Narita Japanese Bento Bar - 03.11.07 - Darling Harbour, Sydney
This was the one meal we had in the infamously touristy area of Darling Harbour. The sushi was decent, but way over priced. You are clearly paying for the view at this restaurant.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 6/10
Bread Story - 03.11.07 - Chinatown, Sydney
We walked by this place and couldn't resist the temptation of all the savory and sweet bready goodies. We chose an Au Pan Man, which was this sweet, soft bread, filled with red bean paste in the shape of a little man-- so amazingly good. We ended up back here 3 more times for the same thing
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 9.5/10
Lowenbrau Keller Uberbar - 03.10.07 - The Rocks, Sydney
Perfect pub to end up at after our lovely meal at the Waterfront. This German pub was definitely going off with tons of people, loud music, and lots of drink. Pat introduced us to apple sour shots, which tasted like apple cider. This was quite festive evening, that even included some dancing.
Ambience: 8/10
Waterfront - 03.10.07 - The Rocks, Sydney
Pat took us to this restaurant that had probably the best view of both the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. All lit up at night, this was the perfect place to enjoy the company of Pat and Jess. They evn managed to make a nice dirty martini. Jason and I split the seafood platter, which was nice.
Ambience: 9/10 Food: 7/10
Golden Harbour Restaurant - 03.09.07 - Chinatown, Sydney
This place was packed with people. It had huge tanks of fresh fish, lobsters, scallops, and crabs that people would hand chose, and get cooked up for them. We opted for some more basic dishes, which were quite good.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 7/10
Sushi Roll - 03.09.07 - Sydney
This was an amazing sushi boat place. So much variety, really fresh fish, and a very clean environment. The prices were quite reasonable also.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 8/10
Opera Bar - 03.08.07 - Sydney
Perfect place to meet up with Julie, a friend of a friend, who treated us to a wonderful meal. This place is definitely all about the view of the Harbour Bridge, and the exciting energy of the Sydney locals and tourists mingling in one place.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 6/10
Tamarind - 03.07.07 - Cairns
This was one of those restaurants that makes you go "wow"! This Asian influenced menu was so unique. The scallop dumplings were so nice, the silken tofu stuffed with chicken was quite unique, and our main of curried vegetable were done to perfection. Also delcious dessert of carmelized banana bread pudding with salt and pepper ice cream was definitely differnt. Excellent service as well here!
Ambience: 9/10 Food: 9/10
Perotta's - 03.07.07 - Cairns
Wonderful little outdoor joint located right off hte Esplanade to grab a pre-dinner cocktail. I had a pomegranite mojito, which had lots of fresh pom seeds in it. Jason opted for a espresso martini to perk him up. Both were delicious drinks, and although we didn't dine their, the food looked quite nice.
Ambience: 8/10
Dolce and Cafe Juice Bar - 03.07.07 - Cairns
We were hot and hungy, and this was the first place we found that looked like it would be fast. The sandwiches were great, although my chicken was a little dry. Located just off the Esplanade.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 7/10
The Beach Shack - 03.06.07 - Port Douglas
Wonderful little local place located about a half mile from our hotel. The service was amazing, the food came out fast, and the setting was great. UNTILL, the girl making the funny signs behind us in the picture, told us that a snake had crawled by her feet earlier in the meal. This freaked me out, but thank goodness we were done with our dinner at that point
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 7/10
Java Blue - 03.05.08 - Port Douglas
Such a perfect lunch spot, epsecially for us in our wet bathing suits. The salad and sandwhich was delicious and the price was right. Located right on Mossman Road of Port Douglas.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 8/10
Tortilla's Cocina Mexicana 03.04.07 - Port Douglas
We just couldn't resist the look of this food when we walked by and saw yummy Mexican. Our justification for such an indulgent meal was that it would be the last time we had Mexican food for a long time, considering our 2 month stint in Asia coming up!
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 7/10
Fluid Nightclub - 03.03.07 - Port Douglas
The night continued on to this very strange nightclub, located in a mall. We were the only people in the entire place for most of the night, which was weird. AND, this is where Jason thinks his wallet got stollen, by the one other person hanging out there.
Ambience: 5/10
Paddy's Irish Pub - 03.03.07 - Port Douglas
What better place to hang out with new-found Irish friends then in an Irish pub, drinking Irish Magners cider, doing Irish things. Ironically, they were the only Irish people there.
