Dundees on the Waterfront

Seafood restaurant · Cairns City

Dundees on the Waterfront

Seafood restaurant · Cairns City
1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia

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Highlights

Savor the stunning waterfront views while indulging in fresh steak, seafood, and unique Australian delicacies like crocodile and kangaroo at this friendly gem.  

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1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia Get directions

dundees.com.au
@DundeesRestaurant

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

Information

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1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia Get directions

+61 7 4051 0399
dundees.com.au
@DundeesRestaurant

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Mar 8, 2025

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Kayzha Shepard

Google
We ate here after a long day on the reef with Pure Snorkeling. We wanted a nice view, upscale food and wine and that is exactly what we got. The menu is diverse and the view is stunning. We sat outside looking over the harbor. The food was delicious. It was hands down the best calamari I have ever eaten and would love to go back just for that! Our mains were great as well and the service was excellent. Would definitely recommend!

Fifi Luong-Ward

Google
Our first time to Cairns and our choice for lunch was Dundee’s on the Waterfront. A large, casual restaurant with some very good seafood on offer. We shared a chowder to start which I recommend trying. Rich, delicious and full of seafood. We shared Dundee’s Seafood Tower because the Great Barrier Reef tower seemed too much for 2 people. Dundee’s tower was just right & we upgraded it with 1/2 a lobster that came grilled. The seafood on the tower was delicious - we enjoyed every element. The lobster upgrade, however, was overcooked and rubbery. The dessert menu is presented to you on a huge platter to make selection easier. We opted for the seasonal trifle made with fruit cake and the banana fritters. The fritters were delicious. The staff are very friendly and will sing happy birthday to you if you tell them it’s your birthday.

Gabby

Google
We had a wonderful dining experience. The staff was friendly, professional and provided exceptional service. The food was fresh and delicious with great flavours. The location on the waterfront is stunning. It was also my birthday and they made me feel special. They sang happy birthday to me as well. They have outdoor dining and an air conditioned section. I can highly recommend Dundee’s.

Rebecca Townson

Google
Service was fantastic. All the servers were friendly and all over keeping my drink topped up. The foods was so fresh and tasty. We shared the seafood tower between the 2 of us. Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert and this would have been the only disappointment for the evening. We will certainly be back again!!

Bing

Google
Exceptional Service, Family-Friendly, and Thoughtful! Traveling with a 1-year-old can be quite challenging, but Dundee on the Waterfront truly exceeded our expectations. My baby needed food without salt or sugar, which wasn’t on the menu, but after speaking with the waitress, they happily prepared a special order just for us. Not only was the staff incredibly friendly and accommodating, but the presentation of the special food for our baby was also amazing—so thoughtful and well done! The regular menu items we ordered were equally delicious, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. We’re so grateful for the wonderful experience and highly recommend this place, especially for families!

Vaishnavi Dalvi

Google
Amazing food!! It is completely worth the price. Firstly, the service is impeccable as the staff are super nice and efficient. Next, the wait time was around 10min which was commendable considering how busy the night was. The ambiance and atmosphere was classy but also fresh. ALSO they have the CREAMIEST oysters (atleast that i have had). I have given 4/5 since their chicken dish was adequete. Overall, great.

Peony & Roses

Google
This place it’s a MUST if you visit Cairns! Location is fenomenal - waterfront with picturesque mountains views. We were lucky to get a board sitting area hence we did not have a booking. It was very busy for a Monday evening, but the service was swift and efficient. Food was delicious: super fresh ingredients, skilfully prepared, and beautifully presented. The menu has a bush tucker section for those who might want to savour the Australia native meats and bush tucker herbs and spices. Another thing that stands out in the menu is the Hot Rocks option. Thank you to Amy and all staff who looked after us and made our evening feel so special!

Emily Stember

Google
Solid lunch spot on the water! I had the Aussie grill sampler- everything was cooked nicely and tasted great! Service was friendly and environment was nice, albeit a bit toasty sitting outside, but of course that’s not the restaurant’s fault.

Karen L.

Yelp
Came in for dinner at 5:30 and felt somewhat ignored right before the rush of people coming off the boat cruises as the staff started to come in for the night shift. Took a bit of time to get the attention we needed. Thankfully the guys taking our orders and checking in on us were very nice. As for the food, it's pretty decent and the win was the oysters for being fresh. Barramundi supreme was a good variety of seafood too.

