Sakinah House Review - With its blend of Thai and Balinese influences, Port’s newest restaurant brings intriguing new tastes and textures to the town’s culinary table. Sakinah House offers a luscious Australasian fusion, drawn from many Asian traditions to create something modern and tantalising.

It’s hard to find a pan-Asian menu that really stands out; which is why the Rydges Sabaya Resort’s in house restaurant is such a welcome addition to the Port palette. Anyone familiar with the award winning brilliance of the Spirit House restaurant on the Sunshine Coast will find similar pleasure right here in FNQ.

When The Boss and I were invited to sample Sakinah’s evolving range of dishes, we were given a snapshot of what to expect. Now, I should add that The Boss is a well travelled soul with restaurant management experience, and somewhat hard to excite, but he left the building that night vowing to return.

His vote of confidence was well deserved, as Sakinah’s wonderfully creative range of starters proved. Clearly, the entrees were not just meant to keep us occupied until the main event; they were singular delights in themselves.

As if that wasn’t enough, the mains we sampled went up another notch. The whole crispy fish was spectacular, the Penang style chicken curry was addictive, (a really skilled balance of spice and texture), and the Tom Yum stir-fry of shellfish, green pineapple, lemongrass and coconut rice was something else. In fact, it adeptly underlined the Sakinah House spirit of culinary adventure, staying within the boundaries but somehow managing to break a few rules along the way.

Overall, the dishes have both a subtlety and strength of flavour that speaks of real skill in the kitchen. The blend of ideas, of spices, of Western and Eastern textures is cleverly handled and the result is something familiar yet exciting.

Likewise, the desserts played across that terrain. Even an old sweet tooth like me had to acknowledge a new level of pleasure. (And that’s saying something.)  The dark chocolate and chilli tart with candied ginger Anglaise is a star.

The Rydges Sabaya Resort people are certainly onto a winner with Sakinah House. With its high ceilings and open air vibe it has a light, airy feel, ideal for Port’s soft and lovely evenings. Indeed, it’s a perfect setting for a restaurant that offers a fresh, contemporary, tropical twist on Asian classics, and one that fully deserves your attention.

Sakinah House - Port Douglas Australia