Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse

I heard that this is the No.1 ranked steakhouse in Cairns, and since it’s located right downstairs from my hotel, it was extremely convenient — so I decided to give it a try. I first attempted to visit on the 19th, but after 6:00 pm it was already fully booked, so I couldn’t get a table. Reservations via Google are definitely recommended. I made another booking for the 21st. When I arrived at 5:45 pm, it wasn’t very crowded yet, but within an hour the restaurant was completely full, lively, and buzzing with energy. The biggest highlight for me is definitely the stunning ocean view. Sitting by the window really elevates the entire dining experience. We ordered several of their signature dishes. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high, so the food didn’t quite reach a “wow” level, but it was solid, well-executed, and safe — no disappointments. The steak was decent, and the service deserves a thumbs up. They offer Chinese and Japanese menus, and the staff can speak a few simple Chinese phrases like “hello” and “thank you,” which makes the experience feel friendly and relaxed. Overall: 💓Excellent ocean view 💓Service is a plus 💓Food is good, though not outstanding If you’re visiting Cairns and looking for a restaurant with great views, a lively atmosphere, and a pleasant overall experience, this place is still worth a visit.

We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary at Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse in Cairns and it was absolutely perfect from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, the team greeted us with warm congratulations and genuine excitement, which instantly made the evening feel very special. We were seated at a beautiful table overlooking the glistening water and boats, setting the scene for a truly romantic night. Several of the staff knew it was our anniversary and their attention and friendliness made us feel so welcomed and appreciated. The food was exceptional — I ordered the espetada, which was cooked to perfection and incredibly tender, while my husband said his Rib eye steak was one of the best he’s ever had, especially with the chilli sauce, which was outstanding. We even got to take home some complimentary sauces! The dessert presentation, complete with sparkles and a “Happy Anniversary” sign, was such a thoughtful and memorable touch. We left feeling very loved-up and grateful — it was the perfect way to end our special day. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautiful meal with outstanding service and atmosphere!

We started with 2 cocktails which were nice - I wish they offered the classic cocktails or a bit more of a variety in flavours as most of the ones on offer were sweet and fruity flavour profiles. Still yum though I enjoyed the cherry marg. Salt and pepper squid entree was nice and the sauce complemented it very well. 10\10 steak - probably the best I’ve had! Green peppercon sauce was delicious but thought it was a bit crazy to have to pay an extra $5 for it! Garlic mash was also great.

We had the pleasure of having dinner at the Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse with our friends tonight. This restaurant is famous for its steaks so we each ordered a steak dish accompanied with some salads, red wine and then shared a dessert. The meals were delicious with our steaks cooked perfectly. Location is quite panoramic facing the waterfront of the Coral Sea with the restaurant staff both friendly and courteous. Great place which is highly recommended if your looking to have a fantastic grilled meat dish.

Had dinner here and everything was amazing. The food was fresh, flavourful and worth the price. The service was fast, friendly and very attentive. The atmosphere was beautiful and relaxing, perfect for a nice evening out. I really enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back again.

Best dining experience in Cairns - went twice and wow! Food is faultless, service 5 starts specially when you have the Brazilian connection Gabriela as our waitress! Keep up the fantastic work! And thanks chef for the complimentary sauces - much appreciated Can’t wait to be back

Absolutely loved this place. We got it as a recommendation from some local friends and they didnt steer us wrong! Food was exceptional and the view was beautiful. Would come here again next time I’m in town. The wagyu steak was the best steak I’ve ever eaten hands down!

What a great meal. The service was first class. The explanation of the steaks was so informative, tasted a few wines to select the right one. I had the sirloin steak cooked medium. The cream porcini mushroom sauce was so tasty. I would recommend this restaurant.

This is an African Steakhouse so the flavors are unique and creative compared to what I'm used to. Goodness in every bite. The pear salad was light and refreshing, and the shrimp on polenta cakes had me swooning. Perfectly executed flavors!

Maybe it's because I'm from Texas. But the steak dinner was aight. Everything had a sweet taste to it. Drinks tasted off. Again, could be because I am from the states and not used to how they do things down under.

