I have to like a Port with my namesake. Port Douglas, as previously mentioned still seems to have a good vibe, at least when a wedding party doesn’t start a bawl at the Iron bar at midnight. On both Saturday and Sunday, Lisa and I journeyed into Port Douglas to find the best that there was. We had one recommendation from a coworker of Lisa’s that we should treat ourselves to a meal a Nautilus, but they didn’t do lunch, so we went with a suggestion that David working from front desk reception of Thala Lodge, and made lunch reservations for Salsa Bar & Grill. What lunch reservations? You Ask? Well, if you are eating at a fine establishment in Australia, it is more European than America and if you are doing lunch, it is assumed you aren’t there for the 60 or 90 minutes you would be at a restaurant in the States, but that you will enjoy the afternoon for 3 hours. Now that we got that cleared up.
Lisa and I found Salsa Bar & Grill to be excellent. They won several awards in 2008 and have a very popular cook book out that was sold out in Cairns, but I was able to find a copy at the upscale department store in Sydney called David Jones. Lisa had a Calamari Salad that she couldn’t say enough good things about and I had the Linguini Pepperincino w/ garlic yabbies. It was to die for. If you go to Port Douglas and don’t go here, then you deserve the Hungry Jack burger (Burger King in the states) that you most likely had today for lunch! After that we hit the Bottle Shop for some wine, the Coles for some cheese and crackers and headed back on the free shuttle.
The next day, we tried to get reservations again at Salsa, but were too late. Already booked out. With much sadness in our hearts for not being able to try some of the other mains on the Salsa menu, we asked David for another recommendation and he suggested On the Inlet. For the second time in two days we ventured back to Port Douglas and once again the bus driver kindly went off his route and dropped us off at the restaurant. When was the last time in the states that a bus driver did that for you? Again a good selection. A little more down to earth cooking with me having the reef fish and chips and Lisa have the Moreland bugs (Kind of like a cross between a lobster, a prawn). Good stuff. From here, Lisa saw a company that did quick trips for snorkeling to the Great Barrier Reef. Where most companies take an entire day. More on this next post. That would be post number 5 for those counting. cheers.
Douglas and Lisa after grabbing a bit at the Inlet.