MrsYorl B.

Yelp
I arrived by cruise ship 21/02/25, so I'm just a one time guest. I was seated shortly before 5pm and hosted explained me that food wouldn't be able to be served till 5:15. Well someone asked for my drink order which I ordered mojito mocktail, which was great. However no one ever came back. People were being served out in the dinning room with FOOD which I was told couldn't happen until 5:30 LIES! I could've literally walked out without paying - In fact when I asked to pay it was difficult, go here - no go there. Oh then someone hadn't closed out my order so had to wait longer just to pay. Wish I would've had cash so I could've left. Horrible service. I get that I was only one person visiting on holiday so it doesn't matter what they do to me but I'm not happy, thought I would share my awful experience. Thanks for the horrible hospitality if I was not a good person I would've just left, wonder if anyone would've even noticed? Seemed like a nice place with a lovely view, maybe other tourist will have better luck than me.

Prasiddha H.

Yelp
I had a chance to try Caffeind after I saw great reviews about it and walked on over for some delicious breakfast. If you are looking for a healthy yummy breakfast this is a good place for you. The service here was really good and the ambiance here is also cute and clean. For food I tried the plate that came with an assortment of foods which I absolutely loved. The plate I got came with 2 eggs, ciabatta toast, Sweet potato, Normal crispy potatoes, pumpkin purée, salad and bacon. This also came with the sesame crusted avocado which was really nice. Overall would get this plate again given that it was fairly healthy, not overly stuffed and had a nice variety. The hubby and I shared this and we were really happy with it! Would come back and try again!

Wes S.

Yelp
Service: our food for a party of 6 arrived 1 hr. 45 minutes after we were seated, but was missing a salad. When the salad was later delivered it had no dressing. I ordered a second ginger beer and was served a ginger ale. Waitress seemed totally unfamiliar with the menu. Food: very disappointed in the seafood platter. All fish on the platter were heavily battered, deep fried and greasy. Crabs on the crab plate were so small hardly any meat could be removed, and was mostly tasteless. I was embarrassed that I recommended Dundee's to our group.

John G.

Yelp
Great ambience and very friendly staff. Food is amazing. Had the seafood tower and wife had the mussels. Highly recommend both dishes.

Jen L.

Yelp
This restaurant is HUGE! It is waterfront near the pier. The food and service was good. I had their ravioli which was good, but one person tried their sampler platter so I tasted kangaroo for the first time and it was delicious! It was more tender than a filet and not "gamey" Lastly we had their chocolate lava cake dessert, it was good- thought the popsicle stuck into the middle was kinda weird but was yummy. I would consider coming here again.

Jackie S.

Yelp
This restaurant was recommended to us, and it held up to the recommendation. We walked in on a Thursday night without a reservation. They were able to seat us quickly. However, while they were finishing cleaning the table, they brought us to a separate bar for drinks. Our table was ready so quickly that we hadn't even decided what drink we wanted. Our waiter was new and had someone else as a partner to help. Both were very attentive to us. The food arrived quickly after ordering and was hot! The food was very flavorful, and I would definitely stop back if I was in the area. The atmosphere was very nice. Their decor was very simple, earthy (with various plants everywhere), and nice We had the steak special and the barrmundi for our meals. Would definitely order the barmundi again. The person I was with said the steak was good. However, very fatty

Christine C.

