A week in Townsville,followed by a week in Cairns. I tell you what,it's just beautiful up there this time of year. Interesting to see how the places are changing too,there's a lot going on,especially in Townsville on the waterfront. Some people are making a lot of money.
Despite really enjoying both weeks, I have to say I had some disastrous food experiences in Townsville. Not wanting to slag anyone in particular,because I'm sure there's some great food to be had,but the story is worth telling. No names, but the some of the parts is quite amusing....
Night one, roomy Ed and I head down to the Strand( Waterfront) for some dinner. Drive around,spot a fish restaurant,think,that'll do. Looks great from the outside,inside though is very basic in layout and furnishing but thats no prob, the food is what we're here for. To cut a long story short,said restaurant is one of those where you pay for your fish,then if you want vegetables you pay another $6,then if you want fries you pay another $5 etc. Therefore, your $26 piece of fish ends up costing closer to $40. To me that is fine dining prices,and this was nothing like that. Fish was OK,service average,left feeling a bit dudded.
Eat in a couple of nights,then venture out for another try,this time to a pub on the waterfront. Not looking for anything great,just want to sit and watch Friday Night Footy with some Pub grub and a couple of beers. We both order the Chicken Tandoori salad. Both can only eat a couple of mouthfulls. The chicken,well,I don't know what they did to it but I have to think it was boiled,and then had some tandoori paste spread on it. There was this watery matter floating through the salad; I've got a cast iron,boarding school tempered gut but I couldn't come at it. Off to Macca 's.
Did find a great butcher though who did the best Italian sausages I have ever had,amongst other great cuts. Stuck with him for a day or so.
Two days later,can't be bothered cooking,decide to get takeaway for the last night. Scan through the phone book,find a Indian Restaurant in North Ward not too far away. Can't go far wrong we think, ring up and order a few dishes.
All I wish to add to this part is that when we got the meals back to the room,we were in fits of laughter. The first one we opened was supposed to Chicken Tikka. What we found was a tray of chicken,again floating in a grey watery substance with a mass of frozen peas decorating the surface! We just looked at it and cracked up,it was one of those weeks. The other two dishes were OK,but without much flavour at all,definitely the worst takeaway experience I've ever had.
Off to Cairns,where I have to say the food was very good, but quite expensive. Nice Thai at Sawadee,also good food at the Art Centre cafe. By far the best meal though,and one of the best meals I've had in the last 5 years,was at Tamarind at the Reef casino. Fantastic,imaginative, and most importantly flavoursome, modern asian cuisine. The only let down was the very poor wine list and terrible stemware that detracts from what is an excellent eating establishment. The manager is in the process of updating the wine list, a bit constrained by loyalty deals between the casino and the big wine companies though. I'd love to go back and try it again with some better wine,I think it is a real winner.
There you have it. Hope I didn't offend any Townsville-ites, I think I'll ask for some leadership if I ever go back as per where to eat. I guess you just get unlucky sometimes!
Cheers
Nth QLD Adventures
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Grant Dodd
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Daryl Douglas
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Wizz wrote:Grant, I'm an ex Townsvillite, and I have a feeling I know which fish restaurant and perhaps whch pub. I'm glad I dont know which Indian takeaway...
Oh dear.
AB
Grant, sorry to hear of your sad experiences of food in Townsville. I'd never have recommended Indian tucker here, especially takeaway. Most places on/around The Strand seem to be rip-offs. Palmer Street is probably the best place to go for food here. Michelle's undoubtably has the best reputation.
Hope you made it over to Magnetic Island for a look-see. Lots of potential just starting to be realised.
There is lots happening here at present although with the capital cities' real estate markets slowing, I wonder if the investment $s will be around to soak up the number of units planned to be built. Jarrod McCracken has become a player. He moved from Cairns because he saw more potential in Townville.
daz
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Grant Dodd
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One of the main problems with going to new, tourist oriented towns and not knowing where to eat is the game of "food Russian roulette" that eventually gets played.
In Berrima, and they don't come any more touristy than that, even getting a good cup of coffee can be fraught with danger and disappointment. One of the places sells "cappuccino style" coffee for instance. One step above instant with frothed milk.
Then there is the place with delusions of adequcy that charges like the Ritz. However, if you know where to eat everything is ok.
Bad meals can mess up a good holiday, always pays to talk to the locals and find out where they eat. If its at home, you know you are in trouble.
In Berrima, and they don't come any more touristy than that, even getting a good cup of coffee can be fraught with danger and disappointment. One of the places sells "cappuccino style" coffee for instance. One step above instant with frothed milk.
Then there is the place with delusions of adequcy that charges like the Ritz. However, if you know where to eat everything is ok.
Bad meals can mess up a good holiday, always pays to talk to the locals and find out where they eat. If its at home, you know you are in trouble.
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Grant Dodd
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 2:50 pm
- Location: Queensland
- Contact:
One more moment of note.....
Went out for dinner in Cairns,found a pretty good bottle shop in the middle of town,on the lookout for a decent pinot. Doesn't appear to be much on the shelf,so we think about a riesling. Head over to the fridge, and lo and behold,here are all the pinot's!
Bottle shop guy comes over,"Can I help You"?
Sure we say,just looking for riesling,but wondering why all the pinot's are in the fridge at 5 degrees C ?
"Oh well,thats how you drink pinot noir, it should be chilled"
Ed says, "Oh,I'll have to remember that next time"
Anyway,we end up getting a bottle of Houghton Marg River Cab 2000 after all that,a very good wine in my experience. Head over the road to the restaurant,open it, CORKED! Head back across,get another bottle back to the restaurant. CORKED AGAIN! Back over again, guy at shop doesn't know what to make of me,but I end up swapping for a Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier 2001, which was very nice,and not corked.
Bring on the screw caps,death to the evil cork!
Cheers
Went out for dinner in Cairns,found a pretty good bottle shop in the middle of town,on the lookout for a decent pinot. Doesn't appear to be much on the shelf,so we think about a riesling. Head over to the fridge, and lo and behold,here are all the pinot's!
Bottle shop guy comes over,"Can I help You"?
Sure we say,just looking for riesling,but wondering why all the pinot's are in the fridge at 5 degrees C ?
"Oh well,thats how you drink pinot noir, it should be chilled"
Ed says, "Oh,I'll have to remember that next time"
Anyway,we end up getting a bottle of Houghton Marg River Cab 2000 after all that,a very good wine in my experience. Head over the road to the restaurant,open it, CORKED! Head back across,get another bottle back to the restaurant. CORKED AGAIN! Back over again, guy at shop doesn't know what to make of me,but I end up swapping for a Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier 2001, which was very nice,and not corked.
Bring on the screw caps,death to the evil cork!
Cheers