Ambience: 6/10
Michaelangelo - 03.03.07 - Port Douglas
Wonderful little Italia join located right on the main road of PD. Great place to start off the evening with Eddie and Bernadette, filling our tummies with hearty pizza and pasta's and lots of delicious white wine. The service was very good here.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 7/10
The Living Room - 03.02.07 - Port Douglas
A very cute restaurant with an open veranda wrapping around the front. Although the food appeared tasty, it wasn't as delicious as it could be. The service was wonderful, and the Ned Savignon Blanc wine was a nice accompaniment to dinner. The tequila poached pear was definitely lacking though.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 6/10
Coconutz - 03.02.07 - Mission Beach
Not a lot of restaurants to choose from in this small beach town, but Coconutz proved to be a winner. The main complaint was the hot, sticky weather, and the bugs swarming around us!
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 7/10
Chili Jam - 03.01.07 - Townsville
This little noodle place looked to be the only decent restaurant in this kind of run down town. We choose from a list of about 10 different noodle choices, which was an interesting concept.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 6/10
Health Lab - 03.01.07 - Airlie Beach
This little smoothie place was one of those sort of joints I would love to have in SF. They had a list of about 10 different unique salads to choose from, tons of fresh baked breads for sandwiches, and a delicious muesli smoothie that Jason and I split. It was nice and fresh food located right behind the Airlie lagoon.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 8/10
Capers - 02.28.07 - Airlie Beach
This was quite a little gem to find in Airlie Beach, since the area is certainly not known for it's culinary delights. This place was quite trendy for the area, however the food was quite good. Shrimp and smoked salmon with vanilla cognac sauce was definitely unique.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 7/10
Pacific Sunrise Whitsundays Sail - 02.25.07 - 02.28.07 - Whitsundays
Who would have thought that some of the most gourmet meals we'd actually indulge in on a boat. The food was fabulous created by a wonderful chef. We both really enjoyed how light and flaky the trout was the firsy night (which we had swum with at the reef earlier in the day). The mango stuffed chicken was also so tasty.
Ambience: 9/10 Food: 9/10
Clipper at Coral Sea Resort - 02.25.07 - Airlie Beach
We ended up having a breakfast, lunch and dinner at this restaurant. The food was quite average. The view and setting though as probbaly evident by this photo were fabulous. It was so relaxing looking out onto the pool and Coral Sea.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 6/10
Blue Moon Lounge - 02.24.07 - Airlie Beach, Whitsundays
So Jason has been talking about wanting to try kangaroo the whole time we've been here, and tonight was the night. I tried a little piece, just to do it, but psychologically just couldn't eat it after come face to face with some 'roos earlier this week. Jason is now hooked on Kangaroo, he loved it so much. It was very much like a steak, prepared with a plum jelly.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 7/10
Casa Jason and Danielle Derry - 02.23.07 - Brisbane
What a treat to have such a wonderful surf and turf home cooked meal of steak and "bugs". That's right, these little crustacean guys that are quite similar to lobster are actually called bugs. The company was fantastic and I think my Jason has a new BF!
Ambience: 10/10 Food: 10/10
O'Mallys - 02.23.07 - Surfer's Paradise in the Gold Coast
Your basic Irish pub with decent food, but a loevely lookout onto the beach. That meal was definitely about the company of Len Lotz, and less about the food.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 5/10
Pig and Whistle - 02.22.07 - Brisbane
Located directly in the center of the Queen Street Mall, this spot was all about the happening scene, and much less about the over-salted risotto. The tall cold beer was a much appreciated drink after the 12 hours of being cooped up in the Fraser Island 4X4.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 6/10
Fraser Island Buffet - 02.22.07 - Fraser Island
Okay, hopefully this picture sums it up for you - this meal was nasty. We were told we'd be having a fresh picnic lunch. Instead we were presented with this buffet meal in a camp-like mesh hall, when there were so many beautiful places we could have eaten. We were quite disappointed.