Yelp
On our first day in Cairns, we walked along the waterfront and came upon Dundee's. I knew they have a location in the Cairns Aquarium but forgot they were also on the waterfront; I also recalled from my pre-trip research that Dundee's is by a reputable chef. Having seen the seafood tower on their menu, we were excited to try it, and we're glad they were able to seat us. The environment was lively, with lots of patrons, and several celebrating birthdays. The staff were also generally nice and friendly. The seafood tower, however, was a HUGE disappointment, with awful quality that's worse than cheap seafood buffets I've seen and steered clear of. Here's what it came with: Bottom level - Fries: good - Fried calamari: good - Two grilled scallops: OK - Two small pieces of fried fish (barramundi): OK - One moreton bay bug tails, fried and cut in half: OK Top level - Chilled mud crab including two pieces with legs attached and one whole claw + the connecting piece. All of it was AWFUL. The meat is all mushy that you can immediately tell by the touch. I have never seen a crab claw like this: the crab meat does not fill the big claw shell at all; in fact, it's almost like the crab starved for a long time, and it just has "skin" left inside the thick claw shell, just enough "skin" to wrap around the inner white soft shell. After feeling how mushy and awful the crab pieces were, we ate none of it (to avoid being sick on our vacation!) and informed our wait staff. - Three pieces of raw oyster on the shell: Also not fresh. After my husband ate one piece, he advised me not to touch it. - Three yabbies (kinda like a crawfish): Semi-mushy, still borderline edible. I ate one and so did my husband, but both our pieces were not good so we left the third. - Six prawns: OK, one of my pieces tasted a little fishy, so I asked for more lemons to help. My husband ate all three of his, but he said his were all sandy. - Three mussels: We decided to leave the mussels untouched seeing how they looked (not fresh) and how the other chilled seafood were - Tropical fruits: good for the pieces we ate (a few grapes and watermelon slice). Upon informing our wait staff, a manager/lead stopped by to talk with us. She offered some nice words, including appreciation for feedback, and also a 10% off our bill. When she brought the bill, she had taken 20% off the seafood tower dish; we ended up paying AUD$98 for this awful meal (including a mocktail my husband had, which was good). While I certainly appreciate the gesture, 20% off honestly is insufficient for our awful experience and how little we ate. Going by the volume, I'd say we consumed ~60% of the food (20% of that were the fries!), and something like ~40% if estimated by the value of a what we consumed. And you can't really put a cost on such an awful experience for our first night in Cairns.

Michelle F.

Yelp
Waterfront dining in a very nice setting. The food was delicious. I ordered the skewers for lunch. Two kangaroo and 1 crocodile with an Asian slaw.I thought the crocodile was similar to pork in texture and taste, and the kangaroo was a little chewy like a steak. The slaw salad was crisp and cold. The beer was refreshing and washed everything down well. My husband ordered the crab salad sliders, and they were small in portion but a great snack. The sweet potato fries were well cooked and crispy on the outside but perfect on the inside. Service from Dylan was great, and we sat inside with a great waterfront view. I would definitely recommend this place for great seafood and authentic Aussie grub.

Barbara H.

Yelp
The food was great however the dessert is way overpriced. 21.00 for chocolate cake !!! Geeze

Tony M.

Yelp
It took 45 minutes to get our cocktails after being seated. Staff was nice. Food was good.

Henry C.

Yelp
I came to cairns to visit the Great Barrier Reef and wanted to try some of the local seafood. We stopped by Dundees at night so there wasn't much of a view for us to see. I know the view should be great, but I can't make much comment on that. We ordered the mushroom cream soup as a starter. The soup was smooth, creamy, and earthy as you would expect. We even got extra sour dough per request. For mains, we got the seafood linguine and the taste of the sea platter. The linguine had sautéed prawns, scallops, mussels, calamari, and octopus in a garlic tomato sauce. The taste of the sea had beer battered fish, prawn, tempura soft shelled crab, grilled scallop, calamari, and fries. The food looked great and we were so excited to eat. Disappointingly, the food was too salty. We didn't finish the linguine and I tried to pick off some of the batter for the fried items. The servers were friendly and accommodating but the food did take a long time too arrive.

Winnie L.

Yelp
We were a walk in and we wrrr told that it would be an hour wait even though there were tables but those tables were for a large party. Instead of offering to take our name, the hostess didnt say anything. We asked to have our names put down and for them to call us. The hostess said that it may be earlier but not sure. We came back after an hour and saw tables were open but not cleaned and asked for table. They checked and saw that we out our name down and said they will clean up the table for us. We had the kangaroo loin, the kangaroo and crocodile skewers and the rump. The kangaroo loin and the kangaroo and crocodile skewers were really good but the loin lacked flavour and was chewy. Not a good piece of meat. We were waiting for someone to come take our dinner plates and ask for dessert but no one came. I had to go to the reception table and ask for dessert options. They apologized and said that the large group was keeping them busy. The sticky date pudding was actually quite good and not too sweet. Overall food was a solid 3 star but service would be a 1 star given that this was supposed to be a nicer restaurant along the waterfront.

Michael S.

Yelp
Great food , service , and scenery !!! Waitress was beautiful Korean girl !!! Fish platter was outstanding !!

