climate is very similar to southern India. In my own backyard in Cairns I grow coconut, mangoes, red papaya, the best and tastiest small bananas, kaffir lime, curry tree and what i don't grow is easily available in Rusty's market in Cairns. Once I made the mistake of planting turmeric - it took over the whole garden and I'm still pulling it out. Of the restaurants I mentioned, Marinades is my favourite, and I've eaten Indian food in many countries (as well as cooking it myself for about 25 years) - their chefs are expert in blending fresh spices. And weekday lunches there are only $11 for vegetarian and about $2.00 more for meat dishes. Its certainly not the only Indian restaurant in Cairns, Tandoori Oven runs a short second, and there are more, there's a new one called Mother India which I'll be checking out any day now. I do agree with you about Mexican food here, it's absolutely atrocious here and there are some dreadful places that go under the "Thai" label. Phuket in Cairns is not one of them.

Pleased to report that the food (at least the thali dish I had) at Mother India is delicious, cheaper than Marinades and cheaper again as its BYO. It's next to Verdi's (average) which is across road from Red Ochre (excellent) and opposite Fasta Pasta (awful).

Hi,
just got back from both places. here's my review
Sydney:
The Chinese food in Chinatown was generally very good. There are so many restaurants---I would ask for suggestions from local shopkeepers.
We had at the Opera Bar (lower level of Sydney Opera area) before visiting the Sydney Opera. Food was excellent.
We also ate at ?Opium? at the Rocks along the Harbour. It?s a new restaurant opened by the chef of Wildfire restaurant (next door). It is fusion Asian food. We had a steamed fish wrapped in banana leaf and duck in curry?both to die for.

Cairns:
Cairns has dozens of tourist restaurants but most look terrible or very tourist oriented. We looked for places off the beaten path that did not have lots of teenage vacationers but had lots of locals. We had a great meal at Fetta on Abbott a few doors down from the Il Palazzo Hotel. Still further down on the same side of the street is Chapter One Caffe Cucina where the owner seems to know everyone but us. We had a couple of really great meals there including a grilled sea food platter that was perfect. We had a B+ meal at the Red Ochre Grill

hope this helps

KSC

Sydney restaurants are some of the best in the world!!!!!!!!!!

Favorites: Tetsuya's. It is nearly impossible to get a reservation, but as soon as you get to town, give them a call. It is Asian fusion and a delightful tasting menu that is out of this world. His cooking is reviewed worldwide and if you can get in (and can stomach the bill) you will not be disappointed. I went two years ago when I was in Sydney and to this day compare every good restaurant to it!

Level 41 is also a knock out. It is also fairly pricy but it is another AMAZING tasting menu and a view of the entire city that cannot be beaten.

At Darling Harbour you can find many wonderful restaurants to choose from. They are much more affordable than the two mentioned above. Darling Harbour spots are also better for people watching-- the area has a great night life as well. I cannot remember the name, but try the Asian restaurant at the end of the Harbour. It has great food and they give you back massages at the table.

If you don't mind taking a trip the subburbs, go to Leichhardt and eat at the Italian Forum. You will find 10-15 great Italian restuarnts in a lively little square.

Whatever you do, you will have an AMAZING time! I cannot wait to return!!!!

p.s. Try a kebab at a small Greek street stand if you can-- very worth it!!

Could advise you better on Sydney restaurants if you give us an idea on price preferences. In the meantime, as regards to the aforementioned restaurants in China town,I recommend East Ocean for Yum Cha..get there by 11.00 or 11.30 on Sundays to avoid the crowds...not so bad during the week.For full meals, you can't beat Golden Century.BBQ King is great for food but very basic decor..near Chinatown (18 Goulburn Street).I think the Asian restaurant Oaks is referring to is Chinta Ria..The temple of love.Don't be put off by the name!Its Malaysian ..modern and interesting..features a large Buddha statue and great jazz.Lots of great restaurants in the suburbs and many great upmarket ones (some of which have been mentioned), so let us know what budget you are looking at.Cheers!

Sydney?

There is this really excellent steak restaurant (whose name totally escapes me at the moment) in Manley.

Here's a description of it - it's advertsied in all the hotel "where magazines". So your hotel concierge should be able to help.

Here are directions

Take the Ferry to Manley from Circular Quay walk up the main street to the beach front, when you get to the beach front promenade take a right. Its about 50 yards on the right up some stairs.

Further tips for identifying this restaurant, its the one famously frequented by the sporting teams when they are in town and after a steak.

It has a real fun (but not in a drunken way) atmosphere with seriously good steaks! Now if only I could remember that name (someone here will know it!)

If your into German food and oompah bands then we had a fun night at the Lowenbrau restaurant in the Rocks area.