Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
pineapple and lime mascarpone. For lunch there’s a choice of bruschettas, focaccia,
or panini, pasta dishes, or more individual dishes such as Thai-style calamari
with roasted peanuts, lemon grass, and chili. At dinner, try the barramundi,
local swordfish, or Tasmanian salmon. Remember to check out the specials
board. Licensed.
Abbott and Shields sts. & 074031 5899. www.cairnsregionalgallery.com.au. Reservations recommended.
Breakfast A$4–A$10 (US$2.60–US$6.50). Main courses (at dinner) all A$25 (US$16). MC, V. Daily 8am–late.
Red Ochre Grill Kids GOURMET BUSH TUCKER You could accuse
this restaurant/bar of using weird and wonderful Aussie ingredients as a gimmick
to pull in crowds, but the diners who flock here know good food when
they taste it. Daily specials are big on fresh local seafood, and the regular
menu—which changes often—lets you devour the Aussie coat of arms in several
different ways. Try the emu pâté with bush tomato chili sauce, or kangaroo filets
done over a mallee wood-fired grill. Although the place is slick enough for a
night out, it is also informal enough for a casual meal and there’s a kids’ menu.
43 Shields St. & 07/4051 0100. www.redochregrill.com.au. Reservations recommended. Main courses
A$5.50–A$24 (US$3.60–US$16) at lunch, A$24–A$32 (US$16–US$21) at dinner. Australian game platter
A$42 (US$27) per person; seafood platter A$50 (US$33) per person. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 12pm–midnight
(public holidays 6pm–midnight). Closed Christmas.
Thai Pan LAO/THAI Delicately fragrant curries and carefully prepared stirfries
and soups are served in this humble brick restaurant. Thai food is always a
sure bet in Australia, and this place is no exception. Try the pad gratium (tender
beef fried in a complex garlic sauce with crisp vegetables); one of the many
seafood dishes, such as the mixed seafood cooked in basil and a hint of chili; or
one of the plentiful vegetarian choices. The wine list is unremarkable, so bring
your own. Licensed and BYO.
43–45 Grafton St. & 07/4052 1708. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$16–A$20
(US$10–US$13). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 5:30–10:30pm.
Worth a Splurge
Fishlips Bar & Bistro MODERN AUSTRALIAN/SEAFOOD Ask
locals where they go for seafood—as opposed to where they send tourists—and
they direct you to this 1920s bluebird-blue shack about 2km (1 1 ⁄4 miles) from
town. Chef Ian Candy is renowned for his flair and innovation with seafood. All
dishes come in small or large servings, and the local barramundi, or “barra,”
shows up in several incarnations, maybe beer-battered with rough-cut chips
(fries) and fresh tartar sauce, simply grilled, or served with eggplant pickle and
rocket pesto on chargrilled zucchini and onion with charred polenta. There are
plenty of non-seafood options as well. Be daring—try the crocodile, pan-fried
Tips Cheap Eats at the R.S.L.
R.S.L. (Returned Services League) Clubs are great places for a cheap feed.
Almost all Queensland towns have an R.S.L. Club and they all have restaurants
with main courses usually priced at under A$15 (US$9.75). The food
is pretty basic—roasts, pasta, and so on—and the decor usually modest.
And if you fancy a flutter after your meal, most of them also have gaming
machines and Keno. If you’re at the beach, try the local Surf Livesaving
Club, which offers similar fare and prices. As they’re clubs, you have to
sign in at the door, but visitors are welcome.