Zemin H.

Yelp
We came as a party of 14. I ordered house soup, Eye Fillet Steak and Vanilla Ice Cream. The steak was juicy and tasty. The tomato soup was so so, too much pepper.

Kelly E.

Yelp
They seated us next to the kitchen and the air was thick with smoke. So much we had to get the check early and leave because we couldn't breathe. The food was ok, certainly better selections down the boardwalk.

Shelly S.

Yelp
What better view can there be?? Gorgeous evening, great food, very good service!! Highly recommend.

Keith H.

Yelp
We arrived in Cairns today. Hungry for a delicious seafood meal , the hotel front desk recommended Dundees - they obviously missed my request for a delicious seafood restaurant. I had the Buramundi Supreme . This was full of promise , but it was a big ( expensive) disappointment. It arrived 5 minutes after being ordered. There is no way the fish, mussels, shrimp , octopus etc was cooked to order. The fish was served on a prefabricated piece of sweet potato. I was so disappointed. This meal was way over priced and , at best a below average culinary experience. My wife had " tiger " prawn Caesar salad. There was barely any dressing on the lettuce and the "tiger" prawns were "cubs" at best. The location is good, but we will NOT return.

Nick D.

Yelp
Reservation needed. Big menu. Good seafood. On the pricier side. Indoor outdoor seating. Lots of other options around the harbor.

Tara T.

Yelp
Beautiful location on the boardwalk by the pier. We had dinner and enjoyed our meal. We ordered the sourdough bread which was amazing, fresh, soft with butter on the side. We ordered the taste of the sea was really good and we got to experience many dishes in the platter. My favorite was the oysters and crab. We also had the mushroom linguine which was really good. The staff was nice but couldn't get the scotch order done right for some reason. The ambiance is lovely.

Alan Z.

Yelp
Whoever talking sweet about this restaurant I'm freaking beating they ahhhhh - Chief Keef Intro. This is the best value restaurant on the planet. Strongly recommend ordering all the entrees and sharing them tapas style. The food we got today in the US would run you easily $500. Instead, on the esplanade, in Cairns, off your dive boat, it's $134. SHEESH!!! Duck Spring Rolls: the least impressive of the dishes, honestly wouldn't order again 2/5 Chicken Wings: Really well prepared and a great mayo dip. Definitely recommend 5/5 Calamari: lightly fried strips not actual calamari but very good regardless. 5/5 Kangaroo Skewers: amazingly prepared with a great cranberry sauce and great side salad. 5/5 Crocodile Skewers: same same but different as the roo skewers 5/5 Garlic Prawns: very fatty buttery sauce but if you don't care about the lbs order 4/5 Soft Shell Crab: amazing crab. You're dumb if you don't order 5/5 Taste of the Sea: fish, fries, calamari, soft shell crab, all in one! Definitely get this if you aren't gonna get everything else. 5/5 The Hemingway pitchfork and Endeavor IPA ARE BOTH AMAZING. Brewed right around the corner, definitely get them. This is my favorite restaurant on earth. So affordable and amazingly prepared food. Don't listen to the haters. They're just other restaurant owner's who are jealous. The service wasn't that good but the food was made really fast. They EVEN GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR ORDERING THE FUN MEATS. I'm literally on FaceTime right now with a girl and I'm telling her how When teleportation becomes a thing, we're gonna teleport here together and leave our spouses at home so we can experience a reminiscent romantic dinner on the esplanade in Cairns with hopefully not a dead GBR and rekindle our college luv.

Miranda G.

