Watergate Restaurant - Cnr Grant and Macrossan Sts, Port Douglas. Ph:   07 4099 6665  

Watergate Restaurant Port Douglas. Of course, for most people over a hundred the name Watergate is synonymous with the late US President ‘Tricky Dicky’ Nixon, but in Port Douglas, (where we’re all sooo much younger), it’s a name associated with luxe make out lounges, wine consumption, and food that looks good enough to photograph.

However, it would be wrong to suggest that the food is too good looking to eat. On the contrary, it begs to eaten. This is one of those restaurants where you’d like to lick the plate. Quite simply, Watergate Restaurant in Port Douglas do the Mod Oz thing sublimely well. Period.

The Watergate Restaurant dining experience ranges across seafood, game, chicken and vego options, bringing to the plate flavours inspired by Asia, Europe and even neo-Britannia. There are hearty dishes like eye fillet with oxtail ravioli, hot weather friendly numbers like the Watergate salad, as well as exotica like soft shell crab. Then again, if you can’t get past those salacious lounges, there are always cheese plates, gourmet nibbles, fab Oz wines, and some evil sounding cocktails.

If you do make it to your table, though, the Moreton Bay bug ravioli is a great way to kick off. My partner and I liked it so much we wanted to put our hands up for seconds.

We resisted, (just), and when our mains arrived we were duly intoxicated by both the stylish presentation and the undoubted quality on the fork. The eye fillet was exactly as it should be, rich and red and falling apart, and the duck, according to my dinner buddy, (and apprentice chef), was, quote, “perfect.”

As if we didn’t already know we were in the presence of greatness, the desserts arrived on rectangular plates with architectural precision. I had to watch with drooling envy as my friend destroyed her chocolate tiramisu, sparing me only a mouthful of its almost erotic excellence. I did, however, seek solace in the arms of a very high class lemon tart, which was, to be fair, very good in bed.

All of which brings me back to those inviting lounges on the top deck. They are total Port Douglas; very easy to chill in but with romantic possibilities aplenty; and the Watergate Restaurants wine list has more than enough quality to make for a gorgeous balmy night of … well, whatever.

It’s enough to make you want to quit the Presidency.

Watergate Restaurant Port Douglas

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