Christo's Fish Cafe - Darwin

Good restaurant operators tend to do it well, whether it be a hamburger take away or a swish upmarket a la carte restaurant. They just seem to have the knack!

Christou Phillipou has run restaurants in Darwin from humble beginnings as a hole in the wall takeaway eatery to several very posh and extremely good local Darwin restaurants. Often with the moniker of “Christou’s” something or other.

Then he left town, and did his thing in SE Queensland .

He is back in town and now operates Christo’s Fish Cafe at Tipperary Waters on a marina about 2km from the Darwin CBD, just off Tiger Brennan Drive. It is hidden behind trees, and is reached from a service road [ Frances Bay Drive] so if unfamiliar with the area, a map or directions might be needed. There is usually plenty of parking inside the complex area, behind the shops on the street, rather than in the side street. See here - http://christosfishcafe.com.au/index.html

First.......it is not air-conditioned. Is that a problem? Probably not, as we have been there many times and there are good and plentiful overhead fans and the restaurant is actually on the boardwalk overlooking the marina, and there generally seems to be a breeze, even in the hot November – December period and there was a good breeze when visiting there recently at that period.

It is a fish cafe, not a restaurant, so the setting is along those lines – alfresco dining with tables and chairs to match, as well as some tables with fixed seating, down closer to the water on a lower level.

Our experience with fish meals has been excellent. They do a fantastic calamari – based on a recipe of his mother’s , Kate’s Calamari - and probably our favourite. But we have been with other who have had barramundi, threadfin salmon and other fish dishes and been extremely satisfied. A neighbour recently visited and had bugs......which were not to their liking. Our own experience has been very positive. Even the souvlaki and the Caesar salad were very good.

Meals are of a good size, entrees are also, and the greek dips with flat bread are a well liked entree option of many customers. There is a modest selection of desserts including some of the usual greek delights such as baklava and milleefa .

Contrary to some comments on the internet, cold water – yes, from the tap in a bottle – is readily available and free!! And you are not expected to buy from the drinks menu either......water is just fine, if that is your tipple.
The menu is here - http://christosfishcafe.com.au/menu_1.html .

Would I go back? Very definitely, particularly if looking for a feed of calamari. And I am probably a bit biased.......as have been there a few times over the past few months.

Should you try it? Well, Darwin is a fish town. It is on the harbour, this restaurant is about 200m from the fish markets and there are local fish trawlers operating out of Darwin supplying fresh fish, and above all, Darwin is THE home of the mighty barramundi, a great eating fish.

And the locale is attractive.

But remember........the whole Tipperary Waters area can have bad midge problems at some times of the year. Be prudent and wear long trousers or slacks and use some DEET on potentially sensitive skin before arriving if you are a bit sensitive to insect bites, especially round the lower legs and ankles, as you will be seated outside. They cannot control the midges, I am sad to report. That said, have not had a problem myself, but know others have.

Oh......of course, as is the thing today, Christo’s is on Facebook too.

A map is here - http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/christos-fish-cafe/stuart-park

And for you yachties........they do a pretty mean breakfast too.

They can be busy, especially in the Dry Season, so a check is worthwhile to ensure a table. You can have takeawy too.

Out To Pasture???

No posts for a while.......but definitely not out to pasture, nor in the long yard today [ Slim Dusty song about old horses].

Activity and travel has been restricted due to post operative dramas and an incomptent and uncompromising hip that has stubbornly refused to shape up after hip replacement surgery in Adelaide. That is where the hip operation took place and so the posts on Adelaide places in November happened then........a few weeks to really try them out!!

All is not lost however, as there have been some short visits to local eating houses in Darwin. That has had to happen quite a a few times during the hip replacement repairs - standing and preparing food has been an issue at times, as has some really crappy hot weather over the past two months. Can be very hot to stand and prepare and cook food with a gammy hip!

So, will post a few comments on some Darwin eateries, from a local.

Watch this space over the next week or so.