Yelp
Dundees waterfront Restaurant has a prime location! Located right on the waterfront (hence the name) lol.. is actually a pretty big establishment. I would highly recommend making a reservation in advance as there can be a lengthy wait. So I called and the hostess that morning and she was very friendly and informative and I made a reservation for 7pm for 2 and had also asked for a waterfront view. (Table #85 is perfect for 2 and it's smack bang at the front with a gorgeous view of the water, boats and foot traffic) Note: 1. If you're driving, there is free parking at the Harbor side hotel, which is right below the restaurant in the basement. 2. Just remember on your way out, to ask for a token from the hostess to use and pay at the exit. 3. Otherwise there is parking on the street- if you can find one. I ordered the dinner special Seafood Platter for one And my husband ordered the fish and chips. Food was delicious and seafood was fresh! My platter had mud crab, prawns, yabbies, oysters, chips, calamari, crumbed fish, muscles and fresh fruit. Hubby had 2 large pieces of yummy battered fish and a good size serving of chips and a small salad. The reason for the 3 's 1. Service was a little slow. 2. Also we Over heard our waiter getting a scolding from the Manager on Duty - for chewing gum.. which I clearly saw him doing the whole time while he was at our table. 3. If you're dining as a couple - I would expect that we would have been served at the same time. * my husbands fish and chips came out pretty quickly and I sat there watching him eat all his food - and then about 5 mins later my platter arrived. We ordered 2 Heineken 3's and as I was waiting a lot longer and ended up having 3 Mojo Moscato's which were so yummy! Dinner for 2 was $158.00 which wasn't too bad. I would definitely recommend Dundees again to anyone who lives locally or if you're a visitor!

Glen F.

Yelp
do not buy a cocktail - no alcohol in it. many servers (young, new?) so dropped the ball at times. but nice. Off season so perhaps thats why

Alice B.

Yelp
Best seafood and view! Huge menu and everything was on point! We would definitely come back again!

Eva R.

Yelp
Came here on a Friday night and it was quite crowded. Had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. There was a nice breeze so it was lovely sitting outside. I ordered the lamb cutlets, which came with mashed potato and wilted spinach. The lamb chops were cooked just like I ordered and not too chewy. The chili sauce also was a nice kick. As I love lamb chops, I was quite content. For dessert, I had the trio of mango creme brûlée, strawberry gelato, and chocolate mouse. The mango creme brûlée was good at first but then it got very heavy and artificial tasting. The chocolate mouse also was rich. The strawberry gelato with whipped cream though was delicious. A perfect way to end the meal!

Mira S.

Yelp
Nice view, without the huge esplanade crowds. But they charge a premium for the view. The food was mediocre. I had the steak burger, which thought would be ground steak, but was an actual piece of steak on a burger; frankly the whole thing tasted sort of like dog food smells, and the meat was tough and also fatty. I didn't finish my food. But other people liked their food (the pasta bolognese, for example) well enough--nothing to write home about, but tolerable. Avoid the steak burger, and get something else from among the lunch specials or the full menu. In that note, they do have a bunch of lunch specials every day, although they weren't very exciting. The service was fine. The drink menu wasn't extensive, but it was adequate. Between 2 and 5pm or so they offer a very limited menu, basically just appetizers and drinks.

Jenn P.

Yelp
I thought that Dundee's did some things extremely well, and fell flat in other areas. My family visited this restaurant on a Saturday night. We tried to change our reservation to about an hour earlier in the evening and they declined, however when we arrived the restaurant certainly had capacity, so this was quite strange. The restaurant itself is a little chaotic. The staff seems a little young and doesn't appear to know the menu well. It also took a long time for us to be greeted and I don't think our server smiled the entire time she was with us. Onto the food - I ordered the Australian sampler plate. Others ordered the Surf & Turf, the large order of calamari, and an order of Bugs & Prawns AUSTRALIAN SAMPLER PLATE - Very large portion; 40$ AUD. Emu sausages: taste just like regular sausages. These were good. Crocodile skewers: if I only ate this all night, I would've given this place 5 stars. Loved this. They were brushed in a light sauce which was awesome. Ate this quickly. Eye fillet: disappointing. Was very well done. Pan seared barramundi: another win. Barramundi is delicious; this one was in a light seasoning. Kangaroo satays: perfectly cooked, quite chewy. Tiger prawn satay: standard shrimp. The plum sauce in the sampler plate is also legitimately perfect. Other things: Bugs & Prawns - Fresh. Huge portion. Really enjoyed the bugs but we didn't like the Rosemary sauce at all. FYI - they do not have cocktail sauce. Calamari - Very standard. All in all, I'm glad we did Dundee's because I really wanted to try some of the more exotic cuisine, but it also was not a gourmet meal.

Daisy K.

