Top Restaurants in Cooktown
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Where to Eat in Cooktown: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Discover the best restaurant in Cooktown, Australia including Cooks Landing Kiosk, Bowled Over Bistro, Restaurant 1770, Capers Cafe, Balcony Restaurant, River of Gold Motel Restaurant, Cooktown Hotel, Cooktown RSL Memorial Club, The Cooktown Cafe, Gilld n Guttd Seafood Place
Things to do in Cooktown
1. Cooks Landing Kiosk
Overall Ratings
4 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Robyn C
Lovely location overlooking the water at the mouth of the Endeavour River. The prawn and avocado rolls were delicious, followed by real leaf tea, a treat after so many tea bags! The young staff were happy and efficient, dealing with a small bus load of young travellers with ease while we were there. We'll certainly visit again during our stay in Cooktown.
2. Bowled Over Bistro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 203 reviews
The Cooktown Bowls Club restaurant is the Bowled Over Bistro. Our large menu with nightly specials is sure to please everyone. Open for lunch 12 to 2pm Wednesday to Friday and dinner from 5.30 to 8.30pm every evening. Family friendly with a kids area including Xbox and toys.
Reviewed By Stephen S - Big Canoe, Georgia
This is a review that should have been written 18 months ago. We were on a cruise on the Azamara Quest. We landed in Cooktown on a Sunday morning. We were told that Cooktown was a sleepy little town with nothing to do. Usually when we hear that, we are the first off the ship.
As for the bowling club, we walked in about noon. All the bowlers were dressed and in full force. After being greeted by several friendly faces, we took a seat at a suspeciusly empty bar. A gentleman appeared from the back and asked if he could help. We ordered a dozen oysters each and a cold Fosters. We were presented with 12 of the most succulent large oysters beautifully dressed with all the trimmings. Only after eating our feast did we realize after talking to others, that the restaurant was actually closed. Talk about great service! This guys attitude was reflected by everyone in Cooktown......great historic village with very friendly and accommodating folks and terrifically fresh and delicious seafood!
3. Restaurant 1770
Overall Ratings
4 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By Phillip8789 - Terrigal, Australia
Our first evening in Cooktown - we were wondering as to the quality of restaurants in this rather isolated FNQ town.
As others have written, the location is a real plus - on the wharf area with views over the Endeavour River, twilight an added bonus from our table on the balcony.
My entrée was the sardines (cooked perfectly, great flavour). Our group of four sharing garlic bread before our mains.
Main courses were Nannygai, osso bucco and barramundi. All well-presented and well-received.
Service was attentive and friendly, our meals were tabled in good time.
Not expensive - all above meals, plus beers and wine averaged out at $60 per person.
An added touch was that the owner/chef, Keith, came and introduced himself, enquiring about our dinner and talking with us about aspects of Cooktown.
Can recommend.
4. Capers Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By MargBordin - Cairns, Australia
Such a cute place. Animal friendly. Outside. The prices are reasonable. It of a High standard. Staff are friendly and offer suggestions. The coffee is worth stopping for. Didn't feel crowded in as the place was full of people enjoying a meal
5. Balcony Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By Phillip8789 - Terrigal, Australia
We had breakfast here after our one night stay at The Sovereign Resort - the Upstairs Balcony Restaurant being part of the complex.
Friendly, attentive staff.
Orders received in good time.
Omelette dish, scrambled eggs/bacon/toast and coffees were very enjoyable - good portions, as well.
Overall cost about $42, which we felt was very reasonable.
Certainly, can recommend this restaurant for breakfast.
6. River of Gold Motel Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By Phillip8789 - Terrigal, Australia
I'm usually wary of motel restaurants, but this one delivered on all counts.
The service was excellent, the young waitresses very friendly and attentive. Both overseas tourists working whilst on holidays - very chatty and efficient.
The food menu and drinks list were varied and not overly expensive.
Shared entrée of crusty bread and dips, followed by tuna on the stone grill, rack of lamb, coral trout and stuffed wild barramundi.
All dished well-presented - the wild barramundi a stand out.
With meals, beer and wine the bill came to $56 per person. Very reasonable.
A nice concluding touch to our dining experience was an impromptu cake presented as we had mentioned earlier that one of our party was celebrating a birthday. "Happy Birthday" sung, led by the owner of the complex, with all other guests joining in.
A very pleasant end to the evening.
7. Cooktown Hotel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By FuudTrip
After wandering the town checking out menus at all the local eateries, we settled on the "top pub" for a few reasons:
1. Great beer garden outdoorsy vibe
2. Excellent meal prices compared to others in town
3. Staff very friendly & relaxed
We thoroughly enjoyed 6 oysters kilpatrick to start, plump oversized ones, with great hot toppings - all at just over $15 (most venues are charging $4-5 per oyster these days!).
They had a 500g rump on the menu for a mere $24.95 and whilst this is definitely not our favourite cut of beef, it was cooked rare as requested, and came with mash & steamed veg. (& sauce on the side if you wish). It was really well cooked, tasty & easily fed two.
We had also seen garlic prawns on the menu for $22.95 so we ordered those to come out with the steak, and basically created our own "surf n turf" by sharing the beef with lashings of prawns in a creamy sauce on top! The prawns were perfectly cooked and swimming in a sea of creamy garlicky sauce - excellent!
Basically it worked out at about $25pp for yummy beef & reef without the price tag (we saw one local venue was charging $53 for a single serve of beef & reef alone - a big commitment given some of their reviews are a tad dubious).
A side order of well seasoned crispy pub chips & we rolled out of there happy to have enjoyed some authentic pub grub, and understand now why this is called the place in town "where the locals eat"!
Don't pay too much for average food in Cooktown where the menu promises a lot, but perhaps under-delivers, just go feed yourself without all the fuss and fall into a pub-style food coma for less than a hundred bucks!
Cheers to that.
8. Cooktown RSL Memorial Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 108 reviews
Cooktown RSL Memorial Club is newly refurbished with air conditioning. Keno and gaming machines and out door balcony dining. Friday nights is the Member's draw and raffle night with live music most weeks. Extensive military display. Trivia nights every second Tuesday. Meals are available lunch and dinner 7 days a week with take away options. Lunch 11.30am - 2 pm and dinner from 5.30pm - 8.30pm. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights have meal specials and kids menu at $10
Reviewed By Peter G - Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany
After a walk on the nicely done Historic Trail in Cooktown we were looking for a place to have a snack and a wine. We found the Memorial Club and entered this clean and well air conditioned place.
Friendly people, good service, very affordable wine-prices and good Seating - what do you want more.
It is a good and friendly place in Cooktown for everyone.
Thumbs up!
9. The Cooktown Cafe
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Gary M - Hervey Bay, Australia
For those baby boomers, and those who knew burgers before the big plastic two, M and BK, and those kiwis who can recall Uncles Burger Bars, The Cooktown Cafe was like stepping back in time. I ordered a Hawaiian Burger, the Boss had a grilled fish Burger with a box of chips on the side. They arrived in a M/BK style box but on opening, nothing like those. A big toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, bacon, a big fat juicy meat pattie and a ring of pineapple. It was delicious and the boss said the same of hers. The chips were big and well salted, like to hell with the arteries.
If you are in Cooktown, want service with a smile, want an old style burger and fries, The Cooktown Cafe is it. Don't miss it
10. Gilld n Guttd Seafood Place
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By David S - Melbourne, Australia
Located at the end of the road as you follow the rive towards the sea, this takeaway fish and chips shop is a gem. $10 for a piece of Spanish mackerel and long chips. Food was great and the chips were not leftover small bits as often get in takeaway places. Highly recommended.