Ambience: 2/10 Food: 2/10
Hanaichi - 02.21.07 - Brisbane
This sushi boat restaurant on the Queen Street Mall seriously blows our Isobune in Japantown out of the water. For one, the shear amount of selection of sushi was so much greater. The second thing which this place made us realize is that putting clear little plastic lids ontop of the sushi is sooooo smart. Think about all the people who breathe on the sushi as it goes around--well we didn't have to worry about that here.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 8/10
Fridays - 02.21.07 - Brisbane
Located on the Riverside, this place had a spectacular view of the river and bridge. A perfect spot to grab a beer and a bite. We had a yummy prawn salad, the kind of salad we wish we got in more restaurants (meaning there was actually some substance to it!) We realized after both getting Cooper's beers, we're not fans of that brew.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 8/10
Madame Brussels - 02.20.07 - Melbourne
Recommended by the waitress from Ginger, this place became a "mission" to find. It was one of those unmarked sort of joints, that was quite a challenge to locate. Of course when we finally found it, we sat down, got settled, and then decided we really weren't in the mood for a drink, so we left. The place was really cool though. The astro turf floor is the first thing that catches your eye here.
Ambience: 8/10
Water and Grass - 02.20.07 - Melbourne
Had the most delicious seafood brunditto, which had tons of shelfish and salmon in it. We even got yummy pieces of bread to soak up the white wine sauce with lovely oregano herds mixed in.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 8/10
Le Bon Cake Shop - 02.20.07 - St. Kilda, Melbourne
So many cake shops to choose from, this was a stressfull moment for Jason. BUT, we chose well as the vanilla cream pastry thingy we split was wonderful, epecially accompanied by a long black coffee.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 8/10
Zenith - 02.20.07 - St. Kilda, Melbourne
Great location at the beginning of Acland street. Both ordered salads, which Jason felt were over-priced. In hindsight, after strolling down the street there were a ton better looking restaurants.
Ambience: 5.5/10 Food: 6/10
Movida - 02.19.07 - Melbourne
Recommended by the awesome owner of Ginger as the "best food in Melbourne", we had to check out Movida. Located down an alleyway, this unassuming restaurant was top notch. By far some of the most unique dishes we've eaten on this trip. There was no way we could resist the drinking chocolate and churro dessert - it was divine.
Ambience: 8.5/10 Food 9.5/10
Dragon Boat Restaurant - 2.19.07 - Melbourne
We figured it was a great way to ring in Chinese New Years with dim sum in this popular restaurant. The dim sum were great, however felt like we didn't get showed all the options (we were sat in the last table available in the corner). This was my first taste of shark fin, alhough it tasted like chicken.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 6/10
Kobe Jones - 2.18.07 - The Docklands, Melbourne
Located in the hip area called The Docklands, we had a table looking out onto the harbor. Great sake menu, and very nice sushi especially the philly roll and their special Kobe Jones ahi tataki dish.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 8/10
Rust - 02.17.07 - Brunswick Street, Melbourne
Antoine the owner, and his buddy Ash were great hosts. They were fun company for a night out in Melbourne. Rust had a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere with good music, located upstairs off of Brunsiwick Street.
Ambience: 8/10
Red Tongue - 02.17.07 - Brunswick Street, Melbourne
Yet another place that was baffled by a request for a dirty martini - clearly beer and wine are the most familiar alcoholic consumptions in this country. Cool location on Brunswick Street but very average food.
Ambience: 7/10 Food: 6/10
Ginger - 02.17.07 - Brunswick Street, Melbourne
This was a total find on Brunswick Street. We both agree they had the most amazing and unique cocktails we've ever tasted. The owner was a total sweetheart, giving us great tips on where to eat and dine while in Melbourne.
Ambience: 9/10 Food/Drink: 10
The Ivy Cafe - 02.17.07 - Sydney
This little cafe located in the Pitt Street Mall, was actually really good. WE just grabbed breakfast here, which was fresh and good value.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 7/10
La Mint - 02.16.07 - Darlinghurst, Sydney
This place served up a great appetizer of shrimp rice rolls, and scallop and asparagus soup. They however failed miserably with the vodka martini, serving us a glass with ice and some grey goose in it.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 8/10
Nick's - 02.16.07 - Bondi Beach, Sydney
Great place to sit outside, drink a beer, and watch all the beach goers. The food looked delcious, although we didn't try anything.
Ambience: 7/10
Voiaj - 02.15.07 - Darlinghurst, Sydney
Located in our cute little neighborhood of Darlinghurst, this place was a find. Very unique food, and great service. Did not like that they poured wine into our silver cups though.
Ambience: 8/10 Food: 8/10
Sydney Fish Market - 02.15.07 - Sydney
What a fun experience checking out the fishmarket. We choose to go for a "grill platter for two" which included tons of fresh seafood.
Ambience: 6/10 Food: 7/10