Yelp
This place is quite popular since it's in a very touristy area. However, we can here after a few recommendations to try a few new items to us - crocodile, kangaroo and Barramundi fish. We ordered crocodile and kangaroo satay appetizers. There were 3 satay sticks overall. 2 kangaroo and crocodile. The kangaroo was WAY gamey and WAY over cooked. It wasn't seasoned well and was not enjoyable. The crocodile was also overcooked, although better than the kangaroo. This dish came with a confusingly huge amount of rice and a small side of slaw. For our mains, I ordered the Barramundi. It was OK. Still a bit dry and not as flakey as I usually like. For $35-ish, it was steep for what it was. Husband ordered fish and chips and it was ok. Overall, this was an expensive, mediocre lunch. Skip it and go somewhere else. We had crocodile and kangaroo elsewhere and this restaurant really just doesn't do these two meats any justice.

Elizabeth S.

Yelp
The food here was amazing! My husband had the sampler platter that had crocodile sausage and a kangaroo satay--delicious! I had the veggie pasta with olives and avocado--it was amazing. I would definitely come here again. The white sangria was very tasty as well!

Tiffany C.

Yelp
"It was alright " was what we came to agreement to this restaurant. Service was subpar- servers were impatient and did not know what to recommend and the differences. This is the basic for being a server, even if you really know don't just say "I don't know". Also, took about an hour for our main entree to arrive. When we asked about it, the guy server said it'll be out soon with an attitude. Food- steak steak steak! We had a surf and turf and TBones. They were below expectations and pretty average for the price tag. TBones had no distinct beef flavor and lack of taste. Do not come, it really isn't that good.

Ronald E.

Yelp
Stopped here as a wallaby and was seated immediately outside (my desire). The table service was very attentive and they servers were good about only being there when desired. I ordered the Caesar Salad and Fried Seafood combination. The Salad was wonderful - a real presence of the anchovy in the dressing without it being overwhelming. The seafood was nicely prepared Shrimp were great, fish was nice and flakey and well seasoned. Only thing that didn't line up with my taste is the amount of breading the used in the fired scallop

Mark M.

Yelp
Very nice meals was very busy but they did very well as we did not wait for any servicethe meal prices are on the higher side

Kimberly M.

Yelp
Wow! I was not expecting the food to be this good. Had a great night, service wasn't the absolute best but still fine. We had bruschetta, calamari, field mushroom, Thai salad and for dessert the mango crème brûlée and lemon lime cheesecake. The cheesecake was so good we tried to go back for it the next night but they ran out! Was in australia for over 2 weeks and honestly one of my favorite meals

Bradley R.

Yelp
Shrimp on the Barbie? Great seafood and service with an Aussie flair. Nope - not even close. Let me start with being lied to by the manager as I was being seated. The place had just opened for dinner- no one was seated, and I asked if we could be seated at a table with a view instead of the back booth we were being led to. The host told us view tables were in high demand and reserved weeks in advance. I then watched as a tourist wandered in unescorted and sat at the table next to the one I had inquired about. When I asked the waitress about the high value placed upon theses blessed view tables she had no idea what I was talking about and offered to let us move to the vacant table for two immediately. Once seated in our prized location I looked forward to a delicious meal from this highly recommended Cairns restaurant on the harbor. We enjoyed the view, watching huge catamarans dock and offload tourists that had been out to the Great Barrier Reef all day. The food we ordered (fish and chips with Reef Fish) was horrible. The fish was inedible - cold to the touch and nasty to smell. The fries were decent and wound up being my whole meal. They have a limited beer selection and we did not like any of the beer we were served (we tried several). When my wife tried to talk to our third waitress about the food, the waitress said everything was fine and "they" weren't going to change the way they do things for "us". The waitress was incapable of listening to the constructive feedback my wife was trying to give this young girl. We told the manager about the "in our face" attitude the girl had and the lying host in hopes they will improve, but I doubt it. Long review to say that I would NOT recommend - save yourself the time, money, and aggravation!

Jim R.

Yelp
One of the best aspects of this place is the huge open air covered patio looking out on the water. When we stopped in for lunch after arriving in Cairns, we were seated right away. Since we were coming from a cold wintery place it was so great to sit out with a warm breeze blowing. The menu seemed more like a dinner than lunch menu with larger entrees like the seafood sampler that we tried that was a delightful mix of fried fish, prawns, soft shell crab, scallops and more served in a cone shaped basket with fries and a refreshing side of the rocket (arugula) Apple and cheese salad. My wife and I shared the steak "burger" (really a steak sandwich) with caramelized onions and BBQ sauce which was very tender, full of flavor and plenty for 2 for lunch. It also came with fries and a few small onion rings. We topped things off with a couple of glasses of wine and a beer and I'd have to say it was a very satisfying first lunch in Cairns.