Walked by while visiting the area and noticed the frequent number of people at the restaurant and the long line to be seated. Tried to be seated without a reservation, but the wait was almost 2 hours. Made a reservation for the next day instead (fair warning if you book online, a credit card is required, and there is an 80 charge if you don't show up). The restaurant has an indoor/outdoor. The atmosphere was causal to dressy and very well designed. The service was very attentive, especially how busy that it was. The food had an African influence (as that was where the head chef is from) and was delicious and flavorful. The proportions was hardy for the price. Finally, we had the sticky date for desserts (w/ an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream) and it was delicious/highly recommend. I was so excited for it, I forgot to take a picture of it

atmosphere was very good and romantic. see some people celebrate birthday there. food is delicious

Excellent service, beautiful evening, food prepared to our liking, and steak outstanding. Two thumbs up.

Food is delicious.service is good.ambiance is great. I like steak very much. Meanwhile, the location is convenient since it is near my hotel.

Started with Zucchini and Prawn fritter - amazing! Next was a pesto linguine added chicken - the chicken was too thin, dry, and over cooked. Mushroom sauce (an add from husbands steak) on linguine absolutely delicious. Consider adding this sauce to any dish, it's worth it. Garlic bread was buttery and yummy. Service was off and on; staff was inattentive and unfriendly. I won't be back, there are simply too many other places to try next time.

Held a team dinner here. Was a bit more expensive that I imagined (let the team pick it) but the steaks were very good. I had a side of the fried pumpkin and it was very good. Everyone said they enjoyed their dinner. Make reservations

We loved this place so much we went twice! back to back. First was for dinner. Our uber driver recommended a few spots on the pier but she said this was her favorite, and I can see why. After spending a whole day on the ocean we were so hungry, I wanted fish and my fiancé wanted a burger. Guess what? We ended up ordering something different. We ordered the Garlic bread, the calamari and wings to start. Wow, the bread was so good! So warm and buttery. The calamari was tender and the aioli sauce was out of this world. The wings were so tender they fall right out of the bone. For our main dish I had an apple cranberry chicken salad, it was delicious and fresh. My honey had the fish and chips (chips are fries on this side of the world) it was also very good. Not a fishy taste, delicious batter. We came back the next day. There's lot of places to eat around here but we already know this place is good so we came back for lunch. This time we ordered the bread as appetizer. I had the NY sirloin with fries, the meat was so juicy and tender. Even though I ordered it well done it was still tender. My honey had a burger, it was pretty big and pretty good. Yum yum! Highly recommend this place. If we ever come back to Cairns we will without a doubt come back to this restaurant. The service was also very good and the view is so beautiful and calming.

Upscale restaurant with a beautiful view. Food was awesome, kind of small portions but the steak melted in our mouths. Our service lacked but would definitely try again/ recommend.

This is not a good steakhouse. This is a decent restaurant but they don't have good steak. So go here if you want to dine at a decently nice restaurant at a nice location. The waitress was a vegetarian and couldn't make any good food suggestions which was sort of annoying. She did suggest the crab fritters to start and they were probably the best part of the meal, so I suggest those. Our drinks were good. I got a vodka drink that came with lime and ginger. It was very good and refreshing. It had a very long complicated name. I got the surf and turf option. Not sure exactly what it was called but it was a ribeye with prawns and the steak was so chewy that I couldn't even eat the whole thing. It did have good flavor, it just wasn't a good cut or meat. Super disappointing. And the prawns were fine. Sort of dry. My husband got the lamb ribs. They had good flavor but I feel like lamb just shouldn't be in rib form. They were so hard to eat because little ribs were everywhere and you end up eating the bones. Just really had to eat. I would suggest some of the other restaurants on the drag over this one. Like Piato next door.

To be fair, I'll start with the positives. The entree and dinner were both excellent. The compliments end there. The creme brûlée had three black hairs in it. We notified a staff member who brought us a new one, but still tried to charge us for it. Further, we ordered a bottle of red wine. The waitress informed us it they didn't have it ready so we ordered a different bottle. Fine, but they put both bottles on the bill. When we protested the waitress, noticing our American accents, said that's how it's done in Australia. Everything you order whether you get it or not, whether it had three pubic hairs in it or not, is on the bill. If you catch it you ask the manager, not the waitress to remove it. Complete lie. The manager did remove the wine we didn't receive and the pube dessert from our bill but was abrasive. for a moment I suspected he was Sasha Baron Cohen and I was unwittingly in his next movie. But no, he was just an asshole. Horrid service. But the food, minus the pubic hairs was good.

