The Cairns Yacht Club - 2 Stars

I had friends staying this week, with their baby and 4 year old, so when Friday rolled around and the subject of dinner arose, I suggested fish and chips at the Cairns Yacht Club. This has always been reliably good after a day on the water, or indeed any sort of day that will benefit, at sunset, from a cool drink on a deck overlooking water, the promise of fried fish, done well, and the company of good friends.

The Yacht Club's days are numbered. It hunkers on the waterfront like an old pirate surrounded by slick new upstarts, landlubbers one and all, awaiting its demise. Previously known as The Aquatic Club, it is a little bit of old Cairns and should be savoured before it goes. It puts me in mind of the
old Port Douglas of my childhood where time was something long and stretched out, and no-one had heard of 'resort wear', instead, barefoot yachtees and fishermen mixed with the locals and the occasional celebrity, all saronged, all foolishly tanned, oh, but I digress . . . and childhood memories are notoriously rose-tinted, are they not?

Who, though, does not include fish and chips after a day at the beach in their own rosy collection?

So, we ordered, fish and chips all, excepting L who wanted vegetables instead of salad, paying $3 extra for them. A good table was claimed, the children ran down to frolic on the beach and we adults sipped our drinks and relaxed, anticipating a convivial evening.
Then the food arrived.

L: Oh, I ordered vegetables with mine.

Sullen waitress: No, we always serve salad with the fish.

L: Nevertheless, I ordered vegetables with mine.

Sullen waitress: No, well, you would have had to pay extra for them.

L: I did pay extra for them.

SW then snatches up plate and stomps off.
Five minutes later, SW stomps back, slams down plate and stomps off again.
As you can imagine, we were charmed.

Yes, the fish was good but, hell, it wasn't that good.
If you do decide to eat here, I recommend a bracing drink on the deck before ordering. Music from JD Worthington sweetens the atmosphere somewhat so perhaps just stop right there at the drinks and look elsewhere for your supper.

2 Stars. (One each for the fish and the music).

The Cairns Yacht club is located on the waterfront opposite the Reef Hotel Casino and is open every night. For Barramundi and chips with salad, you'll shell out $17.95 ($3 extra for the vegetables).