Marck N.

Yelp
My partner and I came here for dinner after our exhausting white water river rafting adventure. We ordered half dozen of oysters, the octopus salad, kangaroo loin for myself, and the surf and turf for my partner. The oysters were a nice refreshing way to start dinner. They were juicy and plump. The octopus salad was a knockout dish. It was cooked perfectly and the dressing of the salad was divine. I believe it was a vinegar based dressing, but it worked well with the octopus, red peppers, olives, and feta cheese. I enjoyed the kangaroo loin much better than my partners surf and turf. His steak was cooked medium rare and was flavorful. My kangaroo loin was cooked medium rare and was seasoned well. The steak juiced out flavor and the red jus sauce help bring out the flavor of the meat. Again, a knockout dish. Too full, we declined dessert and head back to the hotel to go sleep on a full stomach.

Jessica W.

Yelp
After my time at the lagoon, I walked over to Dundees Restaurant where I tried sauté kangaroo and crocodile. I had been looking for a reastaurant that had kangaroo and crocodile and was told that Dundees was the best place to try it. The crocodile really did taste like chicken after that, I just took a stroll before heading back to my room. The views were just as beautiful and serene.

Yellowbag T.

Yelp
Extensive menu. I opted to try the local cuisine: kangaroo filet and fresh oysters with bacon and BBQ sauce. They were both delicious. Pretty busy restaurant, but the service was decent.

Kenson K.

Yelp
Here's how the evening went. We ordered: 1. Oysters on the half shell - refreshing and deliciouis 2. Octopus salad - very generous with the baby octopus, which were deliciously seasoned and not tough at all. 3. Australian sampler - filled with bush tucker. So good. 4. Surf and Turf - my entrée. The shrimp were cooked and seasoned very well and the sirloin beef cooked just right. So stuffed, had no room for dessert. I would definitely recommend this place. The service was excellent. Very reasonably priced too.

Rebecca F.

Yelp
I am rounding up here from a 3.5. We live in the USA and it was our last night in Cairns and wanted to try some moreton bag bug and mud crab. This is one of the places we saw had it on their menu and decided to give it a try. The setting was nice bring right on the water. I shared the wagyu eye filet and the seafood platter for one with my partner. My parents shared the seafood platter for one and the Australian sampler. The seafood platter came with a lot and I really like trying the mud crab and bay bug. It came with a lot of fries, fruit, and calamari that were great. The fish, scallop, prawn, yaddies, oyster, and mussel were only okay. Overall felt that it was a good deal and happy we got to try such a variety. The wagyu eye filet was not something I would order again here. It was the same price as the seafood platter and it was a pretty small piece. It was good, but not even close to the good steaks back home. My parents Australian platter had a couple good things on it and it was nice to try such a range of Australian foods (kangaroo, crocodile, fish, beef, and emu) but overall not very good. The service was sub par at best, I am not someone who comments on service too much, unless it was great or absolutely horrible. Here was okay and hard to order drinks. It's a nice place for tourist to try, but I don't think I would be back.

John S.

Yelp
Great restaurant on the waterfront!! We were only in town for 2 nights and both nights, this place was hopping! Lively atmosphere and service was very attentive. I got the crocodile satay. Was my first time trying crocodile and it was very good!

Corinne V.

Yelp
Went here back in February and I was pretty impressed with it. The waterfront view really is beautiful. I got the smoked salmon and avocado stack as my dinner, and the magnum lava dessert as a treat. Both were pretty good. Service was slow, but I'd mostly credit that to the fact that it was an incredibly busy night, but in the future, quicker service would be key! It just took a really long time to take our order, bring drinks/ food, bring the dessert menu, etc. Overall it was a pretty high end so I'd say go here for a special occasion!

Kelsey S.

Yelp
The menu is massive, but since we were on holiday we decided to get the Aussie Sampler plate among a few other dishes. I do not recommend the sampler, although it was cooked fine, non-standard proteins just leave something to be desired. There were plenty of appetizing options available though. Our waitress was either very new or very bad at her job. When we sat down after a short wait, I was parched. I tried to patiently wait for our waitress to appear and introduce herself so I could order a water. I waited about ten minutes before I went to a neighbor table and asked them with desperation if I could please have some of the water from their decanter. They obliged, but still, how embarrassing. The other servers in our section seemed far more competent than our own.

Erica O.

Yelp
I am visiting from California and came here for dinner with my Australian uncle and cousins. Initially we were excited by the views of the food and the crowd, however we were thoroughly disappointed by the end of the night. I'll attempt to quickly recap the service: Arrived ~7:45, ordered our food a little after 8. Initial female server never returned after we ordered. (We watched her take orders, deliver food, refill drinks, and even rearrange tables around us as we waited for our food.) After an hour+, we ask a male server to check on our food. He brings it out quickly. However, all of the meat was cold. He took it back, apologizing. Returned with hot meals, explaining that the chef had been overwhelmed and our meals had gotten pushed aside. We let it go and ate. However, all of the food was over-cooked and again no server came by to refill water, check on us, or even clear our plates. After another 30+ mins, third server removes our plates and drops the bill off. My family was frustrated by the service (or lack thereof) so I asked him if I could speak to the manager, if only to understand what went wrong. This is where things became unbelievable... The manager, Mikaela, was the rudest customer service representative I have ever encountered. After I simply (and nicely) explain the events of that evening (in my plainly American accent) she begins by saying that "Here in Australia we do things differently..." trying to excuse the absence of a server. My male Aussie cousin then steps in and says that he has been to this establishment before and has never experienced what she is claiming. After she realizes I'm with locals, she goes on to blame the cooks, the servers, other tables, and even us without ever once apologizing. She says that we had plenty of servers assist us and they all claimed we were "perfectly happy." She tells us a busy party was "demanding" and that she should have put on a "stronger" server. She goes back and forth with our receipt saying that she "can't verify the time that it took for our food to come out" and that "sometimes tables just get bad service". To top it all off, she states that, "if everything ran smoothly, I would be out of a job"... And all this time I thought a Manager's job is to make sure things do run smoothly? In the end, she offers to remove the appetizers (the only food that was without problem) and to comp 10%. I explain that it isn't about the money, but the terrible service and lack of an apology. Only then does she apologize to us and say that she hopes we return to this restaurant. Mikaela, if you're reading this, I apologize for not understanding the "Australian way" and hope that you keep your job when things run smoothly... But honestly, next time please just apologize immediately and offer a solution. Excuses for poor food and service are not appreciated by customers.

Dan C.

Yelp
Food and venue did not match View. The view was spectacular...the food, pedestrian. Slow service. Ceasar salad was better than average. Fries were hot, crisp, and properly salty. Crocodile was sweet and tender. Kangaroo was tough. Getting in was as hard as getting out. Several apparent entrances were blocked with dining tables. To pay and leave one had to find the one cashier over by the bar...BTW who was terribly soft spoken against the din and hue of the huge enclosure. Did I mention that the service was slow and our section was only half full? There are better options nearby...just saying.

Toni C.

Yelp
Very large restaurant, mediocre food but it is packed every night with tourists because it has a great location right on the water. Nothing impressive about the food or the service. Just dined there out of convenience. Overpriced for sure!

Emily P.

Yelp
In our search for kangaroo dishes, we were recommended this lovely location on the waterfront near the Esplanade. The environment was classier than I expected, and the staff matched it with their professional service. Dishes could get pretty expensive, so we shared kangaroo steak for $32. Another pair shared the Australian platter of kangaroo, emu, crocodile, barramundi, and others for more (mind you it comes with peanuts!). The platter was worth its price to test finely cooked Australian meats. The kangaroo steak also came with mashed sweet potatoes and both were presented nicely. If I hadn't been sharing, I would think the meal would leave me satisfied. Well worth just for the experience. (Written June 2017)

Luana P.

Yelp
I went there on Xmas day without reservation and they were completely booked out. My bad, so I decided to book in advance for the upcoming Sunday, before leaving Cairns. You could pick straight away that the waiters were unexperienced but being on a holiday-mood it didn't bother me too much. Food was avarage, nothing to Wow for. Location and the atmosphere are quite nice. Not too bad, but not the best

Chandni M.

Yelp
Love the food! Family-friendly scenic spot. Had to rush for tour. The staff was super cooperative with our time constraints. They totally delivered on quality service and quality food!