Everyone says to go here for the ribs and they are absolutely right. The portion is quite big so unless you are super hungry go for the half rack. I couldn't finish them myself. The garlic mashed potatoes goes really well with the ribs the only thing is that I wish it came with some veggies. One thing to note is that the beef there is not grass fed if that is what you are looking for. Otherwise great service and quality.

Great Pork Ribs! The atmosphere was outstanding. Really enjoyed the food. The ribeye was good and cooked to the right temp. Slightly on the tough side for my liking. The service was excellent and the servers were really attentive.

Really disappointed - wanted an authentic Australian Steakhouse and got what seemed like "chain restaurant " food. Featured steak was like a low grade steakhouse offering - pretty much tasteless and tough to cut. Why make this $50 steak your feature? Service was bad, drinks were skimpy, and they just said "ok" when they asked about how the food and experience was - Why ask if you really don't care. To their credit, they took all the food we didn't eat off our bill. Anyway, would never recommend and wouldn't be back unless one of my children was threatened.

Located along the waterfront in a line of about 5 other restaurants. This place bills itself as a steak house, and they do have quite a number of beefy options but 3 in our group opted for the BBQ ribs based on the rave reviews online. The ribs are almost twice as long as the American variety and quite meaty with fall off the bone goodness. You can order a half or full rack and they come with your choice of potato. My wife and our two college sons ordered a full rack which was just enough along with a side Cesar salad. I opted for the hearty beef burger (without the bacon) which also came with fries ("chips" as they say here). All were quite happy with the food. In addition to great ambience and tasty chow this place is a standout in my book for good service, which for me is always the key factor that moves a place with good food into the " great" category, you can expect attentive and professional wait staff, plates cleared in a timely manner and constantly filled water glasses. Recommend for great service, food and outdoor dining.

This is the best ribs and steak in cairns, maybe eastern Australia. Sensational service. Great atmosphere. If you come here without a booking, be prepared for a wait. Just rib it!

amazing food, amazing service, and amazing views. called for 20 people an hour and a half before we came in and they delivered. must try if in cairns.

The Waterbar and Grill took care of our group of 10 on a busy Sunday night, it was the last night all of our group was together for our Australia trip. We were seated right by the grill so we enjoyed all of the beef, ribs and seafood coming right of the kitchen. Menu has a variety of beef, ribs, chicken, seafood and smaller dishes to choose from and a full bar. I went with the Filet, a few went with the ribs (which in looking around the restaurant is a popular dish, almost every table had someone having ribs), some seafood. My filet was good, but did not care for the rib like sauce on the filet, properly seasoned beef does not need sauce on it. Thank you for taking care of our group as we were a walkup, at first told us you were full & a few minutes later took care of us, they also allowed us to pay separately after the meal paying at the register.

3.5 stars. Coming all the way down under was hoping for some surprises with Australian beef but I was a little disappointed as it was just okay in my books. The steak I got wasn't as fatty as I thought it would be and the texture was just standard. I did not sense much of a difference to what I could get in the US which was a little let down. The steak was good but I was expecting more in taste, texture, and quality. Maybe this wasn't the best steakhouse to experience it. Probably wouldn't be a repeating customer if I am ever in the area. The mashed potatoes was good but the steak was just average.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things." Shawshank Redemption Fine steak seafood dinner with Marina and landscape views. Steak source of very high quality, as was clear from its taste. Delicious mushroom sauce. I've had many top steaks around the world so a steak has to be spectacular to impress me now, this steak was definitely note worthy; had Tenderloin Blu and really enjoyed every mouthful. Very enjoyable cocktails. Good wine list, several glasses mixed in with bottles. Sticky date pudding tasty without being too big or too heavy. A very enjoyable meal. Absolute highlight was waitress Hope who had only been working here 3 days, very genuine, friendly and attentive.

Best meat eater hang out in North Queensland. Pork ribs to rival any of North America's best - don't miss them

Had a great experience here! The staff were wonderful, they were super busy but got us a table within 20 minutes. The meal was outstanding. I had the ribs and steak combo and oh boy was it a massive but DELICIOUS meal. Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area looking for a great tasting, great value meal.

This is a fantastic steakhouse wih excellent service. While I went in the evening and wasn't able to fully enjoy the pier view, I'm sure it must've been great during the day. The service is fast and the waiters and staff are considerate and friendly. On the menu, it mentions the steaks are at least 150 day grain fed and 30 day dry aged but I forgot to ask if this was for all the steaks or only a select few. For the entrée, I ordered the calamari which was alright and for the main, I ordered the reef & beef (3 prawns + 250gram of ribeye steak) which was fantastic. The steak was perfectly cooked to medium rare (as to my preference) and was extremely flavorful. They used a special jus that provided some sweetness on the steak which was great. While pricing is near the upper end for Cairns, it was reasonable for a steakhouse. Overall, the experience was fantastic and if I'd stayed a few extra days, I'd have definitely went back to try other cuts!

Waterbar is the most popular restaurant in the restaurant strip by the Cairns marina. While most of the other restaurants nearby were empty, Waterbar had a 45 minute wait. And we were willing to wait for a table. When we were finally seated around 8:30pm, we ordered a full rack of ribs to share. The ribs were huge and they were served with garlic mashed potatoes. We also wanted to try an appetizer and after some debate, we agreed on the Crab and Cod Fritters, another excellent choice. These two items was more than enough food for the two of us. We walked out of the restaurant in a happy food coma. Waterbar is a solid choice in Cairns.

Waterbar and Grill was recommended to us as one of the best steak restaurants in Cairns, and it really didn't disappoint. The steaks were cooked to perfection, the baked potato was yummy (it comes with sour cream, so it's not dry at all), the service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is great, with a nice terrace outside right next to the marina. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try the pork ribs, which looked absolutely amazing. I'd recommend making a reservation, because the place was packed when we came here for dinner (on a Monday night in March, so it wasn't peak season at all!)

Impressive staff and meal. We started with the garlic bread, it was so buttery we loved it. Also enjoyed the T-Bone with baked potato, it was Amazing, melted in your mouth. Honestly had to be the best steak I've ever had. The baked potatoes was perfect! Sad to say we are leaving tomorrow. You won't be disappointed!

We came on the recommendation of two people who worked at our hotel. We had both a sirloin & T-bone with garlic prawns. The steaks were average. Nothing spectacular. 3 stars. But, the service was excellent and (this may sound weird) the baked potato was one of the best I've ever had! 5 stars. It tasted like it never touched dirt, just grew out of thin air. I ate the skin, something I NEVER do. Bottom line: Order a plate of baked potatoes, a cocktail & some garlic bread and make your own steak at home.

This is a great steakhouse overlooking Cairns Marina. The service is prompt and friendly. I ordered the Reef and Beef. The rib eye was cooked perfectly (medium rare), however is was a bit chewy. I've had rump steak that was more tender. But the flavour was outstanding. The garlic mash and full of flavour and super smooth, and the green beans still had a nice crispness. I got the creme brûlée for dessert. I was disappointed that the serving was so small, but again, the flavour was spot on.

"...and how would you like your steak mam?" "Cow kicking please" Now one of my pet hates is when you order your steak medium rare and the darn thing comes out almost burnt to a crisp... Like hello? If I wanted my steak ruined I would've cooked it myself. Luckily for me, I'm a regular here and my steak is tender, juicy and cooked to perfection every time. My usual baked potato is also cooked to perfection every time, and my tastebuds do their happy dance during every bite every single time. If you haven't been here and you're a Cairns local... I'm silently shaming you. Book your reservation in advance, you will NOT get a seat as a walk in (tried and tested).

I'm giving this restaurant 2 stars because of the great service and ambiance. The restaurant is "known" for steak but it's not very good. I ordered the filet, side salad, and garlic mash and everything was mediocre. The steak was too moist, not like a juicy melt in you mouth steak, but more like one you get at the supermarket and cook too quickly. I will say that the steak tasted best when it was cold. I'm not sure what type of potato they used to make the garlic mashed but the flavour was slightly earthy. This potato could have been great in something but this mash combination was not it. The highlight of the meal was the salad, a simple mixture of arugula (rocket), red onions, and a light dressing. It was definitely a sad $50+ dinner.

I have eaten at this restaurant a number of times and every time the service and food is amazing. Well done to a great team and i would encourage people to book a table as they can be busy every night of the week.

The best steak in Cairns! My partner had a steak with sides and was mmmm-ing the whole time, I had the Thai beef salad and it was awesome! Yummy sliced steak, with heaps of herbs, chilli, sprouts, dressing etc. Nice location, good service, would eat here again.

So far, this restaurant has been the least exciting part of our Australian journey. After reading other reviews we were excited to try this place, but we were disappointed. There was a festival in town so we saw our opportunity to try to head to the restaurant thinking there would be a good chance of not having to wait. We arrived and were asked to sit in the bar to wait until something becomes available, even though there were about 8 tables open. The host seemed very pretentious and off-putting. Ten minutes go by until a waitress even glances at us waiting there. 16$ for a cocktail... We were ready to leave at that point but the host told us a table was ready. We had the pork ribs and bone-in rib eye. Neither was anything to write home about. The steak was tender but smothered in a steak sauce, it overtook the flavor of the meat. All I could taste was sauce.. The ribs were ok, not fall off the bone as one would have hoped or that other yelpers have commented about. We've ate at so many incredible restaurants in Australia and fell in love with their passion for really good food, but there was no love here. Just some overpriced A1 steak sauced meat. Disappointing.

When I visited Waterbar on Boxing Day, my family and friends told me I had to try the Ribs. I agreed, then hesitated, then was tempted to go the combo with the ribs and rump. However, I then made my best choice of the evening, ordering the 400g rib eye with Mushroom Sauce. This steak was divine. It was cooked perfectly, seasoned well enough that I really didn't need the mushroom sauce and absolutely melted in my mouth. My only regret was that I did not order the garlic mash. My recommendation is to visit Riverbar and order the 400g rib eye, rare, mushroom sauce and garlic mash and you will not be disappointed.

The half rack of ribs and the espatada were both delicious and cooked to perfection! The marinades paired nicely with the juicy cuts of meat. W enjoyed the service. They even accommodated our party with a last minute booking for later that evening. Would definitely return if I am ever lucky enough to return to Cairns!

They got great beef. And I would strongly suggest their pork ribs, which is soooo great. With the great view of wharf, I got a really great dinner with my family.

Had a booking for a party of 4 they sat us all at different tables even though we all gave the name of the reservation. The waiter accused 2 of our party of ordering drinks and not paying for them even though we had not finished our meal. The meal itself was ok, nothing special and certainly not the 50 minute wait. I understand its a beautiful setting but its highly over rated and staff act like you are doing them a favour by dining there. Cairns has better options.

Damn good steak, didn't even need a sauce with mine, it was that tasty! Good serving size of chips as the side. Prompt service too. The buffalo wings are actually hot, so I couldn't eat them, but my fiancé said they were awesome. They do get very busy, very quick, so bookings are essential, even midweek.

Steak was cooked perfectly. Came with greens and garlic mash, which were both good as well. Husband got the lamb ribs and he said they were fantastic, which he rarely says about any food. Service was good too, even though it was a busy night.

Expensive but worth it. Best steak I've had in a long time and I don't eat a lot of it so when I do i sometimes get sick. Really clean and the lychee martini was outstanding! Nice sitting area and was very busy. Service was good and I enjoyed it very much. The mash was really good too. I did not care for the salad which was unfortunate because I love salads. All in all would come back again. Hopefully in the future I will.

Came here to try Australian steaks. My rump steak was nice and beefy. Didn't care for the steak sauce that came with the steak as it was a strange kind of sweet. The peri peri sauce I ordered on the side made up for the taste. Rest of my table ordered rib eye but was disappointed by the quality of the meat. I'm more used to steaks that are more slowly cooked. All the steaks seemed like they were cooked really fast and that affected how they came out. Good wine selection.

Always great. Food is delicious and service is fantastic. I recommend the garlic prawns on avocado as an entree.

Went to Waterbar after favorable reviews on Yelp and in the mood for a steak after day at the Reef. Able to walk in on a Tuesday night around 7 PM with no wait. Our waiter was outstanding...very personable and just the right amount of conversation. Started with the goat cheese bruschetta which was very tasty and topped with greens. My wife had the smaller filet with garlic mashed and steak was flavorful and quite tender. 3 star rating comes from the larger rump steak I had which, while somewhat flavorful, seemed a bit too gristly and tougher than I hoped. I opted for the larger steak as was fairly hungry but should have gone with the filet (and mashed taters) instead. Ambience was nice overlooking the water although the evening was fairly warm and humid and with our table just inside with no breeze, a bit uncomfortable. Had I chosen a different entree (lamb or fish?), probably at least 4 stars.

Best ribs in town. Have eaten ribs all over USA and none come close to these. A little pricey but definitely worth it.

Perfect!! I forgot how good it was to eat perfectly cooked steak. No need for any sauces (which I usually do) as the steak was so tasty! Good service as well.