Tasmania - Australia 2004 - page 620

The Point Revolving Restaurant TASMANIAN/AUSTRALIAN This
revolving restaurant on the 17th floor of the Wrest Point Hotel Casino is known
for its spectacular harbor and mountain views. Criticism of its consistency has
led to a complete review of its cuisine over the last couple of years, but fortu-
nately its specialties—prawns flambé in a curry sauce and the Caesar salad—
have remained through regular menu upgrades. The crêpes suzette dessert is also
wonderful. The service is friendly and relaxed. This place is packed on weekends.
In the Wrest Point Hotel Casino, 410 Sandy Bay Rd. & 03/6225 0112. Reservations recommended. Main
courses from A$12 (US$7.50) at lunch, from A$17 (US$11) at dinner. Fixed-price 3-course lunch menu A$26
(US$17); fixed-price 3-course dinner menu A$43 (US$28) Fri-Sat, A$34 (US$22) Sun-Thurs. AE, DC, MC, V.
Daily noon-2pm and 6:30-9:30pm.
MODERATE
Drunken Admiral Restaurant SEAFOOD The Drunken Admiral, oppo-
site the Hotel Grand Chancellor on the waterfront, is an extremely popular spot
with tourists, and can get raucous on busy evenings. The main attraction is its
famous seafood chowder, swimming with anything that was on sale at the docks
that morning. The large Yachties seafood grill is a full plate of squid, scallops, fish,
mussels, and prawns, but there are plenty of simpler fish dishes on the menu, too.
Otherwise splash out on Sperm Whale Sally's Shellfish Platter or perhaps Captain
Nimrod's Depth Charge Platter. The salad bar is spread in a sailing dingy and can
be raided as often as you want, but it's rather uninteresting, so you'll probably be
content with just one dip.
17-19 Hunter St. & 03/6234 1903. Reservations required. Main courses A$14-A$23 (US$8.80-US$15). AE,
DC, MC, V. Daily 6-10:30pm.
Mit Zitrone MODERN AUSTRALIAN Chef and owner Chris Jackman
has earned quite a reputation in Tasmania. His twice-cooked eggs with chile-palm
sugar are a huge seller, while the hot smoked blue-eye cod with ginger and wok-
fried greens, and the chicken and mushroom sausages with wide noodles, spinach,
and anchovy sauce are sensational. The informal restaurant, which is basically an
old shop, has bright yellow citrus walls and wooden floors and furniture. You can
also drop in for coffee and cake.
333 Elizabeth St., North Hobart. & 03/6234 8113. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$17
(US$11). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 10am-2pm; Tues-Sat 6-10pm.
Sisco's on the Pier SPANISH/MEDITERRANEAN/INTERNATIONAL
Sisco's has undergone a transformation from a typical Spanish eatery with roving
guitar players to a more upmarket international affair in recent years. Today it's
known for its paella, Morton Bay bugs (a kind of small crayfish) with chocolate,
garlic prawns with squid-ink spaghetti, and chargrilled octopus. The restaurant is
light and bright with a large outdoor balcony.
Upper Level, Murray St. Pier. & 03/6223 2059. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$17-A$18
(US$11-US$12). AE, DC, MC V. Mon-Fri noon-3pm; Mon-Sat 6pm-12am.
Vanidol's Asian Cuisine ASIAN Another restaurant very popular with both
locals and tourists, Vanidol's serves up a variety of Thai, Indonesian, and Indian
dishes. The beef salad with basil, chile, and mint is very good, as are the barbe-
cue prawns served with a sweet tamarind sauce. The fish cooked in a light red
curry sauce is another specialty. Smoking is not permitted between 6 and 9pm.
353 Elizabeth St., North Hobart. & 03/6234 9307. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$13-A$18
(US$8.45-US$12). AE, MC, V. Tues-Sun 6 to around 11pm.