harrison’s restaurant
Harrison’s Restaurant - 41 Macrossan St, Port Douglas. Ph: 07 4099 6364
Harrison’s Restaurant is the newest restaurant in the main street and is without doubt, the finest recent addition to Port Douglas. Fronted by Spencer Patrick, a UK trained, Michelin star rated chef, Harrison’s Restaurant offers a range of French influenced dishes that bring real style to the local dining scene.
Food trends aside, genuine quality always stands out. I heard the rumours well before I fronted up for lunch at Harrison’s Restaurant and my expectations were high. Suffice it say, they were met.
Our lunch party went for an interesting trio: the crispy pork belly salad, the open roast beef sandwich and the excellently creamy risotto. Right there on the table was evidence of the range and quality that Spencer’s kitchen delivers.
The beef in the almost mountainous grilled sandwich was soft and meltingly good, superbly matched with the sharp/sweet zip of caramelised onion. Likewise, the salad was a craftily balanced construction, the sparingly used fennel rounding out the flavours. Elsewhere, the roasted tomato and feta risotto was a rich, silky textured dish, with a lovely blend of sharp notes and soft feel.
Frankly it was as good a lunch as we’d had in ages, so we were easily tempted into an early afternoon dessert. The tarte au chocolat, with baked bitter choc, is not only sumptuous but rich enough for two, (even three). This is a million miles better than your average chocolate cake. Similarly, the diaphanous delight of the vanilla panacotta with star anise and poached stone fruit is top drawer stuff.
Lunch then turned into dinner, as we were tempted back after sunset for an impeccably refined Atlantic salmon saltimbocca, (wrapped in prosciutto and served with a saffron prawn risotto), and a superb slow cooked, braised ox cheek. Both dishes were pure delight; artfully composed, executed with panache and restraint, and delivering an honestly memorable dining experience.
These are the kinds of meals that you eat out for, where the pleasure goes beyond the merely delicious and becomes an almost full body sensation. Matched with wines from the well sculpted list at Harrison’s Restaurant Port Douglas, they promise some of finest food moments you’ll find anywhere.
Critics might say the menu leans too much towards a ‘heavy European style’ and perhaps it does lack the cross cultural breadth of much so called fusion food. I would say this is starkly irrelevant because, fashion notwithstanding, style is eternal and flavours do not lie.
Harrison’s is clearly the best restaurant in Port Douglas. This is genuine quality, as opposed to hype and good looks. Well done to Spence and the team. This would be a hit anywhere.
We had dinner at Harrison’s Restaurant during a visit to Port Douglas in March 09 – fabulous!! Great Service, friendly helpful staff – sensational food – lovely wine – we had the Chateaubriand for two and would definately recomment it. We will be recommending this restaurant to anyone we know who visits Port Douglas
Had the best time outside of Flemington at Harrisons on Melbourne Cup Day! Food was superb, service was impeccable and the party went on till 10pm! The chateaubriand is a highlight – best I’ve had in years. Easy to recommend this restaurant to anyone who really